Kitchen

[house_cat]

I rarely make ham, but DH requested it for Easter dinner. I bought a Hormel spiral sliced ham today, and here's what I don't understand...

Are all spiral sliced hams fully cooked?  Am I just essentially heating it up? 

[RedTop]

@house_cat 

Yes, spiral sliced hams are fully cooked and you will just be reheating.  

[Kachina624]

@house_cat   Not a dumb question.  Yes, you're just heating it up but that can take awhile on a big ham.  There should be instructions, maybe under the label. 

[On It]

Every spiral sliced ham I have bought has been fully cooked. It usually says that somewhere on the label. If in doubt, look at the supplier's website for an answer or to contact their customer service for a definitive answer.

[house_cat]

@RedTop 

@Kachina624 

@On It 

Thanks for the prompt replies.  I'm just remembering why I never had to ask this question before. For many years, when money was not as tight as it is now, I'd order it from our local Honey Baked Ham store and pick it up on Easter morning.  Those required no prep whatsoever. 

[Zhills]

Don't expect the same Honey Baked ham taste. 

All spiral hams are seasoned a little bit differently.

It will be delicious, just not the same as Honey Baked.

[house_cat]

@Zhills 

Noted.  Honey Baked was soooo good!  I'm not sure we even have one in my city if I wanted to pay for it.

[Carmie]

All smoked hams just need heating up....or you can serve them cold if you wish. you don't need to cook them at all.

I find that baking a ham dries it out.  For meals, I just cut the ham into what I think I will use for my dinner.  I place the slices in a pan or roaster with a little water, cover and bake until hot.

I wrap the unused portion of ham in plastic wrap and foil and place it back in the fridge.  If I want it for dinner, I cut slices and heat the portion I will use for one meal. If my DH wants a sandwich, I just cut the cold unbaked ham and use it that way.

I also cut portions off for adding to scalloped potatoes, or to flavor green beans.  I save the bone with some meat to cook with cabbage, beans, green beans, etc.

Often, I freeze the bone to use another time.

If you buy a fresh ham that is not smoked, you must throughly cook it.  Most people only buy smoked ham...fresh hams are usually only available from a butcher shop or sold as pork shoulders or pork roasts.

[RedTop]

My husband will not eat spiral sliced ham.  His explanation, which I fully agree with, is that the process of blade cutting the ham let's air in which toughens and dries the meat slices, and as the ham sits in the wrapper, it changes the taste of the meat.  

Both of us came from families who raised all of the pork we ate until we were teenagers.  Mom didn't buy bacon, sausage, pork chops or ham from the grocery store until I was about 16.  For us, a spiral cut ham has a texture and taste we're not fond of, so I won't buy any brand of them.  

[Sooner]

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@house_cat wrote:

I rarely make ham, but DH requested it for Easter dinner. I bought a Hormel spiral sliced ham today, and here's what I don't understand...

Are all spiral sliced hams fully cooked?  Am I just essentially heating it up? 

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@house_cat NO ham should be considered fully cooked until you read the label.  Just a good standard to observe.

I always heat a ham longer and a little hotter than "warming" it up.  I don't think it is as good until the fat starts to melt and the juices start to run.  Otherwise, it's just not cold with congealed juices (globs of fat).  Ick.