How to Glaze a Ham
Bake the ham., Mix the glaze., Remove the ham from the oven 30 minutes before it's finished baking., Score the ham., Apply glaze to the ham., Return the ham to the oven and continue baking it until the glaze begins to turn brown and shiny., Finished.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Bake the ham.
The cooking time will vary depending the ham's size and whether there is a bone.
If the ham is already fully cooked it only needs to be warmed through. -
Step 2: Mix the glaze.
If the glaze requires cooking to thicken it, mix and cook it well before you must remove the ham from the oven.
Sweet glazes are best with hams that have been wet cured and are not salty.
Sweet glazes can be made from brown sugar, pineapple chunks, fruit juices, honey, maple syrup and even carbonated beverages or dark liquors like bourbon.
Tangy glazes should be used on salty hams.
These glazes include sweet ingredients, but also include savory ingredients such as mustard, pepper, hoisin sauce or vinegar. , If you are cooking a raw ham, ensure that it's fully cooked before removing it.
A ham is fully cooked when the internal temperature is 160 °F (71.1 °C) (71 Celsius). , Scoring not only looks attractive, but allows the glaze to penetrate the rind (skin) and flavor the meat.
Some cooks choose to remove the rind and score the layer of fat beneath.
Make a series of diagonal cuts 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart across the entire top surface.
Turn the ham and make diagonal cuts in the other direction, forming a grid of diamond shapes.
If you wish, press a whole clove into the ham in the centers of the diamonds or at the places where the lines intersect. , Use a basting brush, or a spoon if your glaze contains chunks of fruit.
Make sure you put enough glaze on for it to soak into the scoring and flavor the meat. , This indicates that the glaze has caramelized and the flavor has taken on a nutty, caramel flavor.
Watch the ham while it is in the oven to ensure the glaze doesn't burn. , -
Step 3: Remove the ham from the oven 30 minutes before it's finished baking.
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Step 4: Score the ham.
-
Step 5: Apply glaze to the ham.
-
Step 6: Return the ham to the oven and continue baking it until the glaze begins to turn brown and shiny.
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Step 7: Finished.
Detailed Guide
The cooking time will vary depending the ham's size and whether there is a bone.
If the ham is already fully cooked it only needs to be warmed through.
If the glaze requires cooking to thicken it, mix and cook it well before you must remove the ham from the oven.
Sweet glazes are best with hams that have been wet cured and are not salty.
Sweet glazes can be made from brown sugar, pineapple chunks, fruit juices, honey, maple syrup and even carbonated beverages or dark liquors like bourbon.
Tangy glazes should be used on salty hams.
These glazes include sweet ingredients, but also include savory ingredients such as mustard, pepper, hoisin sauce or vinegar. , If you are cooking a raw ham, ensure that it's fully cooked before removing it.
A ham is fully cooked when the internal temperature is 160 °F (71.1 °C) (71 Celsius). , Scoring not only looks attractive, but allows the glaze to penetrate the rind (skin) and flavor the meat.
Some cooks choose to remove the rind and score the layer of fat beneath.
Make a series of diagonal cuts 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart across the entire top surface.
Turn the ham and make diagonal cuts in the other direction, forming a grid of diamond shapes.
If you wish, press a whole clove into the ham in the centers of the diamonds or at the places where the lines intersect. , Use a basting brush, or a spoon if your glaze contains chunks of fruit.
Make sure you put enough glaze on for it to soak into the scoring and flavor the meat. , This indicates that the glaze has caramelized and the flavor has taken on a nutty, caramel flavor.
Watch the ham while it is in the oven to ensure the glaze doesn't burn. ,
About the Author
Ann Johnson
Enthusiastic about teaching practical skills techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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