how to cook a ham

3 hours ago 2

To cook a ham, especially a fully cooked bone-in ham, follow these general steps for a delicious baked ham with a glaze:

Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
Place the ham, fat side up, in a large roasting pan. Add about 1/2 inch of water to the bottom of the pan to keep the ham moist.
Score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep and optionally stud with cloves for flavor.
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake the ham for about 10 minutes per pound, minus the last 30 minutes (for example, a 13-pound ham would bake about 2 hours and 10 minutes at 325°F before glazing).

Prepare a glaze by mixing ingredients such as brown sugar, maple syrup, orange juice, mustard, apple cider vinegar, or other flavorings.
Thirty minutes before the ham is done, remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C).
Brush the ham generously with the glaze and return it to the oven uncovered.
Glaze the ham twice more at 15-minute intervals to build a sticky, caramelized crust.
After glazing, remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes before carving.

The ham is already cooked, so you are mainly warming it through and adding flavor.
Resting the ham after baking helps the juices redistribute for a moist texture.
Save the ham bone for making soups like split pea and ham soup.

This method results in a flavorful, moist ham with a beautifully caramelized glaze