How to Cut a Whole Bone-In Ham in Half

Cooking a whole bone-in ham can be an intimidating task These large cuts of meat take hours to cook properly and can feed a small army! However, there’s an easy solution that makes preparing a whole ham much more manageable – simply cut it in half before cooking!

Cutting a full ham in two pieces allows you to cook just what you need for the current meal. The remaining half can be frozen for another time. Not only does this prevent waste, but it’s much less daunting to cook a ~7 lb half ham versus wrestling a 15 lb beast!

As long as you follow these step-by-step instructions, cutting a whole ham in half should be easy.

What You Need

• A whole, bone-in cooked or cured ham (fresh or frozen)
• A sharp knife (carving, chef’s, or ham knife all work)
• Cutting board

How to Do It

1. Thaw the Ham if Frozen

• For safety, only cut meat that is thoroughly thawed. This ensures clean, even cuts.
• Thaw frozen hams in the refrigerator overnight or for 1-2 days depending on size.
• Cold running water also speeds thawing if you’re in a pinch. Submerge sealed ham in cold water, changing water every 30 mins.

2. Remove Skin and Excess Fat

• For easier handling, remove the skin and trim thick areas of fat.
• Make a cut under the skin then peel it off with your hands.
• Trim excess fat, leaving a thin layer for moisture.

3. Find the Major Bones

• Turn the ham on its side. Locate the hip or aitch (H) bone on one end.
• On the opposite end locate the shank bone near the bottom.
• In between lies the thickest bone – the femur. This is your halfway point.

4. Make the First Cut

• Place ham cut-side down on a cutting board. Hold firmly.
• Make the first slice alongside the aitch bone going towards the femur.
• Cut all the way until you reach the femur in the middle.

5. Make the Second Cut

• Rotate the ham 180 degrees. Repeat on the opposite end, slicing alongside the shank bone towards the femur.

6. Separate the Halves

• Finally, slice the remaining meat between the two cuts to fully separate the halves.
• Follow the femur bone, keeping the knife as close as possible to minimize waste.

And that’s it! With two simple cuts on either end you can cleanly split a whole ham in half Now you’re ready to cook one half and freeze the other for later

Cook Ham Halves Just Like a Whole Ham

You can still use your favorite whole ham recipes when you cut a ham in half before cooking it. A ham half cooks the same way, but it takes less time.

Here are cooking tips for your 8-10 lb ham halves

• Bake: Put the meat in a 325°F oven and cook it for 15 to 18 minutes per pound, or until is reaches 140°F inside. Glaze and tent with foil as needed.

• Slow Cook: In a slow cooker, allow 18-24 minutes per pound on low. Use broth or fruit juice as liquid.

• Smoke: Smoking times vary with temperature. At 225-250°F, smoke for approx. 30 min per pound until 140°F internal temp.

• Brown sugar glaze: Brush with brown sugar glaze last 30 minutes for delicious caramelized ham.

Freezing Ham Halves

The remaining ham half can be wrapped tightly in freezer paper or plastic wrap and frozen for 3-4 months. Make sure to label with weight and date. Thaw in fridge before using.

Here are some tips for freezing ham halves:

• Double wrap hams in plastic wrap followed by freezer paper or foil. This prevents freezer burn.

• Slice ham prior to freezing for quick weekday meals. Freeze slices in packages.

• For maximum freshness, use frozen ham halves within 3-4 months.

• Cured, uncooked hams last longer in freezer than cooked hams. Cooked hams should be used within 2 months.

Get Creative with Leftover Ham!

One benefit of a smaller ham half? You likely won’t have as many leftovers. But you can still use every bit by getting creative! Here are ideas for using up leftover ham:

• Dice and add to scrambled eggs, hash, or omelets.

• Toss into pasta, risottos, and skillet meals.

• Make ham salad sandwiches or wraps.

• Mix into macaroni and cheese or scalloped potatoes.

• Fold into biscuit doughs before baking.

• Simmer bone and scraps into bean or pea soups for flavor.

FAQs About Cutting a Whole Ham in Half

Still have questions about cutting a whole bone-in ham in two? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

How big of a knife do I need?
A long, sharp chef’s knife, carving knife, or ham knife all work well. Look for a blade at least 8-10 inches.

Should I remove the bone before freezing?
No need. Leaving the bone in helps the ham hold its shape better when frozen.

Can I cut a spiral sliced ham in half?
Yes, you can halve spiral cut hams – the spiral slices just won’t line up perfectly between halves.

What’s the best way to thaw frozen ham halves?
Always thaw in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for smaller halves and up to 3 days for very large halves.

Can I cook a frozen ham half?
It’s not recommended, as it will cook unevenly. Always thaw ham halves completely before cooking.

Master That Whole Ham in Half the Time

Preparing a whole ham can be a big undertaking. But by simply cutting the ham in two prior to cooking, you can turn it into a much more approachable meal. Use one fresh and freeze the other for later – it makes that large ham much easier to handle.

With the simple tips in this article, you can neatly and safely split a whole bone-in ham in half. Just locate the key bones, make strategic cuts on both ends, and separate the two pieces. Then simply cook each half ham as you would a whole one. You’ll minimize waste while still enjoying delicious ham flavor.