What To Do With a Pre-Cooked Ham

Today, I am going to show you how to slow cook a precooked ham in the oven. With this method you’ll get a perfectly baked ham slathered with a homemade Brown Sugar Glaze. You can make this tasty and easy dish in the oven for a holiday meal or a special occasion. It’s always a crowd-pleaser and makes Christmas or Easter dinner extra special with no muss or fuss. Let’s get started!.

Cured, smoked, and baked are all indicators that the ham you’re about to buy has been pre-cooked. Most of the ham you buy at the store is already safe to eat; you just need to heat it up. Plus around Easter or Christmas, they tend to go on sale!.

I always buy a spiral-cut, fully cooked ham with the bone in because it saves me time and effort. But taking a few extra steps while baking your ham can bring it from good to great. I love the Kirkland Signature Ham from Costco because the flavor and price can’t be beaten.

Pre-cooked hams are a convenient choice for feeding a crowd during the holidays or for a quick weeknight meal. But once you get a pre-cooked ham home from the store, what should you do to prepare it? Here are some tips on handling, cooking, and serving a store-bought pre-cooked ham.

Storing the Ham

Keep the ham refrigerated until ready to cook. Store in original packaging if unopened, or wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil if opened.
Can be kept refrigerated for 5-7 days unopened or 3-5 days if opened.
For longer storage, pre-cooked hams can be frozen for 1-2 months without losing quality. Double wrap in plastic and foil.

Thawing the Ham

Move frozen ham to the refrigerator 2-3 days before cooking to thaw. Do not thaw at room temperature.
For a quick thaw, submerge wrapped ham in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes until thawed. Takes about 2 hours for a 10 lb ham.
Cook frozen: Can bake a ham directly from frozen. Just increase cooking time.

Heating and Serving

Oven: Bake at 325°F until heated through, 15-18 minutes per pound. Baste with juices.
Slow Cooker: Add 1 cup water or broth, cook on Low 6-8 hours.
Skillet: Cut ham into portions. Fry with butter until browned and warmed through.
Heat to 145°F internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to check.
Let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing for juices to redistribute.
Carve thin slices across the grain of meat.
Can be eaten as is, added to dishes like casseroles, sandwiches, pizza, etc.

Glazing the Ham

For added flavor, coat ham with a glaze last 10-15 minutes of cooking.
Easy glazes are made with brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, mustard, spices.
Brush glaze over ham slices. Broil 3-5 minutes to caramelize.

Serving Suggestions

With classic sides like scalloped potatoes, roasted veggies, biscuits, etc.
Sliced in sandwiches, paninis, wraps, etc.
Diced in salads, omelets, pasta salad, rice bowls.
Added to soups like bean, potato, split pea.
Pizza, flatbreads, and quesadillas for a protein boost.
Breakfast hashes or stratas.

Leftover Ham Storage

Store leftovers within 2 hours of serving.
Keep ham refrigerated for 3-5 days, or freeze up to 2 months.
Slice ham and wrap portions well before freezing.
Use leftover ham within 3-4 days for dishes like ham salad, ham and eggs, ham and bean soup, casseroles, etc.
Reheat leftovers to 165°F.

What to Look For When Buying

Fully cooked – Safe to eat as-is once heated, no need to cook through.
Bone-in – More flavorful, helps ham retain moisture during cooking.
Spiral cut – Easier slicing, glaze coats more surface area.
Uncured – No nitrites/nitrates. Uses natural curing methods.
Natural juices – Retains more moisture than “water added” ham.

Common Pre-Cooked Ham Questions

How long does an unopened pre-cooked ham last in the fridge?

An unopened pre-cooked ham will keep 5-7 days past the sell by date when properly refrigerated.

Can you freeze a pre-cooked ham?

Yes, freeze ham up to 2 months. Double wrap in plastic wrap and foil. Thaw in fridge 2-3 days before using.

What’s the best way to reheat pre-cooked ham?

Bake at 325°F until heated through, about 10-15 minutes per pound. For smaller portions, skillet frying works too.

How do you know when a pre-cooked ham is done cooking?

Use a meat thermometer to check temperature. Ham should reach 145°F at thickest part. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Can you cook a frozen pre-cooked ham?

Yes, you can bake a frozen ham directly without thawing first. Just increase cooking time by about 50%. Watch temperature and test for doneness.

What are good glazes for pre-cooked ham?

Easy glazes combine sweet ingredients like brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup with acidity from mustard, spices, and fruit juice or vinegar. Brush over ham last 10-15 minutes of cooking.

Get Creative With Leftovers

Don’t let leftover ham go to waste! Here are some recipes to use up extra pre-cooked ham:

Ham and potato soup
Ham frittata or crustless quiche
Ham salad sandwiches
Ham, apple and brie panini
Ham and cheese stuffed shells
Ham and veggie fried rice
Ham, egg and cheese breakfast tacos
Ham and pepper jack grilled cheese
Ham and broccoli pasta casserole
Easy ham pot pie
Ham and swiss crescent roll ring
Ham cups with mashed potato topping

With proper storage, handling, and reheating, pre-cooked ham is a versatile and tasty staple. Follow these tips to get the most out of store-bought ham.

what do you do with a pre cooked ham

Make the Brown Sugar Glaze

Make the glaze while ham is baking.

Measure out the brown sugar, real maple syrup, yellow or Dijon mustard, and garlic for the glaze. Put them all in a small saucepan and stir them over medium-high heat. Simmer glaze until sugar melts and becomes syrupy about 1-2 minutes.

Bake and Baste Ham

Place your ham in a roasting pan, flat cut side down. Bake in the oven 12-15 minutes per pound (or cook according to specific package directions). During cooking, baste the ham a few times with the juices that have built up in the pan. Be sure to separate the slices as you baste. This ensures the ham will stay moist.

As the ham cooks, many recipes say to baste it with the glaze. But I’ve found that it works better to baste it with the cooking liquid from the ham juices to keep everything moist, and then finish with the glaze.

what do you do with a pre cooked ham

How to Cook a Small Fully Cooked Ham

FAQ

Do you have to bake a pre cooked ham?

No. Both whole or half, cooked, vacuum-packaged hams packaged in federally inspected plants and canned hams can be eaten cold, right out of the package. However, if you want to reheat these cooked hams, set the oven no lower than 325 °F and heat to an internal temperature of 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

How to heat up a precooked 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.

Can you eat a precooked ham without heating it up?

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), as they are already fully cooked.

Do you rinse a precooked ham before cooking?

Whether you are cooking a bone in or boneless ham, pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees. Start by removing the packaging from the ham (and bone guard if you’re cooking a bone in ham), and you can rinse the ham before cooking if desired.

How do I choose a pre cooked ham?

Choose the right ham: When purchasing a pre-cooked ham, there are a few options to consider. You can choose from boneless ham, bone-in ham, spiral-cut ham, or even a glazed ham. Select the ham that suits your preference and needs. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

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 do you cook a precooked Ham?

– Place the precooked ham, cut side down, in a roasting pan. – Pour **1 cup of water** into the bottom of the pan to prevent the ham from drying out. – Wrap the pan with heavy-duty foil, crimping the

What is a pre cooked ham?

Pre-cooked ham refers to ham that has been cooked and cured before it is sold. It is ready to eat but can be further heated or cooked to enhance its flavor and texture. How do I know if my ham is pre-cooked? Most pre-cooked hams are labeled as such on the packaging.