Cooking the perfect ham for Christmas can be surprisingly simple with the right steps. Start by preheating your oven to 325°F and scoring your fully cooked bone-in ham in a diamond pattern. Insert whole cloves into each diamond before making the glaze, which should include brown sugar, honey, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and crushed pineapple. Once combined, use a basting brush to spread it over the ham and place it in a roasting pan in the oven. Bake for about 15-18 minutes per pound or until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
How to Make the Perfect Christmas Ham for Your Holiday Feast
Introduction
If you’re hosting a holiday feast this year, a perfectly cooked ham is one of the centrepieces of the feast. Cooking a ham for Christmas is a tradition that has been around for ages, but did you know that the process can actually be quite simple when you know the right steps? Here is a step-by-step guide with a recipe for the perfect Christmas ham.
Ingredients
To make the perfect Christmas ham, you will need:
- 1 fully cooked bone-in ham
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1 can of crushed pineapple
- 1 cup of honey
- 1 tbsp of whole cloves
- 1/2 cup of dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of butter
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Step 2: Prepare the ham
Using a sharp knife, score the ham in a diamond pattern. Be careful not to cut too deep – you just want to cut through the skin i.e. the outer layer of the ham. Then, insert the whole cloves in each diamond.
Step 3: Make the glaze
In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Once melted, add in the brown sugar, honey, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and crushed pineapple. Mix everything together and heat it up until the sugar is dissolved completely.
Step 4: Glaze the ham
Now that the glaze is ready, use a basting brush to spread it over the ham thoroughly.
Step 5: Bake the ham
Place the ham in a roasting pan and put it in the oven. Bake it for about 15-18 minutes per pound, or until an internal temperature of 140°F is reached.
Step 6: Let it rest
Once the ham has reached the desired temperature, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes before slicing.
Tips for the Perfect Christmas Ham
To ensure that your Christmas ham is perfect, here are a few tips:
- Make sure you buy the right size ham based on the number of people you’ll be serving.
- Let the ham sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking.
- Make the glaze in advance to save time and keep the ham moist.
- Baste the ham every 30 minutes or so to keep it moist.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham.
Conclusion
With these simple steps, you’ll have a perfectly glazed and cooked ham for your holiday feast. Impress your guests this year with your culinary skills and make your holiday feast one to remember.