For many busy home cooks and hosts, conveniently grabbing a store-bought smoked or baked ham seems like an easy way to put a delicious entrée on the table. But one point of confusion arises – if the ham is already fully cooked, do you need to cook it again before eating? The answer depends on identifying whether you purchased a ready-to-eat ham or an uncooked fresh ham.
How to Tell if a Store Bought Ham is Fully Cooked
Many hams sold at grocery store deli counters or packaged in the meat section are labeled as “fully cooked” or “ready-to-eat.” This indicates that the ham is cured, smoked, and pre-cooked to safe internal temperatures by the manufacturer. Ready-to-eat ham can be safely consumed straight from the package without additional cooking.
Here are signs a store bought ham is pre-cooked
- Labeled as “fully cooked,” “ready-to-eat,” or “ready-to-heat”
- Vacuum sealed packaging
- Brand name deli-style hams like Boar’s Head
- No cooking instructions on packaging
As long as the ham was kept refrigerated at 40°F or below during transport and storage, it is safe to eat cold without cooking.
Identifying an Uncooked Fresh Ham
While most hams sold at retail locations are pre-cooked, it is possible to find raw, uncooked fresh hams. These require thorough cooking to 145°F internally before they are safe to eat.
Here’s how to identify if a ham needs to be cooked before eating
- Label states “cook thoroughly before eating”
- Contains detailed cooking instructions
- Sold as a whole bone-in leg (not presliced)
- Found in the raw meat section (not sold from deli counter)
Cooking an uncooked fresh ham correctly kills any bacteria and parasites like trichinella Always thoroughly cook raw ham to the safe minimum internal temperature.
Reheating a Pre-Cooked Ham
While ready-to-eat ham can be eaten straight from the fridge, you may want to heat it to improve the flavor and texture. Reheating also allows the glaze to become sticky.
To reheat fully cooked hams:
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Oven – Preheat to 325°F. Heat ham to 140°F internal temperature.
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Stovetop – Simmer ham slices in water, broth, or sauce until heated through.
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Microwave – Heat ham slices covered in 30 second intervals until warm.
Bear in mind, reheating pre-cooked ham is only for hams that have been cured, smoked, or initially baked to safe temperatures by a manufacturer. Always check for the “fully cooked” label before reheating ham without thoroughly cooking it.
Storing Ham Safely
To prevent bacteria growth, ham must be stored properly. Follow these guidelines:
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Keep store bought ham refrigerated at 40°F or below.
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Use deli-sliced ham within 3-5 days. Whole cooked hams last 3-6 months in the fridge.
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Freeze ham if not using within 5 days. It will keep 6 months in a freezer.
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Don’t leave ham at room temperature for over 2 hours.
Proper refrigeration and freezing prevents bacteria growth and ensures ham stays fresh until you are ready to enjoy it.
Cooking Guidelines for Fresh Raw Ham
If you do purchase an uncooked fresh ham, it requires thorough cooking before it is safe to consume. Follow these steps:
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Thaw ham in the refrigerator if frozen. This takes about 5 hours per pound.
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Preheat oven to 325°F. Use a cooking thermometer.
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Roast ham until it reaches the minimum safe internal temperature of 145°F.
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Allow ham to rest for 3 minutes before slicing into it.
Cooking times vary based on size. Estimate 18-24 minutes per pound for bone-in ham. Fresh ham should not be pink inside when adequately cooked.
Safety Tips for Handling Ham
To prevent foodborne illness when working with ham:
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Wash hands and surfaces after contact with raw ham.
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Separate raw meats from other foods.
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Use separate cutting boards, plates, utensils for raw and cooked ham.
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Cook ham thoroughly and follow reheating instructions.
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Refrigerate promptly after use. Do not leave ham at room temperature.
Following basic food safety practices keeps your food handling processes hygienic. Take care when preparing any raw pork products.
Enjoying the Delicious Taste of Ham
Ham is a tasty and versatile meat that can be served hot or cold. Ready-to-eat deli ham makes a quick addition to sandwiches, breakfasts, and appetizer trays. Fresh ham cooked properly yields moist, tender meat perfect for main dishes.
How to identify cooked and uncooked ham
It is important to identify the differences between fully cooked and uncooked ham to prevent foodborne illness.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a ham needs to be cooked or if it’s ready to eat right from the cooler. Since we buy our ham from the deli, we don’t have to cook it. Short answer: ham is “pre-cooked” if it has been cured, smoked, or baked. It doesn’t need to be cooked after that. This includes the ham that is purchased at the deli. In fact, most ham that is sold to consumers is already cured, smoked or baked. Since it’s a deli meat, you can eat it straight from the fridge, but most hams are heated up first to make them taste and feel better. You can also buy fresh ham, and it would have to be cooked prior to eating.
To tell if the ham has been processed, look at the package. It will say what kind of ham it is. If a ham has the statement on the package label indicating that it needs cooking (ex. “cook thoroughly”), it should also display cooking directions. It should clearly state that cooking is required.
Even cured ham must be refrigerated at a temp of 40 degrees Farenheit or below. The exception is if the ham is canned or dry-cured, then it would be able to be stored at room temp. Country ham and prosciutto are examples of dry-cured ham. Most hams are safe to keep three to five days days in the refrigerator, and three to six months in the freezer, but specific times can be found online as there is some variation.
The USDA recommendations state, “Set oven temperature to 325°F. Cook all raw fresh ham and ready-to-eat ham to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures. Reheat cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants to 140°F and all others to 165°F.”
Trichinella Spiralis is a parasite found in pork, but its presence is minimal because processing plants must follow USDA guidelines to kill the parasite. Regardless, Michigan State University Extension recommends that proper food safety practices should be followed when handling ham. For instance storing in a refrigerator at 40°F, not leaving out at room temperature for more than two hours and cooking and reheating according to the directions above.
What is the best way to cook a precooked ham?
FAQ
Is supermarket ham already cooked?
Can you eat precooked ham without cooking it?
Do you have to cook a fully cooked spiral ham?
Why are hams sold precooked?
Do hams need to be fully cooked?
Some store bought hams may be fully cooked, while others may need to be cooked thoroughly before consumption. It’s important to follow these instructions carefully to avoid undercooking or overcooking the ham, which can result in foodborne illnesses or less palatable taste.
Can you cook a fully cooked ham in the oven?
Yes, you can cook fully cooked ham in the oven. In fact, it is one of the most common methods to heat and enhance the flavor of a pre-cooked ham. Cooking it in the oven helps to warm it through and gives you the opportunity to add your preferred glaze or seasonings. What temperature should I set my oven to when cooking fully cooked ham?
Should you cook store-bought Ham?
The answer is no. Store-bought ham is already cooked, cured, and smoked, making it safe to eat right out of the package. However, cooking it can enhance its flavor and texture, making it more enjoyable for some people. In conclusion, while it is not necessary to cook store-bought ham, doing so can help improve its taste and texture.
Do hams need to be reheated?
Most hams sold at the grocery store are fully cooked city hams that simply require reheating. These cooking times are for fully cooked hams, and each is based on an oven temperature of 325 degrees F and a minimum internal temperature of 140 degrees F, according to FoodSafety.gov. For more ham cooking times, check out our full guide .