[Can it be frozen? ] Introducing how to freeze ham and delicious recipes!

Have you ever received a high-quality broxham as a year-end gift and couldn't finish it?

If you have ever had to waste or force yourself to eat ham, we recommend freezing it.

Freezing ham is generally not recommended, but there are times when you just can't eat it all.

In such a case, please try a smart freezing method.

We will introduce the points you should keep in mind when freezing ham and recipes to make frozen ham delicious.

Advantages of freezing ham

By freezing ham, you can extend the shelf life of ham that you cannot eat right away.

It may be difficult for a small group of people to eat all of the broxham you receive as a year-end gift in one sitting.

Don't you think it's better to wisely freeze food and enjoy it more deliciously than to force yourself to eat it all?

Sliced ham only lasts for 2 to 3 days once opened.

Smart freezing techniques and delicious recipes can help you preserve sliced ham that has been opened.

You can save money by buying cheap large packs, storing them wisely in the freezer, and cooking them deliciously.

How to freeze ham

1. 3 points to keep frozen ham delicious

keep clean

Although it is the basics of cooking, keeping your hands, cooking utensils, and countertop clean will reduce the risk of contaminating germs.

Frozen ham is basically thawed naturally.

This is an important point to prevent bacteria from multiplying while thawing the food, making it impossible to eat it raw.

do not expose to air

Freeze to avoid exposure to air as much as possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and freezer burn.

Once wrapped in plastic wrap, place it in something that can be airtight, such as a ziplock bag, and double block it.

Create a vacuum as much as possible by using a vacuum device, inserting a straw and sucking out the air, or placing it in a pot filled with water and using water pressure.

Freeze quickly at low temperature

The reason why freezing ham is not recommended is because when frozen, the water in the ham freezes, destroying the cells, and when the ham is thawed, the water and flavor are lost.

Deterioration progresses the most when the temperature is -1°C to -5°C, so it is necessary to shorten this time as much as possible to bring the product to a low temperature as quickly as possible.

Before putting it in the freezer, lower the temperature to the lowest possible temperature in the refrigerator, and use ice packs or metal with good heat conductivity to freeze and preserve it quickly and deliciously.

Placing the ham thinly and evenly is also an important trick to lower the temperature quickly and evenly.

Opening and closing the freezer and refrigerator compartments is also a factor that increases the temperature inside the refrigerator.

It is recommended to move the food to the freezer before going to bed or going out, as this will eliminate the need to open and close the refrigerator.

You can do it at other times, but please refrain from opening or closing the freezer for at least 3 hours.

2. How to freeze sliced ham

Wash your hands thoroughly and keep the countertop clean.

2) Wrap each slice of ham tightly in plastic wrap.

To avoid exposure to air as much as possible, and for convenience when using, be sure to wrap each bag individually, even if it feels like a hassle.

3) Arrange them as flat and evenly as possible in an airtight container such as a ziplock bag, and remove the air to create a vacuum.

4) Wrap in aluminum foil and cool in the refrigerator.

5) Transfer to the freezer.

Place it on a metal tray, cover it with an ice pack, and freeze it at a low temperature as soon as possible.

3. How to freeze blox ham

Wash your hands thoroughly and sterilize the knife and cutting board in boiling water to keep them clean.

2) Cut the blox ham into easy-to-use pieces.

3) Divide into small portions for each use and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

4) Place them in a thin, flat layer in an airtight container such as a ziplock bag and remove the air.

5) Wrap in aluminum foil and cool in the refrigerator.

6) Once transferred to the freezer, freeze at a low temperature as quickly as possible using a metal bat, ice pack, or rapid freezer.

*This time, I used both a metal bat and an ice pack to freeze the food, but that doesn't mean you have to use both.

Please try to freeze the food as quickly and at a low temperature as possible.

How to thaw frozen ham and storage period

How to thaw frozen ham

Please defrost frozen ham slowly in the refrigerator before using.

It will take half a day to a day to thaw, so move it to the refrigerator before using.

If you raise the temperature too quickly, the cells will break down and more water will flow out, making them stale.

Since the flavor components are dissolved in the water that flows out, we recommend thawing the food in the refrigerator so that the temperature rises as slowly as possible.

Storage period of frozen ham

Please consume frozen ham within one month.

If the temperature is longer than that, it is possible to preserve the food if the freezer is in good condition, but it will cause freezer burn and the taste will be lost.

If it's in good condition, you can use it raw in salads, etc., so be sure to eat it while it's still delicious.

>> 3 points to keep in mind when preserving vegetables

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

5 easy recipes using frozen ham

Frozen ham DE Chinese style! Easy radish

☑材料
・冷凍スライスハム　4枚
✩大根　5㎝
✩水　500～550㏄
✩鶏がらスープの素　大さじ1
・オイスターソース　小さじ1
・青ネギ　お好みで
・黒コショウ　適量

<How to make>
1) About half a day in advance, move the frozen ham to the refrigerator and thaw it.
2) Slice the radish into thin rounds using a slicer, then cut into ginkgo slices.
3) Cut the thawed ham in half, then cut into 1cm wide pieces.
4) Put the ingredients ✩ into a pot, heat, and simmer until the radish becomes soft.
5) Add the other ingredients, adjust the taste, and it's done.
When you thaw the frozen ham, the water released will release the flavor, so add it to the soup as well.

cheap! early! delicious! Coleslaw with frozen ham

☑材料（2人分）
・もやし　1/2袋
・冷凍スライスハム　1枚
・コーン　適量
・白だし　25ℊ
・酢　30ℊ
・マヨネーズ　チューブ3㎝

<How to make>
1) Boil the bean sprouts, soak in cold water, then drain thoroughly.
2) Cut the frozen ham into bite-sized pieces.
3) Combine all the ingredients, chill in the refrigerator, and once the ham is thawed, it's ready.
If you want to eat it immediately after making it, move the ham to the refrigerator about 3 hours in advance.

Macaroni hahaha! Homemade frozen ham gratin

☑材料（2人分）
・冷凍ハム　お好みで
・玉ねぎ　1/4個
✩マカロニ　80ℊ
✩牛乳　400㎖
✩コンソメキューブ　1/2個
✩小麦粉　大さじ1
✩塩コショウ　少々
・粉チーズ　大さじ2
・パン粉　大さじ1

<How to make>
About half a day in advance, move the frozen ham to the refrigerator and thaw it, then soak the macaroni in water.
2) Cut the ham to your desired size and finely chop the onion.
3) Place the ingredients in 2) and ✩ in a heat-resistant container, mix well, cover with plastic wrap, and heat in a 500W microwave for about 2 minutes.
4) Remove, mix, and heat for another 5 minutes.
5) Once the macaroni is soft, transfer it to a gratin dish.
If it is hard, heat it for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
6) Sprinkle with grated cheese and bread crumbs, then bake in the oven for about 5 minutes until golden brown, and it's done.

Frozen ham can also be used as pasta ◎Cream pasta with spinach

☑材料（1人分）
・パスタ　80ℊ
・ほうれん草　半束
・冷凍ハム　お好みで
・バター（無ければマーガリンでも可）　適量
・小麦粉　大さじ1
・牛乳　150㎖
・パスタのゆで汁　お玉1杯分
・コンソメ顆粒　大さじ1/2
・粗びきこしょう　適量

<How to make>
Transfer the frozen ham to the refrigerator and thaw it.
2) Boil the pasta in salted water for 1 minute less than the instructions on the package.
3) Cut the well-washed spinach into 5cm wide pieces, and cut the ham into easy-to-eat pieces.
4) Fry 3) in a frying pan with melted butter.
5) Turn the heat down to low, sprinkle the flour evenly, and mix well until there are no lumps.
6) Add milk little by little and stir-fry to prevent lumps.
7) Add the pasta boiled water and consommé granules and stir-fry until it thickens.
8) Add the pasta and mix. If the taste is too weak, add salt to adjust the taste.
9) Once served in a bowl, sprinkle with pepper and it's done.

Luxury with thick-sliced ham! cabbage and ham

☑材料（2人分）
・キャベツ　400ℊ
・水　2カップ
・コンソメ顆粒　小さじ1
・ローリエ　1枚
・冷凍ブロックハム　90ℊ
・塩コショウ　お好みで

<How to make>
Move the frozen ham to the refrigerator about half a day to a day in advance to thaw it.
2) Roughly chop the cabbage, leaving the core intact.
3) Put water and cabbage/consomme granules in a pot and heat.
4) When it boils, add the bay leaf and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring the cabbage up and down occasionally.
5) Cut the ham into bite-sized pieces and add to the mixture, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
6) Season with salt and pepper and it's done.
If you like, you can add vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Conclusion

How do you freeze ham and make delicious recipes?

It is said that ham is not suitable for freezing, but if you can't eat it all, freezing it is recommended.

The key points when freezing ham are to keep it clean, avoid exposing it to air, and freeze it quickly at low temperatures.

To enjoy it deliciously, it is important to thaw it slowly in the refrigerator.

When you buy a big pack or receive a lot of ham as a year-end gift, try a smart freezing method to save it from going to waste.

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