Ham is a traditional Easter main dish in many homes. If your mother and grandmother didn't pass on the family secrets, or if you're looking to give your ham a new twist for the holidays, read on. This page provides tips and recipes for how to cook an Easter ham.
If you're looking for an easy to prepare Easter main course, you may want to consider a ham. It can sit for a while after cooking, so is a good choice for a meal with lots of side dishes that may need last minute preparation. The key to cooking a delicious Easter ham is knowing how long it must cook. Keep in mind as well that a large Easter ham may also yield a great deal of tasty leftovers for ham salad, ham sandwiches and more.
How to Cook a Glazed Ham
Rob Derrick with "Cooking for Dads" explains how to cook a glazed ham, cheesy scalloped potatoes and beans for a great Easter meal. Derrick chooses his ingredients: an uncut ham, brown sugar, nutmeg, cloves, crushed pineapple, dijon mustard, russet gold potatoes and green beans. From making the ham glaze to preparing the scalloped potatoes, Derrick walks you through the steps to make a savory holiday dinner.
Easter Ham Overview
A ham is salt-cured, smoked or aged meat cut from the back legs or shoulders of a pig. It is sold with or without the bone. Hams are sold fresh, partially cooked, and fully cooked, so make sure to follow package instructions for baking times.
When cooking a ham for Easter, choose carefully. If you know you won't have a lot of free time in the kitchen during the holiday, a fully cooked ham might be a good option. Spiral hams can be purchased (fully cooked) well in advance and stored ahead of the big day.
Easter Ham Tips
Look for no water added ham for the most intense flavor.
You'll need one-half to three quarters of a pound of bone-in ham per person, or one-fourth to one-third of a pound of boneless.
Let ham rest 15 minutes before carving to redistribute juices and keep meat firm.
Slice thinly, to minimize saltiness.
Leftover ham can be kept, tightly wrapped for three to five days in the refrigerator.
Easter Ham Recipes and Ideas
Ham has a lot of possibilities and there are many different ways to prepare it. Easter hams can be glazed with a variety of different types of glazes. Typically, hams are glazed about 30 minutes before they are ready to be taken out of the oven. Glazes can be made with sugar, brown sugar, honey or even mustard, depending on your tastes.
Ham can be seasoned while you are cooking it. Simply add spices like cloves, bay leaves or peppercorn to your ham as it's wrapped in aluminum foil.
References
Fast Facts
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Decide what kind of ham you want to cook - some come fully cooked and only require warming, others are fresh and can take hours in the oven.
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Ham can be thawed in the refrigerator or in cold water.
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To store your Easter ham leftovers, wrap tightly and keep in the refrigerator.
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Ham can be kept in the fridge for three to five days.
