How To Cook A Ham Roast

If you are trying to figure out how to perfectly cook a ham roast, look no further! The ham is cooked in the oven with tangy orange juice and heated to the perfect temp with a golden, woody glaze of maple syrup and brown sugar. The caramelized outside combined with the orange juice keeps your precooked ham moist and delicious while reheating.

And if you are looking for the perfect side dishes for a ham roast, try my moist Cornbread Casserole or my long time family friend’s recipe for Green Bean Casserole!

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A precooked ham roast is a great way to save time during the holidays, especially when you are cooking for a large family or group of friends.

That being said, cooking one can be tricky! It is more convenient to have your ham precut, but it does cause issues with retaining natural juices. Spiral hams have a tendency to dry out very quickly when reheated incorrectly, which can kill a whole dinner. But, the good news is If you follow this recipe, your ham will come out tender and delectable every time.

Anyone who has ever cooked a spiral ham roast knows it can be difficult to achieve that perfect balance of crispy, caramelized skin and moist inner meat. It is not something you want to prepare without knowing what you’re doing! Luckily, we’ve got all the tips and tricks for making your holiday meal planning as easy as possible this year. Here’s how to heat and cook a precooked spiral ham roast in the oven without turning it into ham jerky!

Why You’ll Love This Roasted Ham Maple Glaze Recipe

• The combination of the orange juice and maple glaze is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
• Once you know how to reheat it, it’s a quick and easy process! The oven does all the work!
• It’s the perfect centerpiece for a holiday meal, and everyone will love the crispy edges paired with tender meat.

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Equipment Needed To Cook a Ham Roast

• Roasting pan
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Baster or pastry brush

Ingredients For Your Brown Sugar Maple Ham Glaze

• Spiral cut ham (precooked boneless ham)  
• Orange juice

Brown Sugar Glaze:

• Salted butter
• Brown sugar
• Maple syrup
• Dijon mustard
• Black pepper
• Whole cloves (optional)

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How To Cook A Ham Roast Without Drying It Out

Step one: Prepping Your Ham Roast

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. If there is a rind (hard skin) on the ham, remove that outer layer using a sharp knife.  Do not remove the fat layer.  
3. Place ham in a shallow roasting pan – fat side up, cut side down.
4. Use a sharp knife to cut a diamond pattern into the surface of the ham (if you purchased a whole, um-sliced ham).  If you would like to use the cloves (these are optional), stick the whole cloves into the points of some of the diamonds on the ham. 
5. Pour orange juice all over the ham.  Cover the ham roast tightly with aluminum foil and place in the oven.

Step 2: Bake The Ham & Make The Brown Sugar Glaze

1. While the ham is baking, make the glaze:  Melt butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, and pepper  together at medium heat in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth.
2. Bake the ham for 2½ hours.  Then remove the foil and brush some of the sweet glaze on the whole ham.
3. Return the ham to the oven, uncovered.  Then baste it every 10 minutes for another ½ hour.  Baste the baked ham once more when you remove it from the oven.   

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Step 3: Serving Your Ham Roast

1. Check the temperature with a meat thermometer.  For food safety, cook ham until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees fahrenheit.  
2. Let the ham rest for a few minutes before creating thin slices and serving at your dinner table. 

What to Serve/Pair with Your Maple Syrup Glazed Roasted Ham

If you are making this spiral ham recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas you are going to want to serve it up with all the yummy traditional sides like, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, broccoli casserole, air fryer green beans (so you can save room in your oven) and of course, dinner rolls.

For your dessert table, you can’t go wrong with pumpkin fluff, caramel apple dump cake, pecan pie brownies, and a beautiful golden apple cider bundt cake!

Popular Substitutions & Additions 

• You can also use this recipe as the foundation for maple bacon glazed ham! Just wrap your ham in bacon for extra moisture and flavor!
• Don’t have maple syrup – replace it with honey or agave nectar.

How To Reheat & Store Spiral Ham

Best Way To Store Reheated Ham Roast

To lock in the moisture, you want to wrap your ham in aluminum foil as soon as possible after serving. This keeps it from air drying.  Do not let it sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. When you go to refrigerate it, seal it tightly in your foil and place it in a gallon Ziploc bag.

How Long Will Spiral Ham Last In the Fridge?

Spiral ham should last 4-5 days in the fridge. It is great for making leftover ham dishes like breakfast hash, omelets, white bean, and ham soup, and of course, cold cut sandwiches!

Can I Freeze Ham Roast Once it’s been reheated?

Yes, you can freeze a spiral ham even after it’s been reheated. You’ll want to let it come to room temperature (inside your foil wrap) to avoid freezer burn. It will last 2 months in the freezer. 

How To Reheat Your Spiral Ham For the Second Time Without Drying it out

Once you’ve created the perfect ham, you don’t want to dry it out.  So, just like the first time we cooked the ham, we want to add some moisture.  For best results, reheat the ham in a 325-degree oven. 

The first step is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan.  Place ½ to 1 cup of cold water in the bottom of the pan (you don’t want the water level to reach the ham).  Wrap the whole thing tightly with aluminum foil.  Heat only until heated through.  (It will take about 15 minutes per pound of ham.)

To reheat the leftover ham in the microwave, the best way is to cover the ham slices with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out. Only heat until warmed through.  Start with 30 seconds on high heat.  Then it is a good idea to turn the ham over before heating again.  

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Spiral Ham FAQs

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