• Home
  • About
    • About
    • Let's work together- Brands
    • Jobs
    • Image and Recipe Use Policy
    • Editorial Policy Page
    • Contact Page
    • Process for Recipe Testing and Fact Checking
    • Copyright
  • Recipe Box
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Dessert
    • Resources
  • Collections
    • Cooking Device
      • Air Fryer
      • Crockpot
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker
      • Microwave
      • Smoker Recipes
      • Stove Top and Oven
    • Southern Cooking Recipes
    • Beginner Cook Recipes
      • Easy Comfort Food Recipes
      • Canned Food Basics
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas Favorites
      • Valenites Recipe Favorites
      • Easter Favorites
      • Mother's Day Favorites
      • Patriotic Holiday Favorites
      • Thanksgiving Favorites
    • Preserving Food
      • Canned Food Basics
    • Birthday Dinner Ideas
    • Fan Favorite Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
  • PODCAST
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
×
Home » Recipes » How to

How To Thaw Ham

Published: Oct 4, 2019 · Modified: Nov 14, 2019 by Wendi Spraker · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
How To Thaw Ham

Have ham frozen for the upcoming holidays? Family dinner and need to thaw the ham? Here’s how to thaw ham, all kinds! 

Three slices of ham on a gray plate with lettuce and a striped napkin
How to make spiral ham without drying it out

Why This Is How To Thaw Ham

Contents show
1 Why This Is How To Thaw Ham
2 Here’s How To Thaw Ham
3 Recipes for Thawed Ham.
4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
4.1 How Do You Thaw Ham?
4.2 How To Thaw a Frozen Ham Quickly
4.3 How Long Does It Take To Thaw A Frozen Spiral Ham?
4.4 How Long is Thawed Ham Good For?
4.5 How Long To Thaw a 10lb Ham?
4.6 Can I Eat Ham That Has Been Frozen for 2 Years?
4.7 How To Know If Frozen Ham is Bad
4.8 How Long Does it Take To Cook a Ham?
5 Tips and Tricks for How to Thaw Ham
6 If You Enjoyed Learning This, You Might Also Want To See…
7 Ya’ll Help Me Out, OK?
8 How to Thaw Ham
8.1 Ingredients
8.2 Instructions
8.2.1 Method 1 (Refrigerator)
8.2.2 Method 2 (cool water)
8.3 Notes
8.4 Nutrition
8.5 You May Also Love:
  • Ham will thaw easily 
  • Fast!
  • You’ll save a ton of money by having ham on hand for family gatherings and dinner! 

Here’s How To Thaw Ham

METHOD NUMER 1.

STEP 1. 

Remove the Ham from the Freezer and place it into the refrigerator. Be sure to set it on a plate. 

STEP 2. 

Check the ham after 24 hours and see if it has thawed. A larger it is the longer it will take and may take as long as 3 days. 

METHOD NUMBER 2.

STEP 1. 

Remove the Ham from the Freezer and place into a large container filled with water. 

STEP 2. 

Check the ham every 30 minutes and change the water every 30 minutes until thawed. Then place into the refrigerator until ready to cook. Cook within 2 days. 

ham wrapped in store package with price sticker

Recipes for Thawed Ham.

We love to use our ham in these recipes! 

  • Pinto Beans
  • Collard Greens
  • With this Macaroni and Cheese. 
  • How to Cook a Spiral Ham

Creamy Cheesy Ham Tomato Sauce @ loavesanddishes.netFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

How Do You Thaw Ham? 

It’s so easy to thaw ham, in fact, you won’t find an easier recipe on this website! Simply move it to the refrigerator a few days before you plan to cook it. Be sure to place a plate under the ham to catch any dripping juices.

How To Thaw a Frozen Ham Quickly

  • If you need to start cooking your frozen ham quickly, the best method is to use  (number 2 from above).
  • For this method, you will need a large very clean container (cooler or plastic tub), fill it with cool water, place the ham in a large plastic bag with no holes, gently lower it into the cooler.
  • Change the water every half of an hour. The ham should thaw at a rate of 1lb per 30 minutes. 

How Long Does It Take To Thaw A Frozen Spiral Ham? 

It takes 24 hours - 3 days to thaw a frozen spiral ham depending on the size. Take your ham from the freezer at least 3 days before you plan to cook it. 

How Long is Thawed Ham Good For?

Thawed ham is good for 3-5 days before you cook it. Therefore, thaw it out and then be ready to use it. It will be good for another 3-5 days once you have cooked it. 

How Long To Thaw a 10lb Ham? 

A 10lb ham will thaw in about 3 days in the refrigerator. If you are doing it in water you can plan on a half hour per pound, therefore, that would be about 5 hours.

Can I Eat Ham That Has Been Frozen for 2 Years? 

That is really a judgement call. Essentially, if the meat has been frozen at 32F, it should be fine. However, freezer burn can set in and that will ruin the meat. Check the meat well for freezer burn before preparing it. 

How To Know If Frozen Ham is  Bad

If you notice….

  • The meat  appears encased in ice crystals or frost
  • Meat is very light colored and dry
  • The meat  has been in the freezer longer than 6 months.
  • There was a lot of air in the package.

How Long Does it Take To Cook a Ham? 

You’ll want to cook your ham according to the directions enclosed in the packaging, however, a good rule of thumb is 18-25 minutes per pound depending on the type of ham you have.

There’s a great chart included in this article from Parade Magazine

Tips and Tricks for How to Thaw Ham

  • Plan ahead and place the ham into the fridge for about 3 days before you plan to use it.
  • Be SURE to put a plate or towel beneath to collect any dripping juices as it does its thing in the refrigerator. 
  • Use the cooler method if you will need the ham more quickly. 
  • Double bag it in an unscented garbage bag to keep the water out if you are using the cool water method. 
  • Use a VERY CLEAN cooler, sink or a plastic tub for this work with the cool water method. 

Two biscuits on a blue plate on wooden table

If You Enjoyed Learning This, You Might Also Want To See…

How to Freeze Cheese

How to Freeze Lunch Meat

Freezing Steaks.

How to Freeze Raw Meat

How to Freeze Milk. 

Ya’ll Help Me Out, OK?

Please leave me a 5 STAR comment below. This helps others find Loaves and Dishes on the internet!

A view of three slices of ham on a grey plate with a blue napkin

How to Thaw Ham

Have ham frozen for the upcoming holidays? Family dinner and need to thaw the ham? Here’s how to thaw ham, all kinds!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to thaw ham, thawing ham
Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 hours hours
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 606kcal
Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

  • 1 10 lb ham

Instructions

Method 1 (Refrigerator)

  • Remove the ham from the freezer.
  • Place a large serving platter in the refrigerator with a kitchen towel on top of it.
  • Lay the ham on top of the platter and towel.
  • Allow to thaw in the fridge for 3 days before cooking

Method 2 (cool water)

  • Fill a large container with cool water.
  • Wrap the ham in two layers of unscented trash bags
  • Lower the trash bags into the large container of cool water.
  • Change the water every 30 minutes.
  • Ham will thaw at a rate of 1lb per 30 minutes.

Notes

  • Plan ahead and place the ham into the fridge for about 3 days before you plan to use it.
  • Be SURE to put a plate or towel beneath the ham to collect any dripping juices as it thaws in the refrigerator.
  • Use the cool water method if you will need the ham more quickly.
  • Double bag the ham in an unscented garbage bag to keep the water out if you are thawing using the cool water method.
  • Use a VERY CLEAN cooler, sink or a plastic tub for thawing the ham with the cool water method.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Thaw Ham
Amount Per Serving
Calories 606 Calories from Fat 378
% Daily Value*
Fat 42g65%
Saturated Fat 15g75%
Cholesterol 155mg52%
Sodium 2961mg123%
Potassium 714mg20%
Protein 54g108%
Calcium 17mg2%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

You May Also Love:

  • 1200 Best Southern Oxtail Stew Recipe (Pressure Cooker)
    Best Southern Oxtail Stew Recipe (Pressure Cooker)
  • white plate with pile of frozen shrimp on top
    How to Cook Frozen Prawns
  • Close up photo of a glistening ear of corn sitting on other ears on a blue plate
    How to Cook Frozen Corn on the Cob
  • crab legs on a table
    Best Way How to Cook Frozen Crab Legs Recipe (Easy)
Post Views: 709

More How To Do All Things in the Kitchen

  • Sugar cookie latte with a squeeze bottle of homemade sugar cookie syrup
    Homemade Sugar Cookie Syrup Recipe
  • How to cook ground pork
    Best Ground Beef for Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Easy)
  • A view from above of a bowl of beans for HOW TO COOK PINTO BEANS ON THE STOVE TOP
    How to Cook Canned Pinto Beans Recipe (Easy)
  • italian dressing packet recipe with leaves
    EASY Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix Recipe

Comments

  1. Wendi Spraker says

    October 25, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    5 stars
    aggregate rating test

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome!

Hi! I'm Wendi and I believe that food made with love and passion has power. It can bring people together AND carry them home. I'll show you how to get amazing flavor from simple dishes. Your family and friends will exclaim, "WOW! Amazing! I NEED this recipe!" Join me and nourish your body and soul.

More about Wendi

Popular

  • Greek Dressing with spoons in a white dish
    Copycat Cava Greek Dressing Recipe
  • A glass with coffee and cold foam on top
    How to Make Cream Cheese Cold Foam at Home
  • french toast on a blue plate with two spoons, whipped cream and berreis
    Overnight French Toast Casserole
  • gooey butter cake from over head with two spoons, on a blue plate with a white napkin
    St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Seasonal

  • cheesey chicken and orzo in a blue dish with spinach and a spoon
    One Pot Chicken and Orzo Recipe
  • Three chicken wings on a light blue plate with a wooden background.
    How To Make Super Crispy Chicken Wings in Your Air Fryer
  • Glass of Vietnamese iced coffee with ice cubes and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, served in a ribbed glass with a spoon beside it.
    How to Make Vietnamese Coffee
  • Glass pitcher and tumbler of Orange Coconut Refresher with an orange slice garnish, ice cubes, and a spoon on a wooden serving board.
    Orange Coconut Refresher Recipe

Wendi Spraker, Amazon International Best Selling Author

book titles Aspire

Footer

↑ back to top
Banner of sites featuring loaves and dishes including MSN, Country Living, People, etc
AS SEEN IN

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Contact
  • Process for Recipe Testing
  • Editorial Policy

Like what you see? Join 10,000 other people who subscribe to Loaves and Dishes!

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

As Seen In

NYC Catering award badge

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Loaves and Dishes