Cooking a ham might seem daunting, especially for holiday gatherings, but it’s actually quite straightforward. Forget about complicated scoring or unnecessary cloves. This guide focuses on a simple, foolproof method to bake a ham that’s incredibly moist, tender, and bursting with flavor. We’ll walk you through How To Cook A Ham to impress, using a technique that combines gentle moist heat with a final blast of high temperature for a beautifully caramelized finish. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, you’ll find this method easy to follow and guaranteed to deliver a delicious centerpiece for your meal.
Choosing the Right Ham for Roasting
Before diving into the cooking process, selecting the right ham is crucial. The quality of your ham significantly impacts the final taste and texture. Here’s what to consider when you’re at the butcher or grocery store:
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Type of Ham: You’ll generally find two main types:
- City Ham (Pre-cooked or Ready-to-Eat Ham): This is the most common type and what this recipe is designed for. It’s already cooked, smoked, and cured, so you’re essentially reheating it and adding flavor. City hams can be bone-in or boneless, whole or half.
- Country Ham (Raw Ham): Country hams are salt-cured and smoked for extended periods and are not pre-cooked. They require a different cooking approach and are not suitable for this recipe. Make sure you are purchasing a city ham for this method.
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Bone-In vs. Boneless: Bone-in hams are often considered more flavorful and tend to stay moister during cooking. They also make a beautiful presentation. Boneless hams are easier to carve and serve, which can be a convenience factor. Either will work with this recipe.
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Whole Ham vs. Half Ham: Consider the number of people you’re serving. A whole ham (10-15 pounds) is ideal for large gatherings, while a half ham (5-7 pounds) is perfect for smaller families or dinners. The recipe below includes adjustments for both.
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Quality Matters: As the original article wisely points out, starting with a good quality ham is half the battle. Look for reputable brands and, if possible, inquire about the ham’s source and curing process for the best flavor.
Simple Steps to Baking a Delicious Ham
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You don’t need to score the ham, stud it with cloves, or fuss with complicated techniques. Here’s the breakdown of how to cook a ham using this easy method:
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Preheat Your Oven and Calculate Cooking Time: Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (160°C). The general rule of thumb for reheating a pre-cooked ham is approximately 10 minutes per pound. Calculate your ham’s cooking time based on its weight. Remember to subtract 30 minutes from this total cooking time, as the final 30 minutes will be at a higher temperature for glazing.
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Prepare the Ham for Baking: Place the ham fat-side up in a roasting pan. Adding moisture is key to preventing the ham from drying out. Pour about 2 cups of water, or enough to reach approximately 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Tightly cover the pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. This creates a moist environment, ensuring a tender and juicy ham.
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The Initial Bake: Transfer the foil-covered pan to the preheated oven. Bake for the calculated time (total cooking time minus 30 minutes). This initial phase uses moist heat to gently warm the ham through without drying it out.
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Prepare the Brown Sugar Maple Glaze (Optional but Recommended): While the ham is baking, you can prepare a simple yet flavorful glaze. A glaze adds a beautiful caramelized crust and an extra layer of deliciousness. For this brown sugar maple glaze, you will need:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
Whisk these ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. If making a half ham, halve the glaze recipe.
Pour the glaze into a measuring cup or small bowl for easy brushing.
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Glazing and Final Bake: After the initial baking time, remove the ham from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C). Generously brush the ham all over with the prepared glaze. Return the ham to the oven, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
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Second Glaze and Final Caramelization: Remove the ham from the oven again and brush with the remaining glaze. Return it to the oven for a final 15 minutes. This high-heat, glaze-coating process creates a beautiful, caramelized, slightly sticky exterior.
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Resting is Key: Once the ham is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful ham. Cover loosely with foil while it rests to keep it warm.
Carving and Serving Your Baked Ham
After the resting period, your ham is ready to carve and serve. Here’s a simple method for carving a bone-in ham:
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Stabilize the Ham: Place the ham on a large cutting board.
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Separate the Shank End: Locate the shank bone (the leg bone). Cut around the shank bone to separate a large portion of meat.
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Slice the Ham: Slice the remaining ham perpendicular to the bone, making slices of your desired thickness.
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Arrange and Serve: Arrange the carved ham slices on a serving platter.
Serve your beautifully baked ham as the centerpiece of your holiday meal or special dinner. Don’t forget to pair it with delicious side dishes and, for an extra touch, a flavorful ham sauce like a mustard sauce.
And importantly, don’t discard the ham bone! It’s perfect for making flavorful soups, like split pea and ham soup.
Enjoy your perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful ham!
Simple Baked Ham Recipe
Yields: 12-16 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients:
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For the Ham:
- 1 bone-in whole ham (11–13 lbs) or half ham (5–6 lbs), pre-cooked city ham
- Water
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
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For the Glaze (optional, halve for half ham):
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
Equipment:
- Roasting pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Pastry brush (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Calculate ham cooking time: 10 minutes per pound, subtract 30 minutes for final glaze.
- Place ham fat-side up in roasting pan. Add water to 1/2 inch depth. Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake for calculated time at 325°F (160°C).
- Meanwhile, whisk together glaze ingredients.
- Remove ham, increase oven to 425°F (220°C), remove foil.
- Brush ham with glaze, bake 15 minutes.
- Brush again with glaze, bake final 15 minutes.
- Rest ham for 20 minutes before carving.
Enjoy!
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