How to cook spiral ham thats juicy, tender, and never dry. Instructions include an easy orange glaze for this scrumptious holiday ham recipe.
Serving an impressive glazed spiral ham is a cherished tradition for many holiday gatherings. But knowing how long to bake a sizable 13 lb ham can be tricky. Follow this complete guide for foolproof cooking times and temperatures, and you’ll turn out a juicy showstopper ham worthy of any festive occasion.
Benefits of Choosing a Spiral Sliced Ham
Opting for a spiral cut ham offers several advantages for your holiday table
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Even slices make serving simple. No carving skills required!
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The cuts allow seasoning and glazes to really penetrate deep into the meat
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Pre-slicing helps the ham cook faster since more surface area is exposed.
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Less waste compared to carving a whole unsliced ham.
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Impressive presentation with that iconic spiral pattern.
Calculate Cook Time Based on Weight
The general rule of thumb for spiral ham is to allot 12-15 minutes per pound at 325°F oven temperature. Here’s a cooking timetable based on ham weight:
- 5 lb ham = 60-75 minutes
- 8 lb ham = 1.5-2 hours
- 10 lb ham = 2-2.5 hours
- 13 lb ham = 2.5-3.25 hours
Always rely on an instant-read meat thermometer rather than just cook time. The ham should reach 140°F minimum internally when finished cooking.
Step-by-Step Method for Baked Spiral Ham
Follow these easy steps for baking an impressively moist spiral cut ham:
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Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham in a foil-lined baking dish, spiral side up.
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Cover pan very tightly with foil to lock in moisture.
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Bake for 15 minutes per pound, until thermometer registers 140°F when inserted into thickest portion.
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Remove foil cover during last 20 minutes. Brush with your glaze of choice.
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Increase oven to 400°F if needed for glaze to caramelize before ham reaches desired temp.
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Allow ham to rest 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Choosing the Best Glaze
While a spiral ham is delicious unadorned, a sweet glaze takes it to the next level. Try these tasty glaze ideas:
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Brown sugar, honey, and spiced with cloves or ginger
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Orange or pineapple juice concentrate plus brown sugar or maple syrup
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Sweet chili sauce, crushed pineapple, brown sugar
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Bourbon, maple syrup, whole grain mustard
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Coke or Dr. Pepper reduction with brown sugar
Brush glaze on ham in the last 20 minutes of baking so sugars fully caramelize. Reapply a few coats for an even shine.
Key Tips for Moist Ham
Here are some tips to ensure your spiral cut ham stays tender and juicy:
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Choose a ham with visible marbling for the most flavorful meat.
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Cook at a low 325°F to prevent drying out the already-sliced ham.
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Always use a meat thermometer to determine doneness rather than just timing.
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Keep foil tent tightly sealed during most of the baking.
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Allow proper rest time before slicing for juices to redistribute.
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Go for thinner slices across the grain for most tender bite.
Can You Freeze and Reheat Leftover Ham?
You can absolutely freeze any leftover baked spiral ham safely for 1-2 months. Simply wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil and freeze.
To reheat, let thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Place still-wrapped ham slices in a 300°F oven until fully warmed through, about 20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions for Baked Ham
While spiral ham is delicious on its own, here are some tasty ways to serve it for a complete holiday feast:
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Pair with classic side dishes like roasted veggies, scalloped potatoes, or a bright, fresh salad.
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Offer a selection of mustards, chutneys and pickles as toppings.
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Drizzle sliced ham with the flavorful pan dripping for added juiciness.
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Use bone and trimming to make split pea soup, bean soup, or ham stock.
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For breakfast, add ham slices to eggs, waffles, biscuits or hash.
With this handy timetable and cooking advice, you can confidently bake a spectacular glazed spiral ham worthy of the holidays this season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Spiral Ham
For even more details on roasting the perfect juicy, deliciously glazed spiral cut ham, check out answers to these common FAQs:
How long does an 8 lb spiral sliced ham need to cook?
For an 8 pound spiral cut ham, allot about 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours at 325°F oven temperature, until the ham reaches 140°F on a meat thermometer. Add glaze during the last 20 minutes.
Should you cover ham when baking?
It’s highly recommended to keep the ham tightly covered with foil for most of the cooking time to seal in moisture. Remove for glazing and browning at the end.
What is the best way to bake a precooked spiral ham?
Precooked hams just need reheating to an internal temp of 140°F. Cook covered at 325°F, 12-15 minutes per pound. Glaze and brown uncovered for the last 20 minutes before serving.
Can you put cold ham directly in the oven?
It’s fine to put refrigerated precooked ham directly into a cold oven, then turn oven to 325°F to bake. The ham will take a bit longer to heat through from cold.
How do you know when a baked ham is done?
Don’t rely solely on bake time. Use an instant-read thermometer to check temperature, especially in the thickest part of the ham, to ensure it reaches 140°F minimum for food safety.
Why do you let ham rest after baking?
Letting the ham sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing allows juices that have retracted from the edges to redistribute back into the meat for better moisture.
Can you reheat baked ham in a slow cooker?
Yes, placing slices of cooked ham in a slow cooker with a little broth or glaze makes for excellent low-and-slow reheating. Cook on LOW for 2+ hours until heated through.
With these handy baking instructions and timetable for a 13 pound spiral ham, you’ll be ready to serve an unforgettable centerpiece ham this holiday season.
Why you’ll love this holiday ham recipe
- Its an essential holiday dinner entree
- Easy to make for any cooking level
- Tender, juicy, and never dry
Orange glazed ham is the perfect holiday ham for Christmas, Easter, and other special occasions. Its savory, sweet, citrusy, family-loved, and goes with every side dish imaginable.
Busy cooks and beginners will especially love this ham recipe because its easy and mostly hands-off. Instead, you just bake the ham in foil, brush it with a quick and easy glaze, and bake it a little longer.
How to cook spiral ham without drying it out? This method always works! This ham is already cooked, so all you have to do to serve it is heat it up. But it’s dense, so I’ve included the steps, timing, and temperature you need to make the whole ham tender and juicy, from the outside to the inside.
Get ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card below.
- spiral ham – These are sold fully cooked and pre-sliced. A spiral ham without bones weighs about 2 to 8 pounds, while a spiral ham with bones weighs about 7 to 18 pounds.
- brown sugar—This recipe works with either light or dark brown sugar.
- navel orange—Orange juice works great if you don’t have a fresh orange.
- Dijon mustard – Or other mustard of choice.
- apple cider vinegar – Any neutral-flavored vinegar will work.
- Garlic powder and paprika are the perfect spices to use in an orange juice glaze for ham.
- sea salt – This brings all of the flavors together.
How to cut spiral ham
Since this ham is pre-sliced, its very easy to cut when serving. Lay the ham on its side and use a meat carving knife with serrated edges to cut the meat into the pieces you want. If its a bone-in ham, simply cut alongside the bone as close as you can get.
You can use any ham bone that’s left over to make THE BEST ham and bean soup you’ll ever taste.
There are countless side dishes that go with holiday ham. Mashed potatoes are the perfect comfort food for this savory entree. Mac and cheese will always be one of the most popular side dishes next to scalloped potatoes.
When it comes to healthy sides, baked asparagus or Brussels sprouts are a must. But green bean casserole takes us back to our childhood. Oh and get ready for the best ham sandwich with the best homemade French bread!.
To store, allow ham to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight storage container up to 5 days. Take the ham as is, or make ham and pea pasta or a tasty black eyed peas dish with it.
Cooked ham can be reheated via stove, oven, microwave, or air fryer using gentle-heat settings in short intervals. Covering the ham during reheat can also help prevent drying out.