How Long to Cook a Pre-Cooked Ham: Your Guide to a Perfect Holiday Ham

Pre-cooked ham is a holiday staple for many families, offering a delicious and relatively easy centerpiece for festive meals. If you’re wondering How Long To Cook A Pre-cooked Ham to achieve that perfect balance of warmth and juicy flavor without drying it out, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to bake a pre-cooked ham in the oven, ensuring a mouthwatering dish that will impress your guests and simplify your holiday cooking. We’ll also explore tips for adding extra flavor with a homemade glaze and answer frequently asked questions to make your ham cooking experience seamless.

Understanding Pre-Cooked Ham

Most hams available in grocery stores are pre-cooked, meaning they are already cured, smoked, and cooked to a safe internal temperature. This is a great convenience for home cooks because it significantly reduces cooking time. Your primary goal when “cooking” a pre-cooked ham is actually to reheat it gently and enhance its flavor, not to cook it from raw. These hams are readily available, especially around holidays like Easter and Christmas, often at discounted prices.

A bone-in, spiral-cut, fully-cooked ham is a popular choice due to its ease of preparation and flavorful results. The spiral cut allows for even heating and easier serving, while the bone-in cut contributes to a richer, more traditional ham flavor. Brands like Kirkland Signature Ham from Costco are often praised for their quality and value, offering a great base for your holiday meal.

Essential Tools for Baking Your Ham

Before you begin, gather these essential tools to ensure a smooth cooking process:

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking a Pre-Cooked Ham

For detailed ingredient measurements and complete recipe instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card at the end of this guide. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to bake your pre-cooked ham to perfection:

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare the Ham

Preheat your oven to a low temperature of 275°F (135°C). Since your ham is already cooked, the aim is gentle reheating to prevent dryness.

To maintain moisture, place the ham cut-side down in a baking dish or roasting pan. Cover it tightly with aluminum foil. This creates a steam environment, trapping moisture and preventing the ham from drying out during the reheating process. Using heavy-duty foil ensures a good seal.

Step 2: Baking and Basting for Moisture

Place the prepared ham in the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes per pound (0.5-0.7 kg). Always check the packaging instructions on your specific ham, as cooking times may slightly vary based on size and type.

During baking, baste the ham 1-2 times with the natural juices that accumulate in the bottom of the pan. Use a baster to collect these flavorful juices and drizzle them over the ham, ensuring to separate the spiral slices slightly as you baste. This helps the juices penetrate between the slices, keeping the ham incredibly moist and flavorful throughout.

Pro Tip: While some recipes suggest basting with glaze during the entire cooking process, basting with the ham’s own juices first and adding glaze later yields better results. The juices keep the ham moist, and the glaze caramelizes beautifully in the final stage without burning.

Step 3: Prepare a Delicious Brown Sugar Glaze

While the ham is baking and infusing with its natural flavors, prepare a flavorful glaze to elevate your dish. A homemade brown sugar glaze is an excellent choice to complement the savory ham.

In a small saucepan, combine the glaze ingredients: brown sugar, real maple syrup, yellow or Dijon mustard, and a touch of garlic. Stir these ingredients together over medium-high heat until the brown sugar is fully dissolved and the glaze thickens slightly into a syrupy consistency, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 4: Glaze, Broil Briefly, and Rest

Once the ham is heated through (refer to the time guidelines and internal temperature below), increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C). This higher temperature is for caramelizing the glaze and creating a beautiful, sticky finish.

Generously brush the brown sugar glaze over the ham, ensuring to get between the spiral slices for maximum flavor penetration. Using a spiral-cut ham makes this glazing process much easier.

Bake the glazed ham at 425°F (220°C) for an additional 10 minutes, or until the glaze becomes sticky and set. Keep a close watch to prevent the glaze from burning.

Remove the ham from the oven and tent it loosely with foil. Let the ham rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful ham.

Carving Your Bone-In Baked Ham

Carving a bone-in ham might seem daunting, but with a few simple steps, it becomes manageable. The key is to work around the bone to efficiently remove the meat.

Rest: Ensure the ham has rested for 10-15 minutes after glazing, tented with foil.
Transfer: Move the ham to a carving board or a sturdy cutting board with a kitchen towel underneath to prevent slipping.
Locate Bone: Position the ham bottom-side up. Identify the center bone and make a complete cut around it.
Slice Sections: You’ll notice natural sections of meat separated by fat around the bone. Cut along these separations to create slices. Arrange the slices on a serving platter.

Storing Leftover Ham

Leftover ham is a treasure! Allow the ham to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

For longer storage, ham freezes exceptionally well. Remove the ham from the bone (if applicable) and wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap. Stack the wrapped slices in a resealable freezer bag. For added moisture retention, consider vacuum sealing. You can also freeze the ham bone separately for future use in soups. Frozen ham maintains its quality for 1-2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Pre-Cooked Ham

How long does it really take to bake a pre-cooked ham?

The general rule of thumb is to bake a pre-cooked ham at 275°F (135°C) for 12-15 minutes per pound (0.5-0.7 kg). Always refer to the specific package directions for the most accurate timing. The goal is to reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) for pre-cooked ham. Use a meat thermometer to ensure accuracy. For a 10-pound cooked, bone-in ham, expect a cooking time of approximately 2-2.5 hours.

Can I freeze leftover ham?

Yes, freezing ham is an excellent way to extend its shelf life. Properly wrapped and frozen ham will remain flavorful for 1-2 months.

Delicious Side Dishes for Your Ham Dinner

Complete your holiday ham feast with these classic and complementary side dishes:

…and don’t forget a delightful Carrot Cake for dessert! 😉

More Holiday Main Dish Ideas

Now you’re equipped with all the knowledge to cook a perfectly juicy and flavorful pre-cooked ham. Save this guide for your next Easter, Christmas, or special occasion dinner. Find the printable recipe card below for your convenience. Enjoy your holiday cooking!

If you try this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating and leaving a comment with your feedback! Share photos of your finished ham on Instagram using #laurenslatest and tagging @laurens_latest.

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How to Slow Cook a Precooked Ham in the Oven Recipe

Perfectly Baked Ham coated in a homemade brown sugar glaze is an easy and delicious dish for any holiday or special occasion. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser that makes Easter or Christmas dinner effortless and memorable.

Servings: 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients:

10 lb bone-in spiral ham

Brown Sugar Glaze: (See Brown Sugar Glaze Recipe)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Unwrap ham and place cut-side down in a roasting or baking dish. Cover tightly with foil.
Bake for 12-15 minutes per pound (0.5-0.7 kg), or according to package directions. Baste 1-2 times during cooking with ham juices, separating slices to ensure moisture.
Prepare the glaze while ham bakes. Increase oven temperature to 425°F (220°C).
For the Brown Sugar Glaze: In a saucepan, combine glaze ingredients and stir over medium heat. Simmer until sugar dissolves and glaze thickens (1-2 minutes).
Remove from heat and generously glaze ham, ensuring glaze reaches between spiral slices.
Bake glazed ham at 425°F (220°C) for 10 minutes or until glaze is sticky and set. Rest for 10-15 minutes before carving and serving.

Nutrition Information:

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked ham, baked ham recipe, brown sugar glaze, Ham Glaze, how to bake a ham

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