Discover ways to reuse leftover ham in your everyday recipes
Ham is a staple at Christmas but often there’s a lot left over. Luckily there are many ways to turn ham leftovers into something new and delicious. “A simple ham and salad sandwich with a dollop of mustard has to be my go-to leftover summer lunch, whether I'm hanging out at home or packing a picnic,” shares Woolworths Food Director Tamara Graffen. “But really, the best thing about leftover ham is how versatile and easy it is to use in other recipes to save time and money – that’s got to be a good thing over the summer holidays!” These handy storage tips and recipes will give you plenty of simple meal ideas for leftover ham, so you can relax and enjoy some quality family time.
Storage tips:
As a general guide, you can store ham in the coolest part of the fridge for up to two weeks. Make sure it’s in a ham bag or clean cotton pillowcase – a plastic container or cling wrap will make it ‘sweat’. Always check the label on your ham for an accurate guide on how long it can be stored in the fridge.
Freezing tips:
"If you’re freezing any leftover ham,” says Tam, “make sure you cut it into chunks and wrap them separately, so you don’t have to use it all at once.” You can also freeze chunks of uncooked leftover ham for up to three months. Check out our top tips for safe storage in our ham guide.
01
Leftovers for lunch
If you’re after a speedy lunch, you can’t beat a classic ham-and-cheese toasted sandwich. Make a toastie tower with a range of different fillings, including cheese, chutney, mustard, mayo, tomato and even avocado. Leftover ham is also delicious in a frittata or pasta bake. Try this easy frittata recipe or this ham, spinach and ricotta lasagne, and check out more Christmas ham leftover recipes.
02
Swap bacon with ham
Got a recipe that includes bacon? Swap it out for leftover ham — it’s the perfect alternative. For a quick dinner, chop up leftover ham and stir it into pasta, like this creamy carbonara, or mix it with breadcrumbs and herbs to use as a crispy casserole topping. You can also pan-fry ham to add to fried rice, roasted Brussels sprouts or any potato salad that calls for bacon, or sprinkle it over a cheesy dip!
03
Summer snacking
For a simple afternoon pick-me-up, have these easy ham, mustard and spinach scrolls on hand to grab and go — they’re made with frozen puff pastry and common ingredients in the fridge. Or get the kids involved in an afternoon baking activity, and make these cheesy ham gougeres, or this fun pull-apart ham bombs recipe made easily with ham, greens and cheese stuffed into pizza dough balls.
04
Freezer-friendly soup
Pea and ham soup is a classic, and a great way to use up leftover ham and the bone! “If you’ve got a leftover ham bone, it’ll make a great base for a delicious pea and ham soup,” shares Tam. “You can then freeze it for an easy, no-fuss dinner on a busy weeknight.” If peas aren’t your thing, you can also try a ham and potato soup or simply mix shredded leftover ham into you favourite vegetable soup recipe.
05
Brilliant breakfasts
For a tasty Boxing Day breakfast, fry slices of ham in maple syrup for a decadent eggs benedict, add diced ham to a fluffy omelette or simple scrambled eggs, or make a stack of ham and potato cakes. After some spice? Try these ham, sriracha and tostadas, and for something super indulgent, serve this ham and cheese croissant breakfast bake for an impressive brunch that also uses up leftover pastries.
06
Chicken dinner winner
Turn you Christmas feast into a weeknight winner by pairing leftover ham with chicken. Serve a pub classic for dinner by adding ham to this easy chicken Parmigiana, or make a cheesy chicken cordon bleu. For a quick and cost-effective hack, swap ham in for any prosciutto-wrapped chicken recipe or swap out the bacon in this simple Portuguese chicken dish.