How to Cook a Juicy, Flavorful Ham for Your Easter Feast

If I had to choose, ham would be pretty close to the top of my list of favorite foods.

And, since you can glaze it with a zillion different types of sauce, it’s eminently customizable.

This guide will help get you through the big day, from shopping to baking and serving.

Easter is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday menu. For many families, a beautifully baked ham is the centerpiece of the Easter table. When done right, it has an incredible aroma, moist and tender meat, and a deliciously caramelized exterior.

Cooking the perfect Easter ham may sound daunting. But have no fear! With these simple tips and techniques, you’ll have a show-stopping ham ready for your spring gathering

Selecting and Preparing the Ham

First things first – you have to pick out a ham! Here are some things to consider:

Bone-in or Boneless? Bone-in hams retain more moisture during cooking. Boneless are easier to carve.
Whole or Half? Calculate about 1⁄2 pound of meat per person, A whole ham serves more,
Smoked or Unsmoked? Smoked has deeper flavor. Unsmoked tends to be milder.
Spiral Sliced? Pre-sliced hams reduce carving work but may dry out faster.

Once you’ve selected your ham, prep it for the oven:

Trim excess skin and fat to prevent burning or smoking.
Score the fat by cutting slits or a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep. This helps the glaze penetrate.
Stud with cloves for pops of flavor. Place them in the scored slits.
Place on a rack in a roasting pan to allow airflow and prevent sogginess.

Choosing an Easter Ham Glaze

A sweet, sticky glaze gives ham irresistible caramelized flavor. Classic options include:

Brown sugar – For classic sweetness, spread a paste of brown sugar and spices on the ham.
Honey – Drizzle or brush honey over the ham for subtle floral undertones.
Fruit preserves – Options like pineapple, cherry, or orange marmalade provide tang.
Maple syrup – Real maple syrup provides authentic sweetness with earthy, woodsy notes.
Cola – Bring on the nostalgia with the sweet caramel flavor of cola.

Get creative and make your own signature glaze! Play with ingredients like jams, mustards, spices, citrus, vinegar, bourbon, coffee, and more.

Step-by-Step Easter Ham Cooking Method

Follow these simple steps for impressive results:

Prep the ham – Rinse, trim, score, stud with cloves, and place on a rack in a roasting pan.
Preheat the oven – Heat the oven to 325°F which gives time for the interior to cook before the exterior over-browns.
Spread on glaze – Slather your ham glaze all over the top and sides. Really work it into the scored slits.
Cover loosely with foil – Tenting with foil prevents over-browning and helps retain moisture.
Roast – Bake for 15-20 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
Baste frequently – Every 30 minutes, brush with pan juices to keep the ham moist and sticky.
Uncover toward the end – Remove foil last 30 minutes if you want darker, caramelized glaze.
Let rest before slicing – Allow to rest 15-20 minutes for easier slicing and improved moisture.
Carve and serve – Dig in and enjoy! Pair with classic Easter side dishes.

Handy Tips for Perfect Easter Ham

Use an oven-safe meat thermometer to check for doneness. This eliminates guessing!
Add fruit slices like pineapple and cherries on top for pops of color and flavor.
Line the roasting pan with foil for easier cleanup of drips and glaze.
Heat reserved glaze with pan drippings to make a sauce for serving.
Cover bone ends with foil to prevent charring.
Transfer to a 500°F oven at the very end for extra browning, if desired. Watch closely to avoid burning.

Get Creative with Leftovers

Leftover baked ham is versatile for recipes like:

Omelets, frittatas, stratas, and quiche
Sandwiches topped with cheese, pickles, mustard, or mayo
Unique pizzas, pastas, fried rice, and casseroles
Soups like split pea, bean, potato, or lentil
Scrambles with veggies, potatoes, or eggs
Snack mixes combined with fruits and nuts

With this handy guide, you can serve an unforgettable ham this Easter that earns rave reviews. The savory aromas and mouthwatering flavors will make your holiday meal truly special. Happy Easter cooking!

how to cook a ham for easter

So what is ham, anyway? Ham is the cured rear leg of a pig, starting at the ankle (a.k.a. the shank) and ending at the rump. And, these days, you can buy it a zillion different ways.

There are two basic types:

How to bake a ham: The basic technique

Hereâ€™s the basic technique I used to bake my fully-cooked, smoked ham.

Cover it and bake it in the oven to heat it all the way through. Then, glaze it without the lid on until it’s very lacquered.

Score the skin in a diamond pattern
Poke a clove into each diamond-shaped section of skin
Roast covered for 2.5 hours at 325 degrees F
Uncover, brush with glaze, return to oven for 20 minutes
Brush with glaze again, return to oven for 20 minutes
Glaze and bake the ham again and again until it is a deep brown color and a meat thermometer reads 140 degrees F. Use the chart below to ballpark timing.
Leave it to rest for 20 minutes with foil over it to help it stay juicy.
Carve, serve, inhale

Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham Recipe | Perfect Easter Recipe

FAQ

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham?

If the ham is labeled “fully cooked” (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F. If the ham is labeled “cook before eating,” heat in an oven set no lower than 325 F to an internal temperature of at least 145 F.

How long to heat Easter ham?

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

How do you heat up a precooked ham without drying it out?

Wrap 6 to 8 ounces of sliced leftover ham in aluminum foil. Preheat the air fryer to 325°F. Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer basket and heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until heated through. ( Wrapping in foil helps prevent the ham from drying out.)

How long to cook a 10 lb fully cooked ham?

Pre-Cooked and Bone-In Ham If the ham is a half ham weighing five to seven pounds, it should heat at 325°F for 22-25 minutes per pound. If it is a whole ham weighing between 10 to 14 pounds, heat the ham at 325°F for 18-20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should be 140°F.

How do you make a Good Easter ham?

A roast ham is coated with an easy and sweet maple syrup and mustard glaze for the best Easter ham. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place ham in a shallow roasting pan. Mix mustard, maple syrup, brown sugar, and onion powder together in a small bowl. Coat ham entirely with the glaze using a spoon or brush.

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.

Should you eat a ham for Easter?

Don’t risk having a boring, predictable ham at your Easter celebration. Most of our big holiday meals revolve around a centerpiece main dish. There is the Thanksgiving Turkey, the Christmas Roast, and the Easter Ham.

Can You reheat Easter ham?

Easter ham is one of our favorite holiday traditions. This crowd-pleasing roast is an easy way to feed a crowd, and it usually makes plenty of tasty leftovers. If this will be your first time making an Easter ham, don’t sweat it. The meat is already fully cooked, so all you have to do is gently reheat it in the oven.