20+ Of The Best Holiday Ham Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best ham to serve for Christmas? ›

Shank or Butt

Shank: Ham from the shank end is the picturesque ham profile that pops into most people's heads when they think of a Christmas ham. The pork comes from the leg portion of the pig and tends to be a bit leaner. Bone-in ham from the shank has one long bone, which can make carving a breeze.

These days, it's generally not necessary to soak gammon (uncooked ham) to make it less salty before cooking.

How Long Does Ham Keep In The Fridge? If you have a whole ham, it can last in the fridge for up to seventy-five days. If you have a half ham, it will last for about sixty days. Ham that has been precooked or spiral cut will last for about one week.

How much ham per person? The best rule of thumb for ham is to plan about 1/2 pound per person when picking a bone-in ham (it's heavier) and 1/3 pound if boneless.

Wrapped in gold foil like a gift, Honey Baked Hams have set the gold standard for holiday ham. That's why so many families choose to serve Honey Baked Ham products for Thanksgiving dinner and other holiday meals. You can visit one of our convenient HoneyBaked retail locations or shop online.

Preheat the oven to 325°F. You don't need to wash a ham before baking. If you ask us, baked ham is delicious even when you leave it plain; however, scoring a diamond pattern with a chef's knife in the outer layer and brushing on a glaze during baking makes the ham a showy centerpiece and adds flavor.

Depending on how the ham was cured, it will most probably be necessary to soak the ham for 24 hours before baking it. This step isn't necessary when boiling a ham as the boiling process automatically removes any excess salt, but it is a foolish errand to bake a salt cured ham without soaking..

An uncooked, cut country ham can be refrigerated for two to three months or frozen for one month. A cooked Country Ham should be refrigerated for seven days and or frozen for one month. Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely.

A fully-cooked, unopened, vacuum-sealed ham can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator, according to the USDA, but the clock starts ticking once you open that package. Sliced meat, like fresh cut ham or spiral-cut ham from the store, will last in the refrigerator for only three to five days.

Slimy ham is a sign of bacterial growth, so don't consume it if it's wet or oily. Some bacteria may cause ham to become sticky, too. In any case, avoid ham that doesn't feel right in your hand.

Do you cook ham skin side up or down? ›

Remove all packaging materials and place ham on its side, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover loosely with aluminum foil. 2. Heat approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound until heated through.

You can remove the rind and score the ham up to three days before using it. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. You can also prepare the ham, glaze and bake it completely. Allow it to cool, and cover with a layer of baking paper then a layer of foil.

The shank end (or leg portion) sports that classic ham profile, so it's a good choice for a picture-perfect table. The meat tends to be leaner and it has one long bone, which makes carving easier. The butt end (the top half of the ham) has more tender, fattier meat, lending a richer flavor.

Spiral ham can be made boneless, but butchers typically create a spiral ham cut by slicing a bone-in ham into one big spiral shape. Not only does spiral bone-in ham have a natural and preserved fresh flavor—it's also a lot easier to cut, because of the extra work done at the butcher's block.

A bone-in ham makes for a great visual presentation on the table, and is perfect for carving. And it's not just there for show — a ham bone is an excellent starter for flavorful soups and stocks. Boneless hams are easier to carve, and better suited for sandwiches. There's no real difference in flavor or texture.

Overall, turkey is recommended over ham for nutrition. However, this is based on sodium content. Ham is very high in sodium, but it is rich in zinc, potassium, and iron. Ham has been used for generations to add salt and flavor to other dishes.