Should I Bake My Ham Covered Or Uncovered?

Ham is cured, so you are able to cook it in many different ways. If you're baking ham, you might not know if you should or shouldn't cover it. We searched high and low and found satisfying answers from experts.

It would be best to cover the ham while baking, as experts highly recommend it to prevent moisture from evaporating. The dry, hot air in the oven draws the water content from the ham while heating it, leaving you with a dry and unappealing meal. 

Whatever ends up on your plate is dependent on the type of hog used to prepare that ham. Continue reading to get more details on how to bake your ham and other alternative cooking methods.

Baking Ham: Covered Or Uncovered?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when baking a ham is to leave it uncovered. Ham is typically sold pre-cooked, meaning that all you have to do is reheat the meat in the oven. Due to the density of the flesh, the ideal way is to heat it slowly at a minimum temperature.

Long-term exposure to the oven's dry air will dry out the ham, leaving you with an unattractive slab of meat. Since pork slices are already considered relatively lean, some parts, like the tenderloin, are prone to drying out.

To fix the drying issues, wrap the ham in aluminum foil or put it in a baking bag. You can add more moisture to the mixture by keeping a half-cup of broth, wine, or water in the bottom of the roasting pan. Take off the covering, glaze the ham and increase the heat after the internal temperature reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

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A Step-By-Step Process Of Baking Ham

The process depends on whether your ham is pre-cooked or uncooked. Baking pre-cooked ham takes less time than baking a raw one. It is always advisable to read the label to be sure which of the two you bought.

For the pre-cooked ham, the steps are straightforward as follows—

• Thaw the ham in the refrigerator if it's frozen. This can take four to six hours per 2 pounds.

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• Get it out of the refrigerator around 45 minutes before cooking.
• Heat up the oven to about 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Put the ham in a roasting pan and wrap it in aluminum foil sparingly such that it hardly touches the meat. Wrapping it with foil aids in sealing in moisture. Finish by putting it in the oven.
• Optionally, make a glaze for the ham. Use various variations but stick to the traditional elements such as honey, maple syrup, and brown sugar to make it sweet.
• Once the ham is ready, you can opt to glaze it 15 minutes after removing it from the oven or every five minutes as it cooks.
• Take the ham out of the oven when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To get the accurate temperature of the ham, use a meat thermometer. The thermometer will help monitor the temperature as you cannot visually determine when meat is ready.
• Allow the ham to cool for about 20 minutes before cutting and serving it.

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The above process is the same for uncooked ham. However, there's an additional step; add brine to the ham to cure it.

Brine the ham for about 24-72 hours before cooking in order to make the meat juicier. Alternatively, you can add dry herbs to the brine and wrap the ham in a muslin bag for several days. Give it a quick rinse and pat dry before preparing it using the same methods for pre-cooked ham.

Other Mistakes To Avoid While Preparing Ham for Baking

If you want tasty and juicy ham, avoid making the following mistakes:

1. Leaving the ham unglazed: Although the steps in most cookbooks say it's optional, glazing adds flavor and makes the meat appealing.
2. Buying the wrong kind of ham: Avoid canned hams as they come in smaller chunks of pork packed together rather than complete portions. The preservation brine deteriorates the meat structure, making it difficult to bake.
3. Glazing the ham too soon: Large ham requires several hours to reheat correctly due to its density. Thus, it will dry if you cook uncovered and then glaze it later.
4. Purchasing artificially inflated ham: Avoid buying ham injected with water or other flavor-diluting substances.

Remember, looks can matter when it comes to food. A visually dry and tough-looking ham won't seem too appealing to your guests.

What Kind Of Ham Can You Get At The Market?

Ham is sold based in several distinct varieties, all of which can inform your choice. Even though most hams at the grocery store or market are thoroughly cooked, you have a few options when choosing a ham:

• Brine or water-added ham: It is fully cooked with water or brine injected into it, and this is on the label, so be sure to read.
• Fresh ham: It's uncooked and unprocessed
• Bone-in: A portion of the leg or hipbone is still there to enhance the flavor while cooking. The rump half or the shank piece of cooked ham containing the entire cured leg is usually sufficient for most occasions.

Ham Parts

You can base your choice on the part of the meat. The shank half is typically a little more complicated and richer in connective tissue, while the rump half is meatier and tenderer.

• Spiral-cut: It is fully cooked boneless or bone-in ham pre-sliced into spirals for a more straightforward serving. They frequently include a glazing package.
• Boneless: The ham has all the bones taken out. The fully cooked ham is reshaped, canned, or wrapped to keep the meat intact. Ham without bones is easy to slice.
• Dry-cured: The meat is salted and kept for four to six months to allow the salt to penetrate properly.

Taking Home The Best Ham

After going through the different kinds of ham, it should be straightforward for you to make a good choice. However, these tips allow you to take home the best piece of ham:

• Cost: Look for the most affordable price. Extra water is introduced during the curing process of discount hams. Opt for ham-branded meat, which tends to be very expensive, or ham with natural juices.
• Easy to carve: Spiral-sliced ham is the winner in this category. It does not dry out as long as you bake it over water with a foil covering. If you follow a recipe, get "bare" ham rather than spiral-sliced ham since many come with glaze.
• The cut: Most people purchase half because a whole ham serves 30 people. The rear has more usable meat, but the shank end bears the traditional ham appearance. Regardless of the cut, we strongly advise bone-in, which has improved taste and texture, superior presentation, and excellent soup.
• Curing the ham: The choice is between dry-cured, wet-cured, or uncured. The wet-cured ham is highly recommended as it comes fully cooked.

Can You Bake Ham Without An Oven?

Strange, but yes, you can bake ham without using an oven. The most common alternative method experts offer using a crockpot, dutch oven, or cast iron skillet.

To cook or "bake" ham in a crockpot or slow cooker, rub the ham with spices and cook it for at least six hours until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

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When using a cast iron skillet, rub the spices on the ham, pour some water or broth around it, cover it in heavy-duty foil, and put the skillet in the oven. Ensure you wrap it properly to avoid drying out. Check the temperature consistently with a meat thermometer until it reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dutch ovens are somewhat similar to cast iron skillets but differ in size. However, you can still use them to "bake" your ham. Use the same method as a cast iron skillet.

In Closing

Baked ham is a popular meal during the holidays and family gatherings. Remember to select the best type of ham to avoid a disastrous outcome of the final dish. Don't forget to cover the ham while baking to keep all the juices and glaze in every bite.

After you prepare a memorable ham dish, read these posts here to impress your guests with unending culinary expertise—

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