What’s better than cooking a moist and tender spiral ham for a holiday dinner?! Below you will find some tips and tricks on how long to cook a spiral ham and how to prepare one too!
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What is a Spiral Ham?
No, it’s not a ham that’s in a spiral shape! It’s a pre-cooked, pre-cut piece of meat! Butchers will create spiral hams by using a machine to make continuous, even cuts. This in turn simplifies the process of preparing and serving ham.
Proper Internal Temp for Spiral Ham
Grab that thermometer and stick it right into the center of the ham. If it has reached an internal temp of 140°F, then it’s done. Taking the temperature will help ensure it’s cooked properly without drying it out.
How Long to Cook A Spiral Ham In The Oven
Cooking times will vary based on the weight of the ham, if it is bone-in or boneless, and if it’s already cooked.
Baking Uncooked Fresh Ham
- A whole, bone-in smoked ham should be baked for 18-20 minutes per pound.
- Bake a half bone-in smoked ham for 22-25 minutes per pound.
- Bone-in shank or butt portions should be baked for 35-40 minutes per pound.
- A boneless shoulder or butt should be baked for 30-40 minutes per pound.
Reheating Pre-cooked Smoked Ham in the Oven
Reheat pre-cooked smoked ham in a preheated 325°F oven until the internal temperature is 135°F to 140°F. A general guideline is about 10 minutes of reheating time for every one pound of ham.
Cooking Country Ham
Country ham is heavily salted and is preserved by smoking and curing. Cover the ham with water and boil 20 to 25 minutes per pound of ham. Drain the ham, add your favorite glaze, and brown it for 15 minutes in a preheated 400°F oven.
How to Tell When Ham is Done
The best way to check for doneness is to use an instant-read thermometer. When the ham reaches 145°F, it is safe to eat and can be removed from the oven.
How Long to Cook A Spiral Ham In The Crock Pot
Grab your glaze of choice and brush it on your ham. Add some water or apple juice to the crock pot and cook the spiral ham on the lowest setting for about 2-3 hours.
Note, your spiral ham is precooked, you’re simply aiming to reheat the meat while adding in some flavors.
Tips for A Moist Spiral Ham Moist
The best way to keep those juices in and create a moist ham is to wrap it in foil. If you opt to apply a glaze, then unwrap the ham and apply it during the last 15-20 minutes of cooking.
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How To Cook A Spiral Ham (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Ingredients
- 1 bone-in ham 7-11 pounds fully-cooked
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
Brown Sugar Glaze
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Remove the ham from the fridge 1-2 hours ahead of time to sit at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, placing the oven rack in the lower middle of the oven. Set aside a roasting pan fitted with a rack or trivet.
- Place the ham fat-side up on a work surface. Remove the plastic disk if there is one on the bone.
- Using a sharp knife, score the fat about ¼-inch deep in a criss-cross pattern spaced 1-inch apart. (Cut into the fat only without cutting into the meat.)
- Mix the Dijon mustard and pineapple juice in a cup. Then brush over the top of the ham.
- Place the ham flat-side down in the prepared roasting pan. Bake for 1 to 1 ½ hours using the general rule of 12 to 15 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should reach 110°F before the next step.
- About 15 minutes before it’s done, it’s time to glaze the ham. Remove the ham from the oven and raise the temperature to 400°F.
- Place a small saucepan over medium heat and add the pineapple juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, ginger and cornstarch. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer, letting it bubble for a minute or two until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Remove the foil from the ham and brush all over with the glaze until used up.
- Put the ham back in the oven uncovered and bake for 10 to 20 minutes until caramelized and the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140°F if the ham was fully cooked already (or 150°F if it was partially cooked).
- Serve immediately. To slice a bone-in ham, you can start by cutting around the bone. Then use a chef’s knife or ham slicer to cut slices from around the bone.
Notes
- Save the ham bone to make soup.
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