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Holding on to a leftover ham bone with no idea what to do? Look here first! With my comprehensive guide for What to Do with a Ham Bone you'll never run out of great ham bone recipes. Featuring my recipe for easy homemade ham bone stock!
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What to Do with Ham Bone
One of my favorite things about cooking ham on the bone is the ham bone! A big, hearty ham bone is an invaluable cooking tool when you know how to use it, and can be used to add so much flavor to tons of ham bone recipes!
Ever since learning how to use ham bone, I've been hooked. Every bone in ham recipe is just another way to get more ham bone to use! There are so many great ways to use ham bones, and they always make the recipe so much better.
So take a browse, and try some out! Or scroll to the bottom and make my favorite recipe for Ham Stock, which is the perfect base for soups!
Recipes with Ham Bone
Ham Bones for Soup
Ham bone is at its best when boiled and turned into stock! All the leftover meat turns ultra soft and tender, shredding easily off the bone and begging to be added to soup. And the rich amber stock makes the perfect addition or replacement for broths in any soup recipe!
Trust me, there's really no comparison. Once you've tried a soup with ham bone, there's no going back. Ham bones for soup truly make all the difference.
Try it out instead of chicken broth in Split Pea Soup and use ham instead of bacon, or make a big pot of creamy Ham Bone Soup that will stick to your ribs and keep you warm!
Ham Stock Recipe
- Ham bone
- Celery
- Carrots
- Onion
- Garlic
- Bay leaves
- Water
Of course, to make a good ham bone soup, you need to start with ham stock! Try out my easy, foolproof recipe for ham bone stock and you'll be ready to make soup in no time. Or, store the stock in the freezer in cup-sized portions to save for later!
Scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe! And make sure to pick the bone clean after it's boiled. The meat that shreds off will be tender and delicious!
Ham Bone Ideas
- Use ham stock instead of water while cooking rice for aromatic, savory ham rice! It's perfect for fried rice or serving alongside a ham ramen.
- Add a dash of ham stock to your favorite creamy pasta sauce to boost up the flavor and add delicious smokey and savory notes.
- Looking to make greens more flavorful? There's nothing like pork stock for sprucing up collard greens or a big pan of sauteed kale! Add in sliced ham for extra flavor!
- Add pork stock to beans and rice to make this easy meal staple even more hearty and delicious!
- If you're feeling sick, sipping plain ham bone stock is a great way to get your belly warmed up without it being too hard on your stomach.
Ham Bone FAQs
As a big, heavy bone, ham bone is best made use of for boiling into stock. This method of cooking makes use of the exposed bone marrow for adding incredible flavor to stocks and doesn't require cutting the bone at all, which can be very difficult.
Ham bone lasts for 5 days in the fridge in an airtight bag or container. If you want to save it longer, I recommend freezing the bone in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. It can be placed directly in a pot from frozen!
You can absolutely freeze a ham bone, and it's a great way to save it for later without worry of it spoiling! A frozen ham bone in a freezer-safe bag will last 3 months frozen. To use it for stock, simply place it into the pot without thawing, as the boiling process will take care of that.
You should always save ham bone! Once you taste soup made with ham bone stock, you'll never want to waste a ham bone again. Trust me, sometimes I consider making a ham just to use the bone! It's really that good and makes a huge difference.
Bone-In Ham Recipes
The great thing about ham is that no matter what kind you get, you can cook them all the same way! Just add a little time to the overall cook time so they heat through. Try out any of my favorite ham recipes with a bone-in ham and you'll love the results!
Did you enjoy this recipe? Try more of my best pork recipes, and leave a comment and rating below! We love to hear from you.
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Ham Bone Stock
Equipment
- Large pot
Ingredients
- Ham bones from one ham
- 2 stalks Celery roughly chopped
- 2 Carrots roughly chopped
- ½ Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 2 Bay leaves
- 12 cups Water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large pot, making sure the water covers them completely.Ham bones, 2 stalks Celery, 2 Carrots, ½ Onion, 2 cloves Garlic, 2 Bay leaves, 12 cups Water
- Set to low heat, cover, and let simmer for 4 hours.
- Remove the lid, stir, and pour the stock through a strainer to remove solids.
- Serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use ham stock instead of water while cooking rice for aromatic, savory ham rice! It's perfect for fried rice or serving alongside a ham ramen.
- Add a dash of ham stock to your favorite creamy pasta sauce to boost up the flavor and add delicious smokey and savory notes.
- Looking to make greens more flavorful? There's nothing like pork stock for sprucing up collard greens or a big pan of sauteed kale! Add in sliced ham for extra flavor.
- Add pork stock to beans and rice to make this easy meal staple even more hearty and delicious!
- If you're feeling sick, sipping plain ham bone stock is a great way to get your belly warmed up without it being too hard on your stomach.
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