Here are all the ways you can heat up your Honey Baked Ham, from the oven to the microwave.
It’s not strictly necessary to warm up a Honey Baked ham because it comes fully cooked and ready to eat. However, we don’t know many people who skip breakfast to eat lukewarm ham slices. For those of you who like your pre-cooked ham steaming hot, there are a few ways to get it there without drying it out.
A honey baked ham is a delicious centerpiece for holidays and special occasions. The combination of savory tender ham and sweet honey glaze is hard to beat. But heating up a pre-cooked honey baked ham can be tricky. You want to warm it through without drying out the meat or making it tough.
Follow this guide to learn the best way to heat your honey baked ham, step-by-step We’ll cover everything from thawing, to heating, to keeping it moist Your honey ham will come out hot, flavorful, and juicy every time.
Should You Heat a Honey Baked Ham at All?
HoneyBaked Ham Company actually recommends serving their hams and turkey breasts straight from the fridge without heating them. Their meats are fully cooked and safe to eat cold. The cold temperature helps the meat retain moisture and flavor.
However, most people prefer to serve ham warm. The cozy warmth enhances the aromas and lets the glaze caramelize slightly. Warm ham just seems more appetizing to many.
So it comes down to personal preference. If you do want to heat your store-bought honey baked ham, follow the guidelines below to prevent drying.
Thaw the Ham Safely Before Heating
Never try to heat a frozen honey baked ham! The ham must be completely thawed before you attempt to heat it.
To thaw, leave the ham wrapped and place it on a tray or pan. Thaw in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours per 4-5 pounds of ham. A 10 pound ham would take about 2-3 days to thaw.
Once thawed, the ham can be safely heated as long as it was kept at a food-safe refrigerator temperature during thawing.
Water Bath Method for Warming Sliced Honey Ham
For warming already carved ham slices, the water bath method works beautifully. It surrounds the ham with gentle, even heat to warm it without drying it out.
You’ll need:
- Ham slices
- 9×13 baking dish
- Aluminum foil
- Water
Instructions:
-
Preheat oven to 275°F. Fill baking dish halfway with hot water.
-
Arrange ham slices in a single layer in the water bath. They can overlap slightly but shouldn’t be piled up.
-
Tightly cover baking dish with foil to seal in moisture.
-
Bake for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Check temperature with a meat thermometer if desired.
The ham slices will come out warmed all the way through without any drying around the edges. The water bath is the ideal way to heat a honey glazed spiral cut ham as well.
Slow Oven Method for Whole Hams
For whole uncut hams, the slow oven method works best. The low gentle heat prevents overcooking the outer portions before the center is warmed.
You’ll need:
- Whole thawed honey baked ham
- Roasting pan
- Aluminum foil
Instructions:
-
Preheat oven to 275°F. Place ham in roasting pan.
-
Tent ham loosely with foil, leaving openings for steam to escape.
-
Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes per pound, until center reaches 140°F.
-
Remove foil last 30 minutes if browning glaze is desired.
The low and slow heating allows the ham to warm evenly all the way through. Keep the foil tent somewhat loose so moisture can escape rather than pooling.
Microwave Method for Quick Heating
You can use the microwave to quickly heat portions of honey baked ham when you’re short on time. This method works best for single servings.
Instructions:
-
Place ham slices on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with a paper towel to prevent drying.
-
Microwave on 50% power in 30 second intervals just until warmed through, checking often.
-
Take care not to overcook the ham. It can go from just right to dried out very quickly.
-
Allow microwaved ham to rest 1-2 minutes before serving.
The start-and-stop method helps prevent overcooking. Check the ham frequently and stop as soon as it loses its chilled feel.
Tips for Keeping Honey Baked Ham Moist When Warming
Follow these handy tips for ensuring your honey baked ham stays tender and moist, not dry and tough:
-
Heat ham only until warm, not hot. Stop around 140°F.
-
Heat just the amount needed rather than the whole ham. Slice off portions and rewrap the rest.
-
Use lowered power, indirect heat like ovens and water baths rather than direct heat.
-
Tent or cover the ham to retain natural moisture as it heats.
-
Allow a resting period before carving to allow juices to settle.
-
Use reserved glaze or pan drippings to keep reheated slices moist.
-
Don’t let ham sit out warm for longer than 2 hours maximum to prevent drying.
Enjoy Perfectly Heated Honey Baked Ham
Honey baked ham is delicious right out of the fridge. But warming it gently enhances the flavor and makes for a more appetizing presentation. Now that you know the secrets to heating ham without ruining it, you can serve this classic in perfect style at your next gathering.
Low, indirect heat is key. Whether baking, water bath warming, or microwaving in short bursts, be sure to keep a close eye on your ham. Stop heating before it passes the point of no return. Your patience will be rewarded with a tender, juicy, sweet honey baked ham ready for the holiday table.
4 Ways to Heat a Honey Baked Ham
The Honey Baked Ham Co. recommends that you let the ham stand at room temperature ½ hour before serving to get it to the ideal temperature. Were not going to argue with company that makes the ham in question, but we are going to offer a few of the different ways you can warm up a Honey Baked ham. You know, just in case. Related Articles
To heat a whole Honey Baked Ham in the oven, follow these three simple steps:
- Keep the Honey Baked Ham in the foil wrapper that came with it, or take it out of the wrapper and wrap it in your own foil.
- Maintain the oven temperature at about 275°F to 300°F.
- For every pound of ham, heat it for 10 minutes.
If you’d rather heat items by the slice, just cut off the part you want to heat, wrap it in foil, and put it in an oven-safe dish. Then, use the same temperature (275-300°F) for no longer than 15 minutes to heat the slice.
The Slow Cooker Method
If you want to make your family and friends jealous with a juicy, tasty ham, warm it up in the slow cooker. Put the Honey Baked Ham, or just a few slices, into a few inches of broth or sauce. This is because you need a lot of moisture in a slow cooker. Set on low and keep checking it until its at the desired temperature.
Leave it for a few hours in the broth if you really want it dripping. Don’t want to change the flavor of the ham too much; just add some water. Wrap the whole ham in aluminum foil and put it in the cooker with a few inches of water to keep it from burning. Helpful Hack.
During the warm-up phase, add slices of fruits (like oranges, pears, and apples) or vegetables (like onions) to get a more complex flavor.
They say not to heat up a whole ham in the microwave, even though it sounds like a great idea (just like leaving forks in the microwave). Doing so will cause the outside to melt and the inside to be cold. To heat the ham by the slice, cut off what you need and heat it for 10 to 20 seconds at a time until it reaches the right temperature. Because microwave-heated ham wont stay hot for long, serve the slices immediately after warming them. Quick Tip.
When you heat up ham slices in the microwave, always wrap them in a wet paper towel to keep them from drying out.
You can also heat ham slices in a skillet. Set the stove to low and heat a slice on each side until it’s warm. Because a skillet heats up ham really quickly, be careful not to cook the slice too much and make it dry. Read More.
How do I warm my HoneyBaked Ham?
FAQ
Do you heat honey baked ham in foil?
How do you cook a precooked honey baked ham?
How do you heat up a precooked ham without drying it out?
How do you reheat Honey Baked Ham?
There are several convenient methods for reheating honey-baked ham while retaining its moist flavor. Warming ham in the oven, skillet, microwave, and slow cooker are four quick and easy ways to snag a warm meal in a snap. Get ready; you’ll soon be on your way to enjoying a variety of delicious ham dishes.
Is honey baked ham as good as regular ham?
The addition of honey will affect the calorie content of the food. One tablespoon of honey contributes to approximately 64 calories. In addition, the use of heat when making baked ham will reduce the quality of the honey.
How long do you cook a honey baked ham?
To heat a whole Honey Baked Ham in the oven, follow these three simple steps: Keep the Honey Baked Ham in its original foil wrapper or remove the wrapper and wrap with your own foil to keep it from drying out. Maintain the oven temperature at about 275°F to 300°F. A general time guide is to heat for 10 minutes for every pound of ham.
Do you need to warm up a honey baked ham?
Although warming up a Honey Baked ham isn’t strictly necessary, since it comes fully cooked and ready to eat, we don’t know many people skipping breakfast to make room for lukewarm ham slices. So, if you’re like us and you prefer your pre-prepared ham piping hot, there are several to get it there without drying it out.