A spiral ham is a great choice for a meal that offers both great taste and a beautiful presentation. If you know how to pick the right ham, these are great for holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as family shindigs and parties.
However, since spiral hams are pre-cooked, you may be a little confused about how to heat them. We will talk about everything you need to know to cook a tasty and juicy uncured bone-in spiral ham. Table of Contents.
Dearborn spiral hams are a delicious holiday tradition The impressive spiral cut shape shows off the glistening glaze coating each slice. Beyond looks, the spiral cut allows more surface area for flavor infusion too But to enjoy this specialty ham at its best, it’s key to know how long to cook a Dearborn spiral ham.
Undercooking leaves the ham unsafe and undercooked Overcooking results in dried out, overly firm meat Follow the timing guidelines in this article to serve up juicy, tender Dearborn spiral ham perfection.
About Dearborn Spiral Hams
Dearborn Brand, founded in 1924, produces premium hams smoked for up to 24 hours over hardwood chips This slow smoking infuses the meat with rich, smoky flavor
Their famous spiral cut hams are sold fully cooked and ready to heat and serve. The distinctive spiral slicing wraps around the bone, exposing more area to really get the glaze coverage into every bite.
Dearborn spiral hams come pre-glazed with mouthwatering flavors like brown sugar maple and honey bourbon. You can also buy them plain and add your own signature glaze.
Oven Roasting Times
Cooking your Dearborn spiral ham is simple. Just warm it through in the oven until heated to a safe internal temperature. Here are the standard roasting times:
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Preheat oven to 325°F.
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Place ham in a foil-lined baking dish, fat side up.
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Cook approximately 15 minutes per pound.
For example, an 8-pound Dearborn spiral ham will take about 120 minutes (8 lbs x 15 minutes/lb = 120 minutes).
Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the ham reaches 140°F before serving. If it’s under, return to the oven for 5-10 minutes more.
Cook Time Guidelines by Size
Follow these estimated roasting times based on the size of your Dearborn spiral ham:
- 4-5 lb ham: 60-75 minutes
- 6-7 lb ham: 90-105 minutes
- 8-9 lb ham: 120-135 minutes
- 10-12 lb ham: 150-180 minutes
For hams smaller than 4 pounds or larger than 12 pounds, extend the cook time as needed until the thermometer reads 140°F.
When reheating a fully cooked Dearborn spiral ham, simply warm it at 250°F for 10-15 minutes per pound.
Key Tips for Proper Cook Times
To achieve the ideal doneness and moisture when cooking your Dearborn spiral ham, keep these tips in mind:
- Always cook thawed ham. Don’t cook frozen.
- Use a meat thermometer for accuracy. Oven temps can vary.
- Allow the ham to rest 15 minutes before carving to redistribute juices.
- Glaze the ham during the last 30 minutes for extra flavor.
- Add 5-10 minutes to the cook time for hams over 10 pounds.
- Reduce cook time slightly in a convection oven.
Step-by-Step Cooking Process
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked Dearborn spiral ham:
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Prep the Ham
- Remove from packaging and plastic disk.
- Place ham cut side down in a foil-lined baking dish.
- Score the fat in a diamond pattern for better glaze adhesion.
- Brush with glaze (especially if cooking an unglazed ham).
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Bake the Ham
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Cover ham tightly with foil to prevent drying out.
- Bake for 15 minutes per pound based on size.
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Test for Doneness
- Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part, avoiding bone.
- It should reach 140°F minimum when done.
- If under 140°F, return to oven 5-10 minutes more.
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Let Ham Rest
- Remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes before carving.
- Allows juices to redistribute for neat, easy slicing.
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Carve and Serve
- Carve by slicing around the bone and serve immediately.
- Add extra glaze just before serving if desired.
Following this simple process will result in tender, juicy Dearborn spiral ham with wonderful smoky flavor every time.
Checking Doneness
Using a meat thermometer is vital to ensure your Dearborn spiral ham cooks to a safe internal temperature without overcooking.
- Insert thermometer into the thickest part, avoiding bone.
- Double check the temperature in multiple spots.
- Ham should reach 140°F minimum.
- Meat should slide off thermometer easily when fully cooked.
- Ham may still have a slight pink tint when properly cooked.
Taking the temperature guarantees moist, tender results. For food safety, cook to 140°F, but avoid going above or the ham will dry out.
Troubleshooting Undercooked Ham
If your Dearborn spiral ham is slightly undercooked, here are some fixes:
- Return to oven and cook 5-10 minutes longer until 140°F.
- Quickly finish in 400°F oven to add heat without drying out.
- Pan fry slices in butter to finish cooking and add browning.
- Simmer ham in broth, sauce, or glaze to gently finish cooking.
Thoroughly cook any visibly underdone areas for food safety. With a little extra care, you can still achieve tasty results from an undercooked ham.
Preventing Overcooked Ham
It’s also easy to overcook your Dearborn spiral ham if you cook it too long. Signs of overcooking include:
- Meat pulling away from the bone too easily.
- Dry, dense looking meat.
- Excessively firmer, tighter texture.
- Hard edges and crispy dried out spots.
- Crumbling slices that don’t hold together.
While an overcooked ham is still safe to eat, it will be much drier and tougher. Stick to the recommended cook times to keep your Dearborn spiral ham juicy.
Let’s Sum It Up
Achieving the perfect cook time is key for the best Dearborn spiral ham. Roast approximately 15 minutes per pound at 325°F. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 140°F. Allow the ham to rest before slicing into it. Follow these guidelines and you’ll have a juicy, flavorful holiday ham!
Choose Your Cooking Method
The first step to heating your spiral ham is to choose your cooking method. A slow cooker can also be used to heat your ham. The oven is the most traditional and well-known way to do it.
Pick your method, but don’t forget to take the ham out of the fridge about an hour before cooking. If your ham is frozen, it’s best to allow it to slowly thaw in the refrigerator. You’ll need to plan ahead, though, because it takes 4 to 6 hours for each pound of frozen ham to thaw. Putting your sealed ham in cold water can speed up the defrosting process if you’re in a hurry. Change the water every 30 minutes, and plan for 30 minutes per pound of ham.
Since the ham is already cooked, your goal is to thoroughly heat it without drying it out. That means you’ll want to opt for low and slow cooking rather than high and fast heat.
That being said, there isn’t just one right temperature for your oven. Anywhere from 250ºF to 350ºF will do. But keep in mind that lower temperatures mean longer cooking times. If your guests are coming an hour earlier than planned, you may want to choose the higher temperatures.
As your oven is preheating, place a baking rack inside a shallow roasting pan. Next, put the ham on top of the rack. To help keep the moisture inside, cover the pan with aluminum foil. Next, place the pan on a rack centered in the middle of the oven.
Bake your ham until the internal temperature reaches 140ºF at the thickest part. Total cook time will depend on both the size of the ham as well as the oven temperature. However, you can expect an average-sized ham to take 1. 5 to 2. 5 hours.
Take the ham out of the oven 15 minutes before it’s supposed to be done and brush the outside with a glaze. Coleman Natural’s bone-in spiral hams come with a glaze packet, so you don’t have to look for a recipe and make the glaze yourself.
Leave uncovered and return to the oven until the interior of the ham reaches 140º.
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham
There is another way to cook your spiral ham if you don’t have room in the oven or want to try something new.
Set your crockpot to low and place the ham at the bottom. You can also use sugar and spices to cover the ham or a marinade. You should cook your ham for four to six hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145º, whether you don’t change anything about it or add spices.
How long should I cook a precooked spiral ham?
FAQ
How long does it take to cook a fully cooked spiral ham?
How long to heat a dearborn spiral ham?
How to cook a fully cooked dearborn ham?
How long does a Dearborn spiral ham take to cook?
A Dearborn Spiral Sliced Ham is slow-cooked and smoked for up to 24 hours, resulting in a tender and flavorful meat that is sure to impress your guests. This process takes 24 hours for the ham to be fully cooked.
How long to cook a spiral ham?
To cook a spiral ham without it drying out make sure you use a meat thermometer to reach 140°F and do not overcook it. I usually remove it around 135°F and keep an eye on the thermometer to ensure it reaches 140°F. How long to cook a Spiral Ham will depend on the size but allot for 12-15 minutes per pound at 325°F.
How long do you cook a covered Ham?
Bake the covered ham for 12-15 minutes per pound or until the ham reaches 140°F*. If adding ham glaze, add it during the last 20 minutes of cooking. Brush the glaze on the ham and leave it uncovered to finish cooking. Remove the ham from the oven and rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
How long do you cook a ham with foil?
Cover the ham with foil to prevent it from drying out during the cooking process. Bake the ham with foil for 12-15 minutes per pound until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. If you want to add a glaze to your ham, wait until the last 20 minutes of cooking to apply it.