Learn the secrets of How to Heat a Fully Cooked Ham with this simple recipe! Whether you are looking for a quick weeknight dinner or an impressive holiday ham, this recipe will transform any pre-cooked ham into an irresistible and scrumptious holiday feast - complete with a tasty glaze!
Heating a precooked ham is super easy, and this recipe will show you how to reheat it in the oven.
This method works for whole hams, boneless hams, country hams, and even a spiral-sliced ham or a half ham.
This juicy ham recipe is perfect for special occasions, particularly a holiday meal. I often make ham for Christmas dinner or Easter Sunday dinner.
Serve it with Green Bean Casserole, Twice-Baked Mashed Potatoes, and Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole for a delicious meal your guests will love!
If you have a smoker, another great way to heat a ham is by using this Double Smoked Ham Recipe with Brown Sugar Maple Glaze.
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💗 Why you will love this recipe
- The heating process is so effortless and stress-free that even beginner cooks will be able to make the perfect ham.
- This is an easy recipe that is incredibly simple, making it perfect for the busy holiday season when you have a thousand other things to do.
- It is made with easy-to-find ingredients at your local grocery store.
- It is delicious! The flavors in this dish are sure to make your taste buds do a happy dance! You will love the sweet Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze!
- This recipe is extremely versatile — whether you want to serve it up as part of an elegant holiday dinner or simply whip up something tasty on any given night, this dish will never disappoint!
📋 Ingredient Notes
- Ham. I used a bone-in pre-cooked ham that was about 9.5 pounds. Any kind of ham will work with this recipe, even a fresh ham.
- Pineapple chunks. You can also use crushed pineapple, pineapple slices, or fresh pineapple.
- Dijon mustard. You can also use yellow mustard.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
♨️ How to heat a fully cooked ham
Step 1. The first step is to take the ham out of the refrigerator about an hour before baking to allow it to come up to room temperature.
Step 2: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Step 3: Remove the packaging from the ham and discard it, along with the plastic circle that covers the bone.
Step 4: If your ham is not spiral-cut, score the entire surface of the ham with a sharp knife, which helps the glaze sink into the meat. Cut long cuts from the top of the ham down to the bottom. Then, make a second set of perpendicular cuts to form a diamond pattern all over the outside, about ½-inch deep and 1-½-inches apart.
Step 5: Place the ham cut side down in a large roasting pan or sturdy baking dish. Add 1 cup of cold water to the bottom of the pan. Cover with a lid or with aluminum foil; this will stop the ham from drying out.
Step 6: Place ham in the oven. Set the timer for one hour.
Step 7. Prepare the glaze. Add the can of pineapple tidbits, including the juice, to a medium saucepan. Add brown sugar, orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, until the glaze has thickened.
Step 8. After the ham has been in the oven for one hour, unwrap the aluminum foil and spoon a few spoonfuls of glaze over the top of the ham, making sure to add all of the pineapple chunks to the roaster. Cover tightly again with aluminum foil. Reserve the remaining glaze for later.
Step 9. After another hour, pour the remaining glaze over the ham, and cover it again with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven for one more hour, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the ham reaches 140 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
Expert Tip: Most hams sold in the grocery store will be city hams (pre-cooked). However, if you are cooking a fresh ham they are always sold uncooked, and they need to be cooked until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
Step 10. Remove the ham from the oven, let it sit, tented in foil, to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Step 11. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
💭Expert Tips
- Let the ham sit at room temperature for one hour prior to baking.
- Always preheat the oven temperature before placing your ham inside.
- Ensure you cover the ham with foil for most of the baking time; this will keep moisture locked in and give you juicier meat.
- Use an internal thermometer for accuracy. You want to make sure that your ham reaches at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow the ham to rest for 10-15 minutes after baking so the juices redistribute back into the meat.
📋Recipe FAQs
A pre-cooked ham needs to be heated to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. A fresh ham (uncooked) needs to be heated to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
For a pre-cooked ham, you need to heat it to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. This will take approximately 18 to 20 minutes per pound. My ham was almost 10 pounds, and it took 3 hours to heat. The size of the ham will determine the length of the cooking time; a smaller ham will cook much quicker than a larger one.
If you figure about ½ pound per person with a bone-in ham and ⅓ pound per person if it is a boneless ham, you will have enough to feed everyone and have some leftovers if you are lucky.
Leftover ham should be stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Yes! To heat your ham in the slow cooker, place ham in the slow cooker with 1 cup of water, and heat on low for 4-5 hours. Then remove the lid and pour the glaze over top of the ham. Cover and cook on low for 30-60 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.
🍖 What to do with leftover ham?
If you are lucky enough to have leftover ham, use it for breakfast the next day in Oven-Baked Omelet Casserole, an easy recipe that feeds a crowd.
Leftover ham is also delicious in Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup, Spinach And Mushroom Omelet, or breakfast sandwiches served with fried eggs on my fluffy Air Buns the next day.
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📋 Recipe
How to Heat a Fully Cooked Ham
Equipment
- Digital meat thermometer
- Roasting pan
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 1 pre-cooked ham 5-10 pounds
- 20 ounce can (540 mL) pineapple chunks or crushed pineapple
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons prepared orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Take the ham out of the refrigerator about an hour before baking to allow it to come up to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Remove the packaging from the ham and discard it, along with the plastic circle that covers the bone.
- If your ham is not spiral-cut, score the entire surface of the ham with a sharp knife. Cut long cuts from the top of the ham down to the bottom. Then, make a second set of perpendicular cuts to form a diamond pattern all over the outside, about ½-inch deep and 1-½-inches apart.
- Place the ham cut side down in a large roasting pan or sturdy baking dish. Add 1 cup of cold water to the bottom of the pan. Cover with a lid or with aluminum foil.
- Place ham in the oven. Set the timer for one hour.
- Prepare the glaze. Add the can of pineapple chunks, including the juice, to a medium saucepan. Add brown sugar, orange juice, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, until the glaze has thickened.
- After the ham has been in the oven for one hour, unwrap the aluminum foil and spoon a few spoonfuls of glaze over the top of the ham, making sure to add all of the pineapple chunks to the roaster. Cover tightly again with aluminum foil. Reserve the remaining glaze for later.
- After another hour, pour the remaining glaze over the ham, and cover it again with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven for one more hour, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the ham reaches 140 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
- Remove the ham from the oven, let it sit, tented in foil, to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve with your favorite side dishes.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Most hams sold in the grocery store will be city hams (pre-cooked). However, if you are cooking a fresh ham they are always sold uncooked, and they need to be cooked until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
- Let the ham sit at room temperature for one hour prior to baking.
- Always preheat the oven temperature before placing your ham inside.
- Ensure you cover the ham with foil for most of the baking time; this will keep moisture locked in and give you juicier meat.
- Use an internal thermometer for accuracy. You want to make sure that your ham reaches at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow the ham to rest for 10-15 minutes after baking so the juices redistribute back into the meat.
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