To cook a spiral ham, which is typically pre-cooked, you mainly need to heat it through without drying it out. The general guideline is:
- Preheat your oven to 300°F to 325°F.
- Heat the ham for about 12 to 15 minutes per pound at 300°F, or about 10 to 15 minutes per pound at 325°F.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
- Cover the ham with foil while heating to retain moisture; remove the foil during the last 20 minutes if applying a glaze to allow it to caramelize.
- Let the ham rest for 15 to 20 minutes after removing it from the oven before slicing and serving.
For example, a 10-pound spiral ham would take roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours at 325°F
. This method helps keep the ham juicy and flavorful. Adding glaze near the end of cooking enhances taste without burning the sugars