How to Cook a Spiral Ham: Your Ultimate Guide

Spiral ham is a holiday centerpiece that’s surprisingly simple to prepare. If you’re wondering How To Cook A Spiral Ham that’s juicy, flavorful, and perfectly heated, you’ve come to the right place! Like a homemade honey baked ham, cooking a spiral ham is incredibly easy and almost effortless.

Popular choices for Easter and Christmas dinners, spiral hams are also fantastic year-round. Imagine serving it alongside creamy mashed potatoes, decadent Scalloped Potatoes, or as part of a festive spread with turkey. The best part? Spiral hams come fully cooked, so your job is simply to heat them through and bring out their best flavors.

Mastering the Cooking Time for Spiral Ham

Most spiral cut hams weigh between 8 and 11 pounds and are sold fully cooked. Always double-check the packaging to ensure yours is pre-cooked. This means when you cook a spiral ham, you’re primarily reheating it. The key to preventing dryness is using a low oven temperature, ensuring the inside heats through before the outer edges dry out.

To cook a spiral ham without drying it out, the magic tool is a meat thermometer. Aim for an internal temperature of 140°F. I like to remove the ham from the oven when it reaches around 135°F, as it will continue to heat up to 140°F as it rests. Overcooking is the enemy of a moist and delicious ham!

How long to cook a spiral ham depends on its size, but a general guideline is to plan for 12-15 minutes per pound at 325°F (160°C). I’ve experimented with cooking ham both covered and uncovered. Cooking it uncovered results in a slightly crispier exterior and will require closer to the longer end of the cooking time. Covering it with foil will help retain moisture and may require less cooking time.

If you choose to cook your spiral ham covered in foil, remember to remove the foil during the last 20 minutes, especially if you are adding a glaze. This allows the glaze to caramelize beautifully.

If your ham finishes cooking earlier than expected, simply take it out of the oven and let it cool slightly to prevent further cooking. Once it’s cooled down a bit, cover it loosely with foil and hold off on carving until you’re ready to serve.

Keep in mind that the shape of your ham can influence cooking time. A rounder, thicker ham may need a bit more time compared to a flatter ham to heat through evenly.

Elevating Flavor with a Spiral Ham Glaze

Adding a glaze takes your spiral ham to the next level, especially if you’re aiming for a flavor profile similar to a homemade honey baked ham. For the best results and to prevent burning, add the glaze during the last 20 minutes of cooking. I often discard the pre-packaged glaze that sometimes comes with spiral hams and prefer to whip up a quick and easy homemade glaze.

Simply brush your favorite glaze evenly over the ham during the final 20 minutes of baking. For an extra-sticky and caramelized glaze, you can increase the oven temperature slightly or even switch to broil for the last couple of minutes – but watch it closely to prevent burning!

Explore these delicious glaze recipes to enhance your spiral ham:

Classic Honey Glaze: Combine honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of apple cider vinegar for a sweet and tangy glaze.
Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze: A simple mix of brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and a splash of pineapple juice creates a savory-sweet crust.
Maple Dijon Glaze: Maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and a hint of soy sauce offer a sophisticated and balanced flavor.

The Crock Pot Secret to Tender Spiral Ham

For an incredibly tender and moist spiral ham, consider using your slow cooker! Making Crock Pot Ham is a fantastic, hands-off approach. Simply place the ham in the crock pot, brush it with your glaze of choice, and add a little water or apple juice to the bottom to create steam. Cook on the lowest setting until heated through.

Remember, since your spiral ham is already cooked, the crock pot method is all about gently reheating the meat and infusing it with the flavors of your glaze and seasonings. This method is especially great for freeing up oven space when you’re preparing a large holiday meal.

Expert Tips on How to Cut a Spiral Ham

Spiral hams are designed for easy serving. The continuous cut from end to end makes them naturally fall apart into slices, whether you serve them warm or cold. A general serving guideline is about 6 ounces of ham per person. An 8-pound ham will yield approximately 20 servings – but be prepared for everyone to want seconds!

Beyond Dinner: More Ways to Enjoy Spiral Ham

Spiral ham is incredibly versatile beyond a main dinner course. Why not pan-fry slices for a protein-packed breakfast? Or layer slices into a sandwich with mustard for a satisfying lunch? With its ease of preparation and delicious flavor, you’ll find yourself looking for excuses to enjoy spiral ham throughout the year!

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How To Cook A Spiral Ham Recipe

Spiral ham is an incredibly easy and impressive dish, ideal for special occasions or a memorable Christmas dinner.

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Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 59 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 4 minutes minutes

Servings 10 servings

Author Holly Nilsson

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Ingredients

1 spiral ham 8-10 pounds
glaze of your choice optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
Remove all packaging from the spiral ham. If there’s a small plastic disk on the underside of the bone, remove and discard it.
Place the ham in a shallow roasting pan, cut side down. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil*.
Bake the covered ham for 12-15 minutes per pound or until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C)*, using a meat thermometer to check.
If you are using a ham glaze, apply it during the last 20 minutes of cooking time. Brush the glaze evenly over the ham and remove the foil to finish cooking uncovered.
Once cooked, remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. Before serving, spoon any accumulated juices over the ham for added moisture and flavor, if desired.

Recipe Notes

I’ve found that cooking spiral ham both covered and uncovered yields slightly different results. Uncovered cooking creates a crispier exterior and requires a longer cooking time. Covering it shortens the cooking time and keeps the ham more moist. Remember that spiral ham is primarily pre-cooked and needs to be heated through. If cooking covered with foil, be sure to remove the foil for the last 20 minutes if you are adding a glaze. The shape of your ham can affect cooking time; thicker, rounder hams may need a longer cooking time compared to flatter hams. For a simple glaze, combine 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup juice (orange or pineapple work well), and 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard with your favorite warm spices like cinnamon or cloves. Nutritional information is calculated for a 4oz serving of ham and does not include glaze. This recipe has been retested to ensure consistent and perfect results every time.

4.99 from 266 votes

Nutrition Information

Nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on specific ingredients and cooking methods.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

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