Introduction
Cooking a ham is one of those culinary tasks that many home cooks don’t know how to tackle. But with some planning and practice, you can master the art of cooking a ham.
How Long Does It Take to Cook a Ham
How long it takes to cook a ham depends on the size of the ham, but you can expect it to take several hours. To cook your ham, you’ll need to first preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (or 160 degrees Celsius). Then place your uncooked ham in an oven-safe pan and cover with foil. Place both in a roasting pan or another dish big enough for both items, making sure there’s at least 1 inch around each side of each item so they don’t touch each other while roasting!
After removing from its packaging and rinsing under cool running water for about 5 minutes or until no more blood appears on surface of meat (you may want wear disposable gloves when handling raw meats), pat dry with paper towels before applying rubs/seasonings if desired; seasonings should be applied lightly so they don’t burn during cooking process…
Cooking a ham is one of those culinary tasks that many home cooks don’t know how to tackle. But with some planning and practice, you can master the art of cooking a ham.
Cooking a ham is one of those culinary tasks that many home cooks don’t know how to tackle. But with some planning and practice, you can master the art of cooking a ham.
A good rule of thumb is to cook your holiday roast for at least 20 minutes per pound. For example, if you have a 12-pound turkey breast in the oven, it will take approximately 3 hours (12 x 20 = 240; divide by 60). This method ensures that your meat is thoroughly cooked through while also allowing enough time for it to rest after being removed from heat so that all its juices stay inside instead of running out onto your plate or cutting board when carving time comes around!
Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the ham in the roaster pan, fat side up, and pour 1 cup of water over it.
- Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the ham in the roaster pan, fat side up, and pour 1 cup of water over it.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes per pound (for a 12-pound ham), or until an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached on an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat (the leg). Remove from oven and let rest 20 minutes before carving
Bake for 20 minutes per pound or until an internal thermometer reads 135 degrees. Remove from oven and let rest 20 minutes before carving.
The cooking time for a ham depends on its size, so you will want to check the package for specific instructions. If you don’t have that information, here’s how long it should take:
- For one pound (500 grams) of uncooked meat: 20 minutes per pound at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 Celsius).
- For two pounds (1 kilogram): 40 minutes per pound at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 Celsius).
You can also use an internal thermometer to gauge when your ham is done. The internal temperature should be 135 degrees Fahrenheit (57 Celsius) for cooked hams. Let your ham rest for 20 minutes before carving so that all those delicious juices don’t run out!
Cooking a ham is easier than it seems once you’ve done it a few times!
Cooking a ham is easier than it seems once you’ve done it a few times!
You’ll need:
- A roasting pan that fits your oven and ham comfortably. The size of the pan is important because if it’s too small, the juices will evaporate and leave behind an overdone roast; too large, and there won’t be enough moisture to keep everything from drying out. A smaller cut of meat (like a loin or butt) generally requires less space than larger ones (like shanks). Also keep in mind that if you’re cooking multiple hams at once, you may have to adjust accordingly–if one is taking up more room than anticipated because of its size/shape or thickness then shift things around so nothing gets crowded out during cooking time.
- Time! Plan ahead so your holiday meal doesn’t come together at last minute; we recommend starting preparations at least 6 hours before serving time so everything can marinate properly while also giving yourself flexibility with other dishes being prepared during this busy period.* An internal thermometer inserted into center portion should read 160 degrees F when fully cooked; depending on how long since last eating anything substantial (and therefore how much food has been consumed since), this could take anywhere between 1 hour 15 minutes all day long depending upon how much liquid remains in bottom half after removing foil cover for first 45 minutes.*
Conclusion
Cooking a ham is easier than it seems once you’ve done it a few times! If you follow these simple steps and make sure your oven is preheated properly before placing the ham in, there should be no problem with overcooking or undercooking your meal.