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The Definitive Recipe for a Perfectly Glazed Baked Ham

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A comprehensive guide to preparing a Glazed Baked Ham, focusing on the two-phase moist-heat and high-heat technique to ensure maximum moisture and a stunningly caramelized brown sugar and citrus crust.

Ingredients

Scale

One 7 to 10 pound fully cooked bone-in or boneless ham

1 cup water or unsalted chicken stock

Heavy-duty aluminum foil

1 cup packed light brown sugar

Half a cup fresh orange juice

Quarter cup maple syrup (pure Grade A recommended)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Half teaspoon ground cloves

Half teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position. Place the ham on the V-rack inside the roasting pan. Add water or stock to the pan. Preheat the oven to 325 Fahrenheit.

2. Weigh the ham. Calculate the total cooking time based on 15 minutes per pound. Subtract the final 30 minutes (glazing time) from the total to determine the length of the initial covered bake.

3. Cover the roasting pan tightly with heavy foil, crimping the edges to seal in all steam. Bake the ham for the calculated initial time at 325 Fahrenheit.

4. While the ham bakes, combine all glaze ingredients (brown sugar, orange juice, maple syrup, Dijon, cloves, cinnamon) in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside.

5. 30 minutes before the ham is fully cooked, remove the pan from the oven. Carefully remove the foil. Increase the oven temperature to 425 Fahrenheit.

6. Brush the entire surface of the ham generously with approximately one third of the reserved glaze mixture. Return the uncovered ham to the 425 Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes.

7. Remove the ham and apply another one third of the glaze. Check the internal temperature. When the internal temperature registers 140 Fahrenheit, the Glazed Baked Ham is done.

8. Once cooked, remove the ham from the oven and transfer it, uncovered, to a carving board. Let it rest for a minimum of 20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

The ham should be tempered at room temperature for at least two hours before baking.

Do not use a spiral-cut ham; it risks drying out.

Always check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the meat, avoiding the bone.

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