Ham Cooking Time

Ham, as we know, refers to pork that comes from the hind leg of a hog. It comes in varying colors, including fresh ham that has the pale pink or beige color of a fresh pork roast while cured or smoked ham which comes in deep rose or pink color. Though there are different ways of cooking ham, like baking, grilling, roasting, etc., proper ham cooking time and temperature are two important parameters to consider while preparing ham.

Cooking the ham within the recommended time and temperature will ensure that the ham is cooked up to the minimum safe internal temperature which helps in optimizing the ham flavor and tenderness, as well as prevents various food-borne illness that may occur due to undercooked food.

Ham Cooking Instructions

Below given are instructions on how to cook an uncooked, wet-cured ham in the most delicious and simple way.

Things Required

• Uncooked, wet-cured ham
• Roasting pan
• Aluminum foil
• Sharp knife (for trimming and scoring)
• Cloves (for scoring)
• Meat thermometer

Directions

Preheat an oven at 325 °F and meanwhile line the pan with an aluminum foil. Keep the ham in the roasting pan with the fat side up and then carefully insert the meat thermometer. Make sure that the thermometer doesn't touch the bone else you will get a wrong reading. Cook the ham referring to the cooking time given in the table below. Remove the ham just around half an hour or one hour before it completes cooking, if you desire to trim, score and glaze the ham. You can also trim and score the ham before placing it in the oven. For glazing, remove the ham from oven and increase the temperature to 425 °F. Properly brush or spoon the prepared glaze over ham and within the slices and then bake at 425 °F for another 8 - 10 minutes. As soon the internal temperature reaches 160 °F, remove the ham from the oven and allow to stand for 10 - 15 minutes before serving.

Ham Cooking Time

Cooking Time for Cooked Ham
Below given are cooking time for a refrigerated, cold cooked ham, cooked to 140 °F (meat thermometer temperature).

Cut	Temp (º F)	Weight (lbs)	Cooking Time (per pound)	Cooking Time (Hours)
Half Ham	325	6 - 8	15 - 17 minutes	2
Whole Ham	325	12 - 14	12 - 15 minutes	3
Boned, Rolled Half Ham	325	8	15 - 17 minutes	2 ½
Whole Ham	325	12 - 14	12 - 15 minutes	4

Cooking Time for Uncooked Ham
Below given are cooking time for a refrigerated, cold uncooked ham, cooked to 160 °F (meat thermometer temperature).

Cut	Temp (º F)	Weight (lbs)	Cooking Time (per pound)	Cooking Time (Hours)
Half Ham	325	6 - 8	25 minutes	3
Whole Ham	325	10	18 - 20 minutes	4
Ham	325	10 - 12	18 - 20 minutes	3 ½
Boned, Rolled Ham	325	8	25 minutes	4

Cooking Time for Canned Ham
Below given are cooking time for canned ham at room temperature, cooked to 140 °F (meat thermometer temperature).

Cut	Temp (º F)	Weight (lbs)	Cooking Time (per pound)	Cooking Time (Hours)
Small Ham	325	6	20 minutes	2
Large Ham	325	8 - 13	15 minutes	2 ½ - 3

To sum up, we can say, whichever method of cooking you follow, make sure that your ham reaches the right temperature and is cooked for an appropriate period of time. I hope the information given in this article on ham cooking time and temperature proves to be helpful to you all.