Ditch the Store-bought Glaze for These Epic Ham Recipes Instead (2024)

FAQs

What is in the glaze packet that comes with ham? ›

Because most hams come with a glaze packet that typically contains added sugars and preservatives, all you have to do is add water and let it cook until thickened (per MyRecipes). However, sometimes the easy route does not yield the most delicious results.

Glazing a ham is a great way to add flavor, color, and texture to baked ham. It's not hard to do, and you can make a simple and delicious ham glaze from some very basic ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge or pantry.

Popular glaze ingredients for smoked ham include brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, pineapple juice, Dijon mustard, and cloves, among others. Glazing can be done during the final stages of cooking or reheating the ham, allowing the sugars in the glaze to caramelize and create a tasty, flavorful crust.

Add 1/2-3/4 of a cup of wine or stock to the pan (you don't want the ham swimming in liquid) and throw some aromatics in there—a few whole cloves, some star anise, and cinnamon sticks are all good options. Cover the ham with foil and place in a 250-degree oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 100℉.

While the included honey glaze packets are meant to save time, making a homemade glaze is simple and worth the extra time for a better, fresher flavor.

Our Signature Glaze Crunchy Style: Sugar, Brown Sugar, Water, contains 2% or less of the following: Spices, Honey Powder (Maltodextrin, Honey and Silicon Dioxide), Modified Food Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gelatin, Dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent), Natural Flavor (Natural Extractives of Cinnamon ...

For extra flavor, insert a whole clove into each cut intersection or in the centers of the diamonds. Applying a glaze after cooking—A glaze may also be applied after the ham is cooked. Increase the oven temperature from about 350 F to 400 F and brush the glaze over the meat.

After the ham has cooked for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, brush the surface with some of the glaze. Then pop it back into the oven, uncovered, for another 20 minutes or so.

What type of ham has the best flavor? ›

Bone-in ham

The bone provides the meat with better flavor and texture. As a bonus, the leftover bone is great for making soups and stews, like this Old-Fashioned Split Pea Soup. Bone-in hams are sold as half hams. When you opt for bone-in ham, you'll also need to consider the part of the ham you buy.

Cover it in Foil

The foil traps steam and keeps the meat moist. You don't have to wrap the aluminum foil tightly around the ham because you'll want to be able to check on it later. Instead, simply cover the ham with the foil, tucking it under the lip of the roasting pan.

Glaze Packet Ingredients: Sugar, Dextrose, Brown Sugar, Water, Modified Food Starch, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (Preservatives), Spice, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum.

Heat the honey, corn syrup, and butter in a double boiler to make the glaze. Brush the glaze over the ham and bake in a foil-lined pan for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, brushing every 15 minutes or so with the glaze. Broil the ham for a few minutes before removing it from the oven.

Get rid of it. Slimy, super-wet, or oily textures on the outside of your ham might indicate bacteria growth. Juice can just be congealed oils, so use your senses to see if anything else is off. Slimy ham that's growing bacteria will usually have a smell that indicates spoilage.

The plastic bone guard covering the exposed bone is used to keep the bone from breaking the outer wrap.