Mastering the Perfect Dearborn Spiral Sliced Ham

If you’ve ever wondered how to cook a spiral ham (I love the Kirkland brand), look no further. You only need a few tips and tricks to make sure your holiday ham stays juicy and tender. You can use the glaze packet that comes with it or make your own. Once you try this easy way to cook it, you won’t cook it any other way.

I always get a few emails from readers asking how to cook a spiral ham around Easter and Christmas.

They really want to know, “How do I keep my ham from drying out after it’s already been cooked and sliced?” I love cooking a fresh ham because the flavor is unbeatable, but sometimes it’s nice to just put one in the oven and know I only have to heat it up and eat it.

I usually pick up the Kirkland hams from Costco but this method will work with any spiral-sliced ham. Choose a Kirkland ham or another ham that comes with its own glaze. You can use that glaze instead of the recipe in this post. Do use the directions provided at the bottom of this post for heating it though, as it’s foolproof!.

Dearborn spiral sliced hams are a holiday classic, prized for their convenience, flavor, and juicy texture. With simple preparation, you can make this fully-cooked ham shine as the centerpiece of your festive meal. This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to cook Dearborn spiral sliced ham to tender, juicy perfection.

Selecting the Best Dearborn Spiral Ham

Not all hams are created equal, so choose wisely Opt for a Dearborn spiral sliced ham, which is expertly cured, smoked, and sliced. The Dearborn brand has been crafting exceptional hams since 1922 Look for a size that fits your gathering – they range from 7 to 15 pounds. Inspect the ham for uniform marbling and aroma. Avoid any with dry spots or unpleasant odors. For added flavor, select one with a sweet glaze or maple coating.

Preparing the Ham for the Oven

Proper prep is key for even cooking Follow these tips

Remove ham from packaging and place fat side up in a roasting pan.
Discard any plastic disks affixed to the ham. These are just for shipping.
Score the fat cap in a diamond pattern to allow fat to render.
For hams without glaze, brush with honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup.
Let the ham sit at room temperature for 1 hour before cooking.
Preheat oven to 325°F.

Calculating Correct Cook Times

Cooking time varies based on size, but here are general guidelines:

7-9 lb. ham: Bake 18-20 minutes per lb., around 2 1⁄4 hours total.
10-12 lb. ham: Bake 18-20 minutes per lb., around 3 hours total.
13-15 lb. ham: Bake 18-20 minutes per lb., around 3 3⁄4 hours total.

To confirm doneness, use an instant-read thermometer. Ham should reach 130°F.

Monitoring the Ham During Cooking

To ensure even cooking, keep an eye on the ham as it bakes.

Place ham on a rack in the pan so air circulates.
Tent ham with foil to prevent overbrowning.
Check temp after first hour, then again periodically.
If browning too quickly, add more foil.
Baste with pan juices every 45 minutes.
Add more glaze during last 30 minutes if needed.

Allowing Proper Resting Time

Never slice into a hot ham! Resting is crucial.

When ham reaches 130°F, remove from oven.
Loosely tent with foil and let rest 30-45 minutes.
Temperature will continue rising to 135°F during rest time.
This allows juices to redistribute so ham stays moist.

Carving and Serving the Spiral Sliced Ham

With these tips, you’ll carve perfect slices every time:

Place ham flat side down on a cutting board.
Using a sharp knife, cut slices down to the bone.
Let sliced portion fall away as you cut along the bone.
Cut slices to desired thickness based on preference.
Arrange artful slices on a serving platter.
Serve warm or at room temperature accompanied by favorite sides.
Offer mustard, mayo, or sweet glaze for spreading or dipping.

Getting Creative with Leftovers

Leftover Dearborn spiral sliced ham can star in all sorts of dishes:

Dice for omelets, scrambles, quiches, and frittatas.
Fold into biscuits, pancakes, waffles, or breads.
Toss with pasta or use in creamy pasta bakes.
Mix into macaroni and cheese or scalloped potatoes.
Stack on sandwiches and paninis.
Chop for salads, pizza, fried rice, and omelettes.
Simmer bone and scraps into bean, pea, or lentil soup.

With proper storage, cooked ham keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. Freeze sliced ham up to 2 months for longer storage.

Handy Tips and Tricks

For easier slicing, chill ham well before carving.
Place a pan underneath to catch extra juices for basting.
Add whole cloves, pineapple rings, or cherries on top for decoration.
Use a meat thermometer for most accurate doneness readings.
Freeze slices between layers of waxed paper for quick heating later.
Simmer bone, fat, and skin into beans or greens for extra flavor.
Glaze with cranberry sauce, fig jam, or orange marmalade instead of plain sugar.

With these tips and techniques, you can masterfully prepare the perfect Dearborn spiral sliced ham sure to wow your guests. Enjoy this classic centerpiece for holidays or anytime!

how to cook a dearborn spiral sliced ham

More Ham Glaze Ideas

I usually use the ham glaze recipe at the end of this post. It needs a tablespoon of mustard, half a cup of jam, and a cup of brown sugar. It makes the ham taste so much better and is so simple to make. You could also add a little bourbon! For your Christmas ham, you can use cranberry sauce instead of jam.
Change up the simple recipe above by adding 1/4 cup of orange juice instead of the jam. (The bourbon works with this, too)!.
If you need another quick ham glaze recipe, all you need is equal parts maple syrup and brown sugar, plus Dijon mustard to taste. It couldn’t be easier, and it tastes great!
Any of these ham glaze recipes would taste great with chopped chipotle peppers in adobo if you like sweet and spicy tastes together. It tastes good with more, so I add more when I need it.

how to cook a dearborn spiral sliced ham

How to cook a spiral ham in the crockpot

If you want to use a crockpot, you can skip the foil and just put the ham in the pot after putting on the glaze. Cover and cook on low for four hours. Halfway through the cooking time, baste the ham with any juices that have collected, and do it again thirty minutes before the end of the time.

Make sure the ham you buy fits in your crockpot. If it doesn’t, you can use foil to cover the pot and then put the lid on top. This isn’t ideal but it’s definitely doable.

How to Cook Spiral Sliced Ham – Today’s Delight

FAQ

How long to cook a dearborn spiral ham?

Bake at 350* for 15-18 Min. Per Pound. Add your favorite glaze the last half hour of cooking. Uncover ham to allow browning.

How to heat up a dearborn spiral sliced ham?

To reheat a spiral-sliced ham in a conventional oven, cover the entire ham or portion with heavy aluminum foil and heat at 325 °F for about 10 minutes per pound.

How do you heat a spiral ham without drying it out?

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 said, there isn’t one perfect temperature to set your oven at – anywhere in the range of 250ºF to 350ºF will work.

How do you use the glaze packet that comes with the ham?

Glazing: Empty contents of the glaze packet into a small saucepan. Add 22 mL (1 1/2 tbsp) warm water. Heat glaze mixture on high, stirring constantly, until glaze begins to boil. Remove immediately from heat.