Introduction

Precooked hams are an easy way to feed large groups of people. They can be kept in the refrigerator for months, so they’re great for making ahead of time. A pre-cooked ham is fully cooked and ready to eat as soon as it’s warmed up, but if you cook the ham longer than instructed on the package, it will become overcooked and lose its flavor. You can safely warm a precut ham in the oven or in a slow cooker without changing its taste or texture too much, but there are some differences between these two methods that may change how long your meal takes to cook:

Precooked hams are ready to eat as soon as they are warmed.

Precooked hams are ready to eat as soon as they are warmed.

If you cook an unopened precooked ham longer than the instructions on the package, it can become overcooked, which will change its taste.

Cooking an unopened precooked ham longer than the instructions on the package will result in overcooking, which can change the taste of the ham.

Your pre-cooked ham will be fully cooked when you take it out of the oven. However, if you cook an unopened precooked ham longer than the instructions on the package, it may result in overcooking, which can change the taste of your food.

If you cook less than what is recommended on your packaging and leave it in longer than necessary because “it still looks pink” or “it’s not done yet,” then this could cause bacterial growth and make your food unsafe to eat.

A bone-in, spiral cut ham has a higher fat content, so it may take a little longer to warm than a boneless ham.

You should keep in mind that a bone-in spiral cut ham has a higher fat content, so it may take a little longer to warm than a boneless ham. However, if you want to slice your meat into thin pieces, then this is the way to go! The bones will help keep everything together while cooking.

A bone-in spiral cut ham also tends to be more expensive than its boneless counterpart because it has more meat on its bones and requires less trimming before serving.

Cook for about one hour for each pound of meat in a traditional oven or about 45 minutes on low in a slow cooker.

• Heat the oven to 325F.
• Place the ham in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet, fat side up.
• Use a meat thermometer to check when your pre-cooked ham is done (see “How Do I Know When My Ham Is Done?” below).

If you’re using an oven, it will take about 1 hour per pound of meat; if you’re using a slow cooker and cooking on low, expect about 45 minutes per pound of meat.

Use an instant-read thermometer to check that your ham is fully cooked and safe to eat.

Use an instant-read thermometer to check that your ham is fully cooked and safe to eat. The temperature should be at least 145 degrees F in the thickest part of the ham, and it will rise as it rests.

You can also use a meat fork or other utensil to check for doneness by inserting it into various parts of the meat; if you feel any resistance, then there’s still some cooking left to do (but not much).

Warm up your pre-cooked ham before serving it

You should never warm up a pre-cooked ham in the microwave. Microwaves heat food from the inside out, which will cause your ham to dry out and lose its flavor.

Warming up a pre-cooked ham in an oven is another option but not always effective because ovens are difficult to regulate at low temperatures. If you’re going to use this method, keep your eye on it so that you don’t overcook it!

A slow cooker also works well for warming up precooked hams–but again, watch out for overcooking!

Conclusion

The best way to cook a precooked ham is to warm it up before serving. This will ensure that your guests enjoy their meal with all the delicious flavor they expect from a ham. If you want to cook an unopened package in the oven or slow cooker, follow the instructions on the package and use an instant-read thermometer to make sure that it reaches a safe temperature before serving.