Cooking Ham Instructions 

If you are looking for cooking ham instructions, there are many, many answers for this question. Probably more than any other, this one single cut of meat is available in many different ways.


The ham comes from the hind leg of a hog. It can be purchased whole or half. If you are buying only a half, it is important which half you buy. The best half, called the butt half comes from the upper thigh and is rounded on the end. It contains more meat. The shank half comes from the lower portion of the leg and is pointed on the end. This half has more bone and less meat. Many grocery stores will put only the shank half out on sale. Many people who don’t know think they are getting a good price per pound when actually they are buying mostly bone. Also consider this when you buy a whole ham. It may be worth buying two of the butt halves, depending on price.

Cooking Ham InstructionsCooking Ham Instructions

Hams are also available boneless. These are nice for slicing and could be just as reasonably priced, considering you have no bones. Boneless hams have no waste and are good for serving ham steaks. I personally like the bone in the ham. I like the flavor and I like using the bone for cooking other dishes like ham and beans. This is just a personal preference.


Cooking ham instructions on the label will tell you how much cooking is required before you serve it. Some are marked “cook before serving” which means it must be heated to an internal temperature of 160 degrees on a meat thermometer. If the label says “fully cooked” it means it can be served cold or you can heat it for better flavor. If the label does not state either one then assume it must be cooked.


Canned hams are available for purchase. These are always boneless and are fully cooked. Even though these hams are fully cooked, they are delicious heated with a honey or brown sugar coating and pineapples on them.


A special process is employed in curing the Virginia or Smithfield hams to produce a special flavor and texture. The surface of the ham is blackened and rusty looking along the edges. This must be scrubbed thoroughly and the edges trimmed off. Then the ham must be covered and soaked in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. After soaking place the ham in a large kettle, cover with boiling water, cover with a lid and simmer 25 to 30 minutes per pound.


Cured hams will store in the refrigerator for up to one week, whether cooked or uncooked. Refrigerate canned hams before and after cooking unless the label tells you that you do not need to.


Most national brand hams in the supermarkets today are of the mild cure smoke type. They are either uncooked or are ready to eat.

TIMETABLE FOR BAKING HAM OVEN SET AT 325F DEGREES

FULLY COOKED


Bone in whole ham 

8 to 12 pounds

14 to 18 pounds

Bone in half ham

6 to 8 pounds

Boneless whole ham

8 to 10 pounds

Boneless half or quarter

2 ½ to 5 pounds

Internal temp./Approx. hours


 130F degrees / 2 ¼ to 2 ¾ hours

130F  degrees / 3 to 3 ½ hours


130F degrees / 2 to 2 ¼ hours


130F degrees /  2 ½ to 3 hours


130F degrees /1½ to 1¾ hours

PARTIALLY COOKED HAMS

Bone in whole ham

8 to 12 pounds


14 to 18 pounds


Bone in half ham

6 to 8 pounds


155 to 160F degrees / 2 ¾ to 3 ¼ hours

155 to 160F degrees / 3 ½ to 4 hours


155 to 160F degrees / 2 to 2 ½ hours


FRESH HAM ROAST with bread stuffing recipe This ham roast has easy cooking ham instructions!

  • 4 Pounds fresh ham (boneless leg)
  • 3 Cups water
  • 6 Medium chopped onions
  • 2 Cups soft bread crumbs
  • 1 Beaten egg
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon dried sage
  • ¾ Teaspoon salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon black pepper

COOKING HAM INSTRUCTIONS FOR FRESH HAM ROAST

Preheat oven to 325F degrees.

Spread pork leg out flat; season lightly with salt.

Heat water to boiling; add onions, cook 5 minutes and drain.

Combine and mix onions with bread crumbs, egg, butter, sage, salt and pepper.

Spread stuffing mixture over flat pork; rollup and fasten with metal skewers.

To roast fresh ham place fat side down on rack in shallow pan.

If any stuffing is left, spoon over top of roast; insert meat thermometer in thickest part of roast.

Roast uncovered for 3 ½ hours or until temperature reaches 165F degrees on thermometer.

HOW TO GLAZE A HAM using apple glaze recipe

  • 1 Cooked ham
  • 1 Cup apple butter
  • ½ Teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ Teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Apple juice

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Score ham in diamond shapes about ¼ inch deep.

Toothpick small slices of fresh apple in diamond pattern.

Mix apple juice with equal amount of water and pour in pan around ham.

Bake uncovered 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature reaches 140F degrees on thermometer; baste with apple juice frequently.

Mix apple butter with cinnamon and nutmeg; LAST 30 MINUTES brush with apple glaze (apple butter mixture)for a delicious cooking ham instruction.


NOTE: Cover lightly with foil after putting apple glaze on ham.