how to cook a precooked honey glazed ham

How to Cook a Precooked Honey Glazed Ham

A honey glazed ham is a classic main dish for holidays and special occasions. The sweet glaze complements the salty ham beautifully. While you can buy a precooked honey glazed ham from many grocery stores and delis, making your own at home is simple and allows you to control the ingredients. With just a few preparation steps, you can have a delicious honey glazed ham ready for your next gathering.

Ingredients Needed
To make a homemade honey glazed ham, you will need:

• A 5 to 10 pound precooked boneless or bone-in spiral sliced ham Make sure it does not already have a glaze or seasoning on it

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1/2 to 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup honey

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Glaze Preparation
The first step is preparing the glaze that gives the ham its signature flavor. This can be done 1-3 days in advance.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar, honey, mustard, pineapple juice, garlic powder, cloves, and cinnamon until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, until thickened slightly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool and thicken more.

Ham Preparation
Once you are ready to cook the ham, preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the ham cut side down in a roasting pan or baking dish. Using a knife, score the top and sides of the ham by making diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep. This allows the glaze to seep into the meat.

Brush one third of the glaze all over the ham, coating completely. Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 90 minutes.

Remove foil and brush another third of the glaze over the ham. Return to oven and bake uncovered for another 30 minutes.

Finally, brush the remaining glaze over the ham and put it under the broiler for 3-5 minutes to caramelize the glaze.

Let the ham rest at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Slow Cooker Method
For an even easier approach, you can make honey glazed ham in a slow cooker. Use a 6-7 quart slow cooker and an 8-10 pound bone-in spiral sliced ham. Prepare the ham and glaze as directed above.

Place ham in slow cooker and pour 2/3 of the glaze over top. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Every hour, baste ham with the glaze in the bottom of the slow cooker.

In the last 30 minutes of cooking, brush ham with remaining 1/3 of glaze. Remove carefully to a serving platter, tent with foil and let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Storing Leftovers
Leftover glazed ham will keep refrigerated for 4-5 days. Store it wrapped in foil or in an airtight container along with any extra glaze. The ham can also be frozen for 1-2 months.

To reheat, slices of ham can be warmed in the microwave or on the stove in a skillet. Heat glaze separately to brush over ham again before serving.

Serving Suggestions
A honey baked ham pairs deliciously with many classic holiday side dishes:

• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Scalloped potatoes
• Sweet potato casserole
• Green bean casserole
• Cornbread dressing
• Dinner rolls or biscuits
• Fruit salad

A spiral cut ham makes serving simple. Just slice down between each spiral cut to get perfect portions. Offer a dish of extra glaze for guests to drizzle over their ham if desired.

Leftover ham is also excellent for sandwiches, omelets, salads, soups and more! Get creative with ways to use up any remaining ham so none goes to waste.

Tips for the Best Honey Glazed Ham

• Choose a ham with ample fat marbling because this will keep the meat moist during cooking. Avoid very lean hams.

• Let the ham sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking so it cooks evenly.

• Use a meat thermometer to ensure the thickest part of the ham reaches 130°F.

• When making the glaze, use real honey and pineapple juice for the best flavor.

• Stirring the glaze occasionally while it cooks prevents scorching.

• Brushing on a little glaze toward the end helps form a sticky, caramelized crust.

• Tenting the ham with foil prevents over-browning while allowing it to steam in its own juices.

• Resting the ham after cooking allows the juices to redistribute for moister meat.

With the right preparation, ingredients and cooking technique, you can make an incredibly moist, decadent honey glazed ham at home to impress your guests. The sweet, salty flavor is sure to become a new favorite holiday tradition.