Can you freeze ham?

How long does ham last in the freezer?

• Shelf-stable cans, opened1-2 months
• Pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat1-2 months
• Pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat, opened1-2 months
• Uncured, fresh, cooked3-4 months
• Uncured, fresh, uncooked6 months
• Canned (“keep refrigerated” label), opened1-2 months
• Fully cooked, bone-in, whole1-2 months
• Fully cooked, bone-in, half1-2 months
• Fully cooked, slices, half, or spiral cut1-2 months
• Fully cooked, arm picnic shoulder, boneless1-2 months
• Fully cooked, vacuum packed, boneless1-2 months
• Fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, whole1-2 months
• Fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, half1-2 months
• Fresh, cook-before-eating, shank or butt portion, bone-in1-2 months
• Fresh, cook-before-eating, arm picnic shoulder, boneless1-2 months
• Fresh, cook-before-eating, shoulder roll (butt), boneless1-2 months
• Fresh, uncooked, whole leg, bone-in1-2 months
• Fresh, uncooked, whole leg, boneless1-2 months
• Fresh, uncooked, half leg, bone-in1-2 months
• Country ham (whole or half)1-2 months
• Cured cook-before-eating, after cooking1-2 months
• Country ham, cooked1 month
• Country ham, uncooked, cut1 month
• Cured, cook-before-eating, uncooked3-4 months
• Cooked, store-wrapped, half1-2 months
• Cooked, store-wrapped, whole1-2 months
• Fully cooked, vacuum-sealed at plant, opened1-2 months
• Fully cooked, vacuum-sealed at plant, unopened1-2 months
• General guidance1-2 months

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

How to defrost ham safely

1. In the fridge
2. In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
3. In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
4. Cook it from frozen

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

After thawing

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

Can you refreeze ham?

• In the United KingdomOnly after cooking
• In the United StatesYes

You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.

Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.

After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.