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Christmas hams will keep for weeks with proper handling.
Always follow the storage instructions on the label. Reduced salt hams, while healthier, will not last as long as conventional hams so it's particularly important to follow the instructions on the packaging.
Plan ahead for safe storage
A leg of ham needs to be stored in the fridge.
A special ham bag or clean cotton pillowcase will keep it fresh and maintain quality the longest. The ham bag or pillowcase needs to be:
- soaked in a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar and wrung out before placing the ham inside
- changed or washed and dried every 3 days, and resoaked in the vinegar mix.
Check the fridge
You will need to make space for the ham and avoid overfilling the fridge, which can prevent the circulation of cold air and increase the inside temperature. Things like drinks can be safely kept cold in an ice-filled sink or esky.
- 5°C or colder in the fridge will slow bacteria growth.
- Keep cold air vents clear. Avoid frequently opening and closing the fridge door to help maintain the cool temperature inside.
- Don't allow any raw food, such as raw meat, to touch the ham as it could make it unsafe to eat.
Scrub up
- Wash hands thoroughly before handling the ham, especially after nose blowing or going to the toilet.
- Avoid preparing food if sick with something like a cold, diarrhoea or nausea.
- Take extra care with hygiene if there are pets in the kitchen.
- Make sure to use separate cutting boards, knives and other kitchenware to prepare the ham.
- Use clean sponges and tea towels, dry wooden kitchenware in the sun if possible.
Serving
- Slice off the amount that's needed and keep the whole ham in the fridge.
- If ham is left out of the fridge, it needs to be eaten within 4 hours, or put back in the fridge within 2 hours.
- Processed cold ham is not suitable for pregnant women, people with low-functioning immune systems or people older than 70 years, unless thoroughly reheated and eaten while hot.
Leftovers
- Leftover sliced ham can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days if wrapped in plastic or foil.
- Sliced meat can also be put back under the skin flap of a ham leg on the bone, and stored in the ham bag or cotton pillowcase.
- It’s also possible to freeze leftover slices or the ham bone for homemade soup when the weather cools.
- To prevent the spread of disease, don't feed leftover ham (or any food scraps that contain meat or that have been in contact with meat products) to pigs. Find out more on the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.
Please remember...
...the key tips:
- Keep it cold
- Keep it clean
- Keep it hot
- ...and check the label.