How long to bake a 2 lb ham

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This is a complete guide on how to cook a ham. With detailed information on preparation methods, cooking times, ham glaze ideas and tips and tricks for success, you’ll be able to turn out a perfect holiday ham year after year!

When the holidays roll around, I always have a ham on the table. Hams are impressive, simple to make, and are popular with both kids and adults alike. Add a few festive side dishes such as sweet potato casserole and bacon green beans, then watch the rave reviews come in.

Have you ever cooked a ham before? It can be an intimidating proposition, but it’s actually much simpler than you think. This is the ultimate guide on how to cook a ham, with plenty of guidance to ensure foolproof results.

Holiday Ham Ingredients

To prepare the ham recipe that I’ve provided, you’ll need a ham, butter, brown sugar, apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Types of hams

There are many different varieties of hams. The vast majority of hams that are sold these days are pre-cooked. Some of these hams, such as Black Forest and Virginia ham, are thinly sliced and used for deli meat. The three types you’ll most often find for cooking whole are spiral cut hams, boneless hams, and bone-in shank half hams.

Spiral cut hams are the easiest ham to prepare because they’re sliced and ready to go. A shank half ham is a bone-in ham that is not yet sliced. You really can use any of these types of ham, but with the shank half ham, you’ll need to do a little extra slicing.

How to prepare a ham

The first step to preparing a ham is to remove all the packaging. If there’s any extra liquid in the bottom of the package, discard it. If your ham is frozen, you’ll need to thaw it before you cook it. Many hams have a small piece of plastic that sits on top of the bone, be sure to discard that.

If you’re using a spiral cut ham, you can place your ham in a roasting pan and proceed with your recipe. If you’re using a shank half ham, you’ll want to use a sharp knife to score a diamond pattern across the top of the ham. You’ll also need to score a boneless ham. This creates plenty of crevices for the glaze to soak into the ham as it bakes.

How to cook a ham

The easiest way to cook a ham is to bake it in the oven, or cook it in a crockpot. To bake your ham, you’ll want to pour half the glaze over the top, cover it with foil, then bake. At the end of the baking time, uncover the ham and pour the remaining glaze over the top. Bake until the glaze is caramelized, then serve.

To cook a ham in a slow cooker, choose a ham that is small enough to fit into your crockpot. Place the ham cut side down in the crockpot. Pour the glaze over the top.  Cook for 3-4 hours on low heat.

Recipe FAQs

How long does it take to cook a ham?

It takes approximately 15 minutes per pound to bake a ham in the oven at 350 degrees F. Be sure to use a thermometer to confirm that your ham is cooked to the proper temperature and is safe to eat.

How do you know if a ham is done?

A ham is ready to heat when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 145 degrees F. Your thermometer should not be touching any bone, as this will produce an inaccurate reading.

How much ham per person?

You will want to plan on 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per person, or 1/2 pound of boneless ham per person. This will allow for a generous serving per person, plus allow for some leftovers.

How to reheat ham

The best way to reheat leftover ham is to place it in a covered dish, then bake it at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat individual slices of ham in the microwave, just take care not to overcook it so that it doesn’t get tough.

How to cook a ham with a ham glaze

A ham is just a ham, but after you slather it with a flavorful glaze it becomes a flavorful and festive main course. You can start your ham glaze by melting 1/2 cup of butter with 1 cup brown sugar, then add any of the following flavorings. Simmer the glaze for 5-7 minutes or until thickened, then pour over the ham.

• Orange: Add 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, the zest of one orange, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of ground cloves.
• Pineapple: Add 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and a pinch of ground cloves. You can also add 1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple for added texture.
• Mustard: Use 2 tablespoons of Dijon or grainy mustard and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
• Apple: Stir in 1/2 cup apple cider, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of ground cloves and a pinch of ground nutmeg.

How to cook a ham with a Ham rub

If you don’t want to coat your ham in a glaze, you can also prepare a ham rub. Mix together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon mustard powder. Coat your ham in the rub, then bake as directed.

Leftover ham ideas

One of the best parts of making ham is the leftovers! Be sure to check out this post for 40 ideas on how to use up your leftover holiday ham.

Now that you know how to cook a ham, you’re ready for the holidays! Use the recipe below for the absolute best tender, juicy ham with a succulent glaze.

Ham recipes to try

• Honey Baked Ham
• Glazed Ham
• Smoked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
• Ham with Pineapple and Cherries
• Coca Cola Ham

How to Cook a ham Video

5 from 18 votes

How to Cook A Ham – The Best Baked Ham

Directions on how to cook a ham in the oven and make a delicious sweet ham glaze.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes

Servings 12

Calories 488kcal

Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

• ▢8 lb bone in spiral cut ham
• ▢1/2 cup butter
• ▢1 cup brown sugar
• ▢1/2 cup apple cider can also use orange juice or pineapple juice
• ▢1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢pinch of nutmeg
• ▢pinch of ground cloves
• ▢cooking spray
• ▢cranberries and herbs for garnish optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a baking pan with cooking spray.

• Add the butter, brown sugar, apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to a pot. Place the pot over medium heat.

• Bring the pot to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes or until glaze is syrupy.

• Place the ham in the pan and pour half of the glaze over it. Cover the ham with foil. Reserve the remaining glaze for later user.

• Bake the ham for 2 hours. Uncover the ham.

• Pour the remaining glaze over the ham. If the glaze has started to harden, you can microwave it for a few seconds to loosen it back up.

• Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.

• Place the ham, uncovered, in the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until glaze is caramelized and browned.

• Transfer the ham to a serving platter and garnish with fresh herbs and cranberries. Spoon pan drippings over the ham. Slice the ham, then serve.

  How long does it take to bake a 2lb ham?

  Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4 inch water into the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 130˚ F, about 2 hours 30 minutes (about 15 minutes per pound).

  How long do you cook a 2 lb boneless ham?

  Directions. Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham on a rimmed baking sheet, adding 3/4 cup water to pan. Cover ham securely with foil, and heat 15 minutes per pound.

  How do you cook a 2 pound precooked ham?

  How To Cook A Precooked Ham.

  Cut the ham free from the package, cover it in foil and reheat it to a good serving temperature..

  Cooking it at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes per pound should do the trick, depending on the type of ham (whole or half, bone-in or no bone ― these specifics are outlined here)..

  What temperature do you cook a 2 pound ham?

  Uncooked and Boneless Ham For the Shoulder Roll cut, the ham will weigh between two and four pounds and should cook at 325°F for 35 to 40 minutes per pound.