Putting a big glazed ham on a platter and setting it on the table for the holidays is a tradition, right? I like it too, but only when the glaze is light and refreshing like this one!
My family loves this ham, and it’s been my favorite to bake for years. Many hams are baked with a lot of sweet glaze, but I like a small amount near the end of cooking.
The lemon cuts through the richness of the cured ham, and you can change what you use based on what you have in the fridge. Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, yum! If you’re making a bigger ham, make sure to add more citrus too!
If you have more than one Dutch oven, serve scalloped potatoes on the side. If not, use the Instant Pot to make mashed potatoes instead. This is also fun to serve for brunch with some scrambled eggs and biscuits.
Deer ham, also known as venison ham, is a tasty cut of meat from the rear leg of a deer. When cooked right, it can be incredibly delicious and tender. But getting the oven timing just right is crucial to prevent drying out this lean cut of meat. So how long should you cook deer ham in the oven? Let’s take a closer look.
Things to Consider Before Cooking Deer Ham
Before we dive into oven timing there are a few important things to keep in mind
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Use Quality Meat – Always select fresh, properly aged venison to get the most succulent and flavorful results. Ask your butcher or hunter for high quality deer meat.
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Allow Marinating Time – Marinating is key to infusing flavor and tenderizing the ham, Let it soak 24-48 hours in a tasty marinade of your choice
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Cook Low and Slow – Venison ham does best with a long, slow cook at a relatively low oven temperature. This keeps it juicy.
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Use a Meat Thermometer – Don’t rely solely on oven time. Always double check for doneness by gauging the internal temp of the thickest part of the ham.
How Long Does Deer Ham Take to Cook?
The general guideline is to allow 20 minutes of cooking time per pound of venison. However, that can vary slightly based on a few factors:
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Oven Temperature – The lower the temp the longer the cook time. At 275°F plan on cooking about 20-25 minutes per lb. At 325°F, reduce time to 15-20 minutes per lb.
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Thickness – A thicker ham takes longer than a thinner, smaller one. Add 5 extra minutes per lb for hams over 4 inches thick.
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Bone In or Out – Boneless roasts cook faster than bone-in since the bone insulates the meat. Add 5 more minutes per lb for bone-in.
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Doneness Preference – Cook 5 minutes less per lb if you prefer your venison more on the rare side.
Determining Doneness
While the minutes per pound estimate provides a starting point, use these signs to tell when your venison ham is done:
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Temperature – Use an instant read thermometer to check for your desired doneness:
- Rare: 130-135°F
- Medium Rare: 135-145°F
- Medium: 145-155°F
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Texture – A fork should slide into and out of the ham pretty easily when it’s perfectly cooked.
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Color – The interior color will change from red to pinkish as it cooks to medium rare doneness.
Sample Oven Timing for a 3 lb Boneless Deer Ham
To give you a real life example, let’s look at timing for a 3 lb boneless venison ham cooked to medium rare at 275°F:
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3 lbs x 20 minutes per lb at 275°F = About 1 hour – 1 hr 10 minutes
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Check temperature after 1 hour, continue cooking if needed
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Cook until internal temp reaches 135-145°F for medium rare
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When temp is reached, remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes before carving
The timing can vary a bit for each ham based on shape and other factors. But this provides an approximate oven time that you can then adjust based on checking temperature and visual signs of doneness.
Tips for Maximizing Tenderness
Beyond oven time, here are some extra tips to keep your venison ham juicy and tender:
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Choose younger deer for more tender meat
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Cut across the grain when carving for added tenderness
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Avoid overcooking by using a meat thermometer
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Brine or marinate using acidic ingredients like wine, vinegar, or citrus
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Baste frequently while cooking to prevent drying out
Perfectly timing your venison ham in the oven helps highlight its naturally delicious flavor. Use the general guidelines of 20 minutes per pound at 275°F, and then rely on a meat thermometer and visual checks to determine ideal doneness. With the right prep and cooking, you can enjoy incredibly mouthwatering deer ham with a tender, juicy texture.
How to Make Oven Baked Ham
***See recipe card below for precise measurements and instructions.***
Step 1: Wash the citrus and slice it into just 4-5 slices per fruit, nice and thick.
Step 2: Squeeze the juice over the ham, then add the citrus on top. I like to actually stick it onto the ham so it stays put.
Step 3: Partway through cooking, flip the ham and brush on half of the glaze. Return to the oven with or without the lid, your preference.
Step 4: When up to temp, let rest on the counter with the lid on. I find this keeps things juicy before slicing!.
Why You Need This Recipe
- It cuts through the fat of the cured meat and adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- If you use a bone-in ham, you can use the same Dutch oven to make broth. Two birds, one stone.
- Don’t touch this; just put it in the oven and flip it once halfway through. Do something else while it cooks.
Ham – I find a 4-5 pound bone-in ham fits my Dutch oven perfectly. While you’re at the store, think about what size pot you have. You can use any size for your meal as long as you have a way to cook it. Increase the citrus and glaze appropriately. We are using a smoked/cured ham that still needs to be cooked.
For citrus, many people choose organic when the peel comes in contact with their food. But I can’t find nice organic citrus around here, so I don’t worry about it. The fruit is removed before eating so its all good. Use whatever is in season or looks good or is in the drawer.
Glaze: I mix the best maple syrup I have with any kind of mustard I have in the fridge. Keep the ratios the same, but increase the entire quantity if your ham is larger than 5 pounds.
How to Cook a Deer or Venison Ham | One of Our favorite Deer Recipes from Appalachia
FAQ
What temperature is a venison ham done?
How long to cook ham at 350 degrees?
How long does it take to cure a deer ham?
How long to cook a 10 lb fully cooked ham?
How long to cook a deer Ham?
The cooking time for a deer ham can vary depending on the size and thickness. As a general guideline, you should plan to cook the ham for about 20 minutes per pound at a low temperature of 275°F (135°C). However, it is crucial to use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) for safe consumption.
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 Ham in the oven?
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Place in preheated oven and bake for 2 hours. Remove the foil and baste the ham with the pan juices. Increase the oven temperature to 325°F and continue baking for an additional 1 hour or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 160°F. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve. Enjoy!
What temperature should a deer Ham be cooked to?
The ham is a cut of meat taken from the hindquarters of a deer. It comes from the hind legs and is usually cut into thick, boneless steaks or roasts. What temp should deer ham be cooked to? When cooking deer ham, it is recommended to cook it to an internal temperature of 145 °F (63 °C).