Introduction

Ham on Easter Sunday is a tradition in many households, but how do you know when it’s done? For years, cooks have relied on the “four-hour rule” to determine when their hams are ready. While this may have worked in past decades, today’s modern meat processing techniques mean that more time is needed to ensure a juicy end result. To help you get the best results from your holiday ham, here’s everything you need to know about cooking times and temperature:

The perfect way to cook a ham depends on its weight

The perfect way to cook a ham depends on its weight. The cooking time will vary according to the cut of ham you’ve chosen, but it will generally range from 2 1/2 hours to 5 hours.

Cooking times will vary according to the cut of ham you’ve chosen

The cooking time for a ham will vary according to the cut of ham you’ve chosen. Ham is categorized as either shank or butt, which means upper leg or lower leg respectively. The shank is usually sliced into smaller pieces while the butt can be left whole or cut into thick slices.

The following are some general guidelines for cooking times:

• A four-pound whole shank should take about 12 hours at 250 F (121 C). A three-pound butt should take about nine hours at 250 F (121 C).

Cooking times generally range from 2 1/2 hours to 5 hours

The cooking time for a ham will depend on what type you’re using, how it’s cooked and the size of your oven. Generally speaking, a 2 1/2-pound fully cooked ham can be roasted in 3 hours at 325 degrees F (163 C). If you’re not in a rush and have time to watch over it while it cooks, try slow cooking (at 200 F) for 8 hours or more until tender.

Cooking times generally range from 2 1/2 hours to 5 hours depending on cut size and method used; however, if your oven has been calibrated properly then there is no need to worry about this variable as much since most home ovens are accurate within 6 degrees Fahrenheit (3 C). The USDA recommends heating up an uncooked picnic shoulder roast until internal temperature reaches 160 F before removing from heat source and resting 20 minutes before carving into slices or cubes–this should give you an idea about how long it takes for meat products like hams which contain less fat than beef roasts but still require similar precautions when cooking them so that their juices don’t escape during cooking process.”

You can estimate the cooking time by multiplying the weight of your ham by four.

You can estimate the cooking time by multiplying the weight of your ham by four. For example, if you have a 12-pound bone-in shank end ham (also called a “picnic” or “butt”), you’ll need to cook it for 48 hours at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a smaller cut like a Boston butt roast or boneless ham steak, then just halve the number of hours–so for example if your roast weighs 6 pounds and is cooked at 325 degrees for 2 hours per pound, it should be done in 12 hours total (6 x 2).

If you’re using an oven bag: The general rule is that most hams take about 15 minutes per pound or two hours per kilogram when they’re wrapped tightly in plastic wrap with some water added inside before baking them at 250 degrees F until their internal temperature reaches 170F on an instant-read thermometer inserted into their thickest part closest to where they were cut off from being whole pieces again after having been sliced into smaller ones originally

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to cook your ham and don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this is an easy solution. All you need to do is multiply the weight of your ham by four, add one hour for every five pounds, then check on it every 30 minutes until it’s done!