Cooking A Ham At Home Made Easy : 7 Simple Steps
Dalstrong Gladiator Series 12" Slicing & Carving Knife
Quick Steps Overview: Classic Glazed Ham
- Set up the cooking station
- Bring ham to room temperature
- Prepare apple-maple glaze
- Prep the oven and the ham
- Roast the ham
- Pour more glaze and cook
- Baste until browned
Looking for a great centerpiece for the table for the next family dinner? Then this Classic Glazed Ham is what you need! While a good-sized ham may look overwhelming to cook, it is not. As long as you pick a high-quality ham and coat it with some delicious sauce, you will be able to cook up a handsome piece of meat that can easily serve up to 12 people.
Cooking ham is a hands-off process that you can do entirely in your oven with minimal equipment. But before we get to the recipe, let’s make some things clear. The word ‘ham’ refers to the hind leg of a pig, usually, one that has been preserved by salting, drying, smoking, or some combination of the three. This is done to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and extend the shelf-life of the meat.
Today, I am going to take you through some easy ham recipes and my favorite, Classic Glazed Ham. By the end of it, you will have a moist, tender, and delicious inside while the outside is brushed with a beautiful glaze. While this dish is a holiday special, it is simple enough to make at any time of year.
Shogun Series 12" Slicing & Carving Knife
1. Tools You Will Need
While cooking a ham is not rocket science, a few correct tools will help you achieve the desired level of doneness and make sure that your ham-cooking experience is a breeze.
- Cutting Board: Ham is a big chunk of meat and a sturdy cutting board is required to prep and slice the meat.
- Slicing/Carving Knife: A razor-sharp carving knife is required to make sure you can slice up thin and uniform pieces of ham without causing much damage to the flesh.
- Apron: A functional apron will not only shield you from splatters and other kitchen messes but will also act as an extension of your hands, helping you store spoons, instant-read thermometers, napkins, and anything else you would need while cooking.
- Instant-Read Thermometer: This tool will come in handy when you need to check the internal temperature of the ham. Cooking ham is not difficult but you need to be mindful of the temperature so that you don’t serve an undercooked or super dry slice of meat.
2. Recipe: Classic Glazed Ham
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Classic Glazed Ham |
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Active Time 40 mins |
Total Cook Time 3 hours 55 mins |
Servings 12 |
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Ingredients |
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Ham |
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Apple-Maple Glaze (You can replace this with any other glaze or rub of your choice) |
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Cooking Instructions |
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Step 1: Set up the cooking station |
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Step 2: Bring ham to room temperature |
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Step 3: Prepare apple-maple glaze |
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Step 4: Prep the oven and the ham |
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Step 5: Roast the ham |
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Step 6: Pour more glaze and cook |
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Step 7: Baste until browned |
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3. Best Seasonings for Ham
You can get very creative with the seasonings when it comes to cooking ham. Be it a sweet and fruity glaze or an all-spice rub, you can add flavor to this hefty chunk of meat in multiple ways.
Glazes and Rub:
| Mustard-Orange Glaze | |
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| Hoisin-Spice Glaze | |
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| Pineapple-Apricot Glaze | |
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Instructions to use |
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| Cherry Bourbon Glaze | |
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| Ham Rub | |
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4. Tips for Cooking Ham to Perfection
- Cross-hatching the ham’s surface before applying the glaze to ensure that the ham catches as much glaze as possible. This glaze also works on your favorite boneless ham.
- Give the ham a special twist by adding your favorite fruit preserves or juices to your glaze.
- While boneless hams may be easier to cut, you will miss out on tons of flavor that the bones contain. So I recommended you buy a bonein hams for your meal prep.
- You do not need to marinate ham. Most hams bought from the grocery store have been marinated and cooked already. Marinating it again can ruin the taste of the ham or make it too salty.
- Wrap the ham in aluminum foil or an oven bag before you put it in the oven. This will help prevent it from losing any moisture. Cooking ham without any coverage might put it at risk of drying out and losing most of its flavor.
- Cooking time depends on the weight of the ham. If your ham was sold fully cooked, then set the time for 10 minutes per pound. If it is partially cookies at the time of purchase, then time it for 25 minutes per pound.
5. Alternate Recipe: Cooking Ham in an Instant Pot
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Cooking Ham in an Instant Pot |
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Prep Time 10 mins |
Cook Time 10 mins |
Reverse Sear Time 5 mins |
Total Time 25 mins |
Servings 10 |
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Ingredients |
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Ham |
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Brown Sugar Glaze (You can replace this with any other glaze or rub of your choice) |
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Cooking Instructions |
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6. Nutritional Value
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Ham in an Instant Pot |
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Calories |
561kcal |
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Fat |
22g |
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Saturated Fat |
7g |
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Carbohydrates |
46g |
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Protein |
43g |
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Fiber |
1g |
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Cholesterol |
178mg |
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Sugar |
43g |
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Sodium |
2670mg |
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Potassium |
799mg |
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Vitamin A |
227IU |
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Vitamin C |
66mg |
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Calcium |
74mg |
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Iron |
2mg |
*IU stands for International Unit and is a measure that is used in pharmacy and for the use of measurement of vitamins.
7. Serving Suggestions
Not sure of how much ham to make for your dinner party?
Generally, planning for ½ pound of ham per person is a good rule to follow. Some guests may eat more, some less but this rule should help you with your planning. For example, if you are serving 12 people, a 6-pound ham should be plenty.
Once sliced up nice and thin, you can serve your brown sugar glazed ham with a simple slide of classic mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, some sweet and juicy spaghetti squash, or even honey-glazed carrots.
If you have a bunch of kids over for dinner you can also serve these slices with some buttery dinner rolls, cornbread, potato salad, or every child’s favorite, mac, and cheese. You can also great creative with your leftover ham by trying out different delicious ham recipes.
8. Best Knives to Carve Ham
1. Carving Knife and Fork Set 9” | Gladiator Series - Dalstrong
Ensure every roast, brisket, turkey, and even ham is perfectly and evenly sliced, with effortless motion and seamless maneuverability. This knife comes with an ultra-sharp blade with a narrow design, allowing you to perform cuts with a single stroke.
Pros:
- The hollow oval-shaped divots create tiny air pockets to minimize friction and stuck-on foods.
- The knife is pleasing to hold as it is to look at.
- This functional set will help your transfer meat slices from the cutting board to the plate with great ease.
Cons:
- If you are a seasoned chef, you can take a look at some of the longer blades that can help you slice up large chunks of meat easily.
- The design of this set can be too basic for a chef who has a bold sense of style. In that case, you can take a look at some of the other slicing and carving knives.
This stunningly designed set is what you need if you are someone who enjoys roasting, grilling, and barbecuing. The balanced, razor-sharp carving knife is designed to allow the user to make long, clean cuts that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Pros:
- This all-steel set offers a minimalist aesthetic with unobtrusive beauty, making it the perfect fit for any kitchen.
- The stylized groove along the knife offers the added benefits of reducing friction and stuck-on food, ensuring minimal flesh damage.
- This set is built to last a lifetime as the solid steel design ensures incredible toughness and resilience.
Cons:
- If you are an experienced chef, you can opt for a longer blade that will make it easier for you to cut through chunks of meat, fruits, and vegetables.
3. Carving Knife and Fork Set 9” | Shogun Series - Dalstrong
Cut through almost anything with effortless motion and seamless maneuverability. The ultra-sharp blade of this knife will work by your side all day long, enhancing your speed, precision, and endurance. The contoured shape ensures meat can be easily separated from the bone and comes with a fork that helps you secure the meat in place.
Pros:
- The super-steel core possesses extra high carbon levels, allowing for scalpel-like sharpness with exceptional, long-lasting edge retention, increasing the lifespan of the blade.
- The blade is highly impervious to both, heat and moisture, making it the perfect to to handle the heat in any kind of kitchen.
- The carefully designed handle offers superior hand control and comfort.
Cons:
- This knife comes with a heavy price tag that might not make it every home chef’s first choice.
- Chefs who prefer a more simple style of knives can take a look at some of the other carving knives available.
4. Slicing and Carving Knife 10” | Gladiator Series - Dalstrong
Here’s a blade that is designed for the tough day-to-day demands of a busy kitchen. This versatile blade is perfect for carving roasts, prepping large fruits and vegetables, and slicing ham, loaves of bread and even cake. Create beautiful, long, thin, and uniform sliced of larger cuts of meat like ham without tearing or shredding, with a single stroke.
Pros:
- The tall blade height gives knuckle clearance to assist with food preparation and chopping activities.
- The handles are shaped to provide maximum comfort, grip, and maneuverability.
- The blade cleans easily and is very simple to maintain.
Cons:
- If you are a new chef, this 10” blade can prove to get slightly daunting. So be patient with this blade as you will have to practice to get a hang of it.
- The 10” blade can get a little difficult to store, especially if you have a small kitchen.
5. Slicing and Carving Knife 12” | Delta Wolf Series - Dalstrong
For tasks that require finesse and flexibility, this is the blade you need. This slicer ensures quick and easy slicing and trimming of meats like hams, roasts, and turkey. The slender blade is also suited for prepping large fruits and vegetables in a smooth, quick motion.
Pros:
- The groove near the spine of the knife lightens the blade and enhances agility so you can keep chopping and carving with speed.
- The black, non-reflective titanium-nitride coating adds corrosion resistance, toughens the blade, and enhances its non-stick properties.
- The blade is resistant to both, extreme hot and cold temperatures, increasing its durability of the blade.
Cons:
- I recommend investing in this blade only if you are an experienced chef. Otherwise, the length of the blade can make it slightly daunting to use.
- This is a slightly pricey blade however it is worth it if you are a chef that works in a super busy kitchen, dealing with big cuts of meat.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
How long should it take to cook a ham?
For whole ham, allow 15 to 18 minutes per pound; for a half, 18 to 24 minutes per pound. Ham will be ready with the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.
How do I cook a precooked ham?
The best way t do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake ham at 325 degrees F for 16-20 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer registers 135 degrees F.
How long does it take to cook a raw ham?
It takes 18-20 minutes per pound to cook a whole 10-15 pound ham. It will take 20 minutes per pound to cook a 5-7 pound ham.
