How Much Water Should You Add to Bake a Ham?
When cooking a ham, the key is to cook it long enough so it gets tender but not too mushy. That’s the best way to ensure that your ham will be juicy and delicious on the inside and beautifully browned on the outside.
But before you start baking, you’ll need to figure out if you need to add water to your ham. And if you do, how much should you add?
A ham can be dry or very moist, so it’s important to know which type you’re working with before you try to cook it. There are different types of hams, and each one requires slightly different baking techniques to get the best results.
Whether you’re using a wet-cured, dry-cured, or natural-uncured ham, you need to find one that doesn’t have a lot of added water. Look for a label that reads “ham,” not “water added,” or “ham with natural juices.”
Then, score the ham, which helps create steam as it bakes and also helps keep the meat moist. If your ham is half-sized, place it flat-side down in a roasting pan and add about a cup of water to the bottom. This will help to keep the ham moist and also make it easier to flip it so both sides are exposed to the oven.
For the best results, you’ll need to bake your ham until it reaches an internal temperature of about 140 degrees F. You’ll then want to let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the meat to rest and release its natural juices before you cut it.
Another option is to boil your ham, which is easy to do in a stockpot. But be sure to have an ample amount of time to get your stockpot to boiling and the ham to boiling before you start cooking.
How to cook a boiled ham
A smoked whole ham can be made into a very tender and tasty boiled ham. This is a simple recipe that requires only a few ingredients, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to try this method of cooking without going out and buying a whole ham.
Before boiling your ham, rinse it well and remove any excess fat. Next, place it in a stockpot or large pot and pour the water in until the ham is almost completely submerged.
Once the water starts to boil, lower the heat and simmer the ham for about an hour or so, flipping it every half-hour. You’ll then need to cover it with foil to keep the ham from drying out too quickly.
If you’re not sure if your ham is done, you can use an instant-read thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the ham, but be careful not to touch the bone. This is because the ham will heat up quickly and cook the bone, which can cause it to become undercooked.
Once the ham has reached the desired temperature, it’s time to glaze it. The glaze will make the ham extra sweet and flavorful, but it’s also an excellent technique for creating a gorgeous burnished appearance to your ham. Brush the ham with the glaze during the last 30 minutes of the cooking process to achieve the best results.
