Perfect Baked Ham Recipes

PERFECT BAKED HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°.
• Score the fat on the ham in about 1 inches diamond shapes & place a whole clove in the center of each -- 10-15 whole cloves is plenty.
• Mix the remaining ingredients together & pour into the bottom of a large roaster.
• Place ham in roaster & place in oven.
• Bake 5-6 hours.
• Check every 1½ to 2 hours to be sure there's enough liquid in the bottom of the roaster -- add HOT water as needed.
• NOTE: I don't normally glaze my ham, but if you do, I recommend making a medium-thick paste out of ginger ale & light brown sugar & glaze during the last hour or so.

BAKED HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place ham in a roasting pan, and press whole cloves into the top at 1 to 2 inch intervals. Pack the top with a layer of brown sugar. Pour enough water into the bottom of the roasting pan to come to a 1 inch depth. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil or a lid.
• Bake for 4 1/2 to 5 hours in the preheated oven (about 22 minutes per pound), or until the internal temperature of the ham has reached 160 degrees F (72 degrees C). Make sure the meat thermometer is not touching the bone. Let stand for about 20 minutes before carving.

PERFECT GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Dry a bone-in, fully cooked half ham (do not use a country ham) and bring to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Trim the ham skin, leaving the fat intact. Score the fat in a crosshatch pattern, making the cuts about 3/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart. Put the ham flat-side down on a rack in a roasting pan; add 1 cup water. Bake on the lowest oven rack, 40 minutes, adding more water if the pan gets dry. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Whisk 1 cup jam or marmalade with 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Brush the ham with half of the glaze; cover loosely with foil and bake 45 more minutes. Brush with the remaining glaze and bake, uncovered, until the glaze is browned, 40 to 50 more minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before carving.
• Don't toss your ham bone! Add it to simmering soups, beans or braised greens for extra flavor.
• Give your ham a great crunch: Sprinkle one of the below mixes onto the glaze before the last 40 to 50 minutes of cooking.
• Spring Herb Mix 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), 3 tablespoons each chopped parsley and chives, and the grated zest of 1 lemon.
• Cornmeal-Thyme Crush 1 cup cornbread stuffing mix; toss with 2 tablespoons chopped thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander and 1/2 cup cornmeal.
• Spicy Sourdough Grind 3 cups cubed sourdough bread in a food processor; toss with 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1 bunch chopped scallions.