Whip up a gorgeous holiday centerpiece with this easy glazed ham recipe. Inside, our Test Kitchen chefs share their best ideas on how to cook a ham for a special event.
Want a picture-perfect glazed ham recipe for a holiday or special occasion? You’ve come to the right place! This juicy ham goes well with all of our favorite Sunday dinner and Christmas side dish recipes. Moreover, ham is less stressful to prepare than other roasted meats. Since most hams are already cooked when you buy them, all you have to do to cook one is heat it up in the oven. If you add a tasty brown sugar glaze in the last 15 to 30 minutes, the ham will be so good that you won’t have any left over.
Cooking a Kruse ham for the holidays or a special occasion can seem intimidating but it doesn’t have to be! With a few simple tips you can prepare a juicy, flavorful Kruse ham that will be the star of your meal. In this article, we’ll walk through selecting, preparing, baking, glazing, and serving a Kruse ham so you can impress your guests.
Selecting Your Kruse Ham
Kruse offers a variety of smoked ham options to choose from. First, determine if your ham is fully cooked or needs to be cooked before eating. Fully cooked Kruse hams only require reheating, while fresh hams need thorough cooking from raw. Also, consider the size you need – Kruse has whole hams from 10 to 15 pounds, half hams from 5 to 7 pounds, and smaller shank or butt portions. Make sure to read the packaging carefully.
Preparing Your Kruse Ham
Before cooking, prepare your Kruse ham by:
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Rinsing under cold water and patting dry This removes any excess salt
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Scoring the surface in a diamond pattern. This makes the ham look attractive and helps the glaze seep in.
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Inserting whole cloves into the scored diamonds (optional). The cloves add flavor.
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Placing a spiral sliced ham cut-side down on heavy foil. This prevents drying out.
Proper prep is key for maximum flavor!
Baking Your Kruse Ham
For the most tender and juicy ham, baking is best. Follow these steps:
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Preheat oven to 325°F.
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Place ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. The rack prevents sogginess.
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Add 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water to the pan. This keeps the ham moist.
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Bake fully cooked ham 10 minutes per lb to 140°F internal temperature.
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Bake fresh ham 18-20 minutes per lb for whole ham or 35 minutes per lb for portions until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
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Brush with glaze last 30 minutes and increase temperature to 400°F to caramelize.
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Allow ham to rest 10 minutes before slicing. This locks in the juices.
Regular basting provides extra moistness. The caramelized glaze gives great presentation.
Slow Cooking Your Kruse Ham
For convenience, a slow cooker makes Kruse ham easy. Follow these simple steps:
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Place ham in a slow cooker and add 1 cup of liquid like ginger ale.
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Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours until reaching 140°F for fully cooked ham or 145°F for fresh.
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Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
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Make a glaze by combining 1 part jelly and 1 part mustard. Apply the last hour.
The slow cooker tenderizes the ham perfectly.
Glazing Your Kruse Ham
A glaze adds sweetness and eye appeal. Make it while the ham bakes:
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Simmer 1 cup of brown sugar, honey, preserves, etc for 15 minutes.
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Brush on ham last 30 minutes of baking.
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Apply glaze every 10-15 minutes to caramelize.
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Increase oven heat to 400°F to caramelize glaze.
Frequent brushing helps the glaze coat evenly for the best presentation.
Serving Your Kruse Ham
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Let ham rest 10 minutes before thinly slicing.
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Arrange slices on platters or appetizer boards.
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Pair with classic sides like pineapple, scalloped potatoes, and dinner rolls.
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Use leftovers in omelets, sandwiches, salads, and casseroles.
Sliced Kruse ham makes an elegant entrée at gatherings. Leftovers provide extra value.
With some easy prep and cooking techniques, you can serve up a perfect Kruse ham with delicious glaze and juicy meat. Your holiday table will impress with this centerpiece Kruse ham cooked just right!
Frequency of Entities:
Kruse ham: 19
glaze: 8
ham: 27
Bake: 4
Slow cooker: 3
Leftovers: 2
Step 3: Prepare the glaze
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and enough vinegar to make a thick paste.
How to Store Glazed Ham
Store leftover glazed ham in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. You can reheat the ham in the oven or microwave. Better yet: Repurpose the extras to make these stellar leftover ham recipes.
Easy Ham Recipe – How to Bake a Ham
FAQ
What is the best way to cook a precooked ham?
How do you heat up a precooked ham without drying it out?
How to heat a fully cooked spiral ham?
How to cook a fully cooked smoked ham?
How do you cook a fully cooked ham?
For ham labeled “fully cooked” or “ready to eat”: Place rack in lower third of oven; preheat oven to 325°. Place 1 (10–15 lb.) whole ham or 1 (5–7 lb.) half ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
How long do you cook a ham skin side up?
Take the ham out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the ham skin-side down in a roasting pan, and, depending on its size, cook for about an hour before turning it skin-side up and roasting for another 2 to 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
How do you glaze a ham?
To attractively finish either type of ham, use a sharp knife to slash the fat into a diamond pattern, which will allow the glaze to sink in. Brush the surface with the glaze and return the roast to the oven, reducing the heat as directed. (Let any remaining glaze reduce for 5–10 minutes on low heat on the stovetop; serve alongside the ham.)
How long do you cook a 10 lb Ham?
Place 1 (10–15 lb.) whole ham or 1 (5–7 lb.) half ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake uncovered until the internal temperature reaches 160° (18–20 minutes per pound for a 10–15-lb. ham; 20 minutes per pound for a 5–7-lb. ham; or 35 minutes per pound for a 3–4-lb. shank or butt portion).