To cook a ham in the oven, follow these steps:
- Preheat the oven Preheat your oven to 275°F to 325°F
- Prepare the ham Place the ham in a roasting pan, flat-side down
. To keep the ham from drying out, you can add water to the pan and cover it tightly with foil
- Bake the ham Bake for 10 to 20 minutes per pound, or according to package directions
. If you are using a precooked ham, bake until the internal temperature reaches 140°F
. A meat thermometer can help monitor the internal temperature
- Make the glaze While the ham is baking, you can prepare a glaze to add flavor and crisp the skin
. A simple glaze can be made with brown sugar, maple syrup, and orange juice
. Other glazes include ingredients such as apple cider, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, honey, apricot preserves, and butter
. Simmer the glaze ingredients in a saucepan until the sugar melts and the mixture becomes syrupy
- Glaze the ham During the last 30 to 45 minutes of cooking, remove the foil and brush the ham with the glaze every 15 minutes
. For spiral-cut hams, be sure to separate the slices to get the glaze into all the nooks and crannies
- Rest the ham Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 20 minutes before carving
. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful ham
