How to Cook a Spiral Sliced Ham without Drying It Out

Step 1

Remove your ham from the packaging being careful to reserve the juices that will be inside the shrink wrapped covering over the ham.

Step 2

Also be sure to save the label (with instructions for the ham), the glaze packet and the tag showing the weight of your ham.  Keep handy where you can use them frequently if needed.

Step 3

Refer to the chart on this post for the length of time you will need to bake your ham based on the weight.

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 325 and move the oven rack so that you can position the ham in the center of the oven.

Step 5

Place the ham in your baking dish.  Place fat side up for the most flavor.

Step 6

Pour the retained juices from the ham into the bottom of the baking dish and add ½ cup of chicken stock if there is not at least ½ cup of juices.

Step 7

Cover the ham TIGHTLY with heavy duty aluminum foil.  If you can’t cover with a single piece of aluminum foil then use several. Put the aluminum foil over the top of the ham and secure it to the top edges of your roasting pan. Make it tight so that there are no leaks.

Step 8

Read the instructions for your included glaze packet so that you understand when and how to place the glaze.

Step 9

Bake for the time stated in the chart above OR if your ham comes with different time/temp instructions, follow that.

Step 10

Apply your glaze according to the glaze instructions (you will need to apply the glaze to the sliced side of your ham.  If that side is down in the pan, flip the ham over). If you are using my glaze recipe included in the post, apply it 10 minutes before the ham is done after flipping the ham over so that the sliced part is up, recover with foil and place back in the oven to finish baking.

Step 11

When the appropriate time has elapsed, remove the ham from the oven, leave the foil on until it has cooled enough to handle.

Step 12

When cool enough to handle, make sure the sliced side is up.  Use a basting bulb OR a ladle and spoon the pan drippings over the ham.  Make sure that some of the juices get down into the slices.

Step 13

Just before serving, baste again. Serve warm.