When it comes to holiday meals, a glazed spiral-cut ham is always a crowd-pleasing centerpiece Aldi supermarkets offer high-quality precooked spiral hams that are convenient, budget-friendly, and delicious With minimal preparation, you can easily bake an Aldi spiral ham to tender, juicy perfection.
Follow this simple guide to learn how to cook an Aldi spiral sliced ham for your next gathering. We’ll cover choosing the right size ham preparing it for the oven setting cook times, glazing tips, determining doneness, resting, carving, and serving. With these helpful instructions, your Aldi ham will turn out mouthwatering and impressive every time.
Picking the Perfect Aldi Spiral Ham
Aldi sells boneless and bone-in spiral hams in a variety of sizes from petite 4 pound hams up to hearty 18-20 pounders. Choose a ham size based on the number of guests you plan to serve. As a general rule of thumb, plan for 1/3 pound of ham per person.
For example, a 10 pound ham would feed around 30 people. Opt for a bone-in versus boneless ham for the best flavor. Also, examine the ham’s ingredients and select one without excessive water or fillers added.
Pre-Baking Prep
Before cooking, prepare your Aldi spiral ham:
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If frozen, thoroughly thaw ham in the refrigerator 1-2 days before baking.
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Leave ham in its original packaging but remove any metal trussing bands/ties.
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Place ham cut-side down in a large roasting pan. Add any juices from packaging.
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Score ham by making diagonal cuts across the top 1/4 inch deep. This helps fat render and glaze absorb.
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While baking, brush the crust with honey, maple syrup, or jelly to help it get a tasty, caramelized look.
Baking Times and Temperatures
The foolproof method for reheating a fully cooked spiral ham is low and slow oven baking:
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Preheat oven to 275°F.
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Bake approximately 10-15 minutes per pound. A 10 lb. ham bakes for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
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For the juiciest results, cover ham with foil and add 1/2 cup of water or juice to the pan during baking.
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Uncover last 30 minutes and increase heat to 325°F for the glaze to caramelize.
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Use an instant-read meat thermometer to confirm ham reaches 130-140°F at the thickest part once heated through.
Test for Doneness
It can be tricky to determine when a precooked ham is fully reheated. Here are some ways to test for doneness:
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Use an instant-read thermometer to check for 130-140°F. at the thickest section.
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Insert a meat fork or skewer into the center. It should slide in and out easily when ham is done.
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Look for an internal temperature of 160°F for bone-in hams or 140°F for boneless.
The spiral ham is ready once the thermometer and fork tests confirm it is fully heated but not overcooked.
Let It Rest
Once you remove the hot ham from the oven, letting it rest is crucial. Allowing the ham to rest:
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Gives time for juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat.
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Allows the ham to firm up which makes cleaner slicing.
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Enables the ham to complete cooking resulting in juicier meat.
After baking, tent the ham with foil and let rest for at least 15-30 minutes before carving.
Carving and Serving
To serve a crowd, carve the Aldi spiral ham into thin slices across the grain. Arrange slices on a serving platter alongside any pan drippings or glaze for guests to add as desired.
Pair the ham with classic side dishes like buttery mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, warm rolls, or a bright, acidic salad. Offer homemade pickles, mustards, and chutneys as condiments to cut the ham’s richness.
With minimal time and effort, you can serve up an elegant, delicious baked spiral ham from Aldi for your next special meal. The secret is low, slow oven heating, resting, and properly carving across the grain. Follow these helpful guidelines for ham success.
Storing Leftover Ham
Like any cooked meat, leftover ham needs proper storage to maximize freshness and avoid spoilage. Here are the best ways to store extra spiral ham:
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Carve remaining ham off the bone and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days refrigerated.
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Slice ham and freeze in individual portions to simply reheat later in the microwave.
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Chop ham into small pieces to use as omelette or fried rice fillings. Freeze diced ham in bags.
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Wrap large ham pieces in plastic wrap then foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before using.
With proper refrigeration and freezing, you can enjoy delicious leftover ham in sandwiches, scrambled eggs, casseroles, and soups for weeks after the initial meal.
Delicious Ways to Use Leftover Ham
Leftover ham offers endless possibilities to create quick, easy meals:
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Ham and cheese sliders or paninis
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Chopped ham in macaroni and cheese
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Ham, potato, and green bean soup
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Ham, spinach, and red pepper frittata
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Ham and pineapple pasta salad
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Ham fried rice with peas and carrots
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Ham, apple, and brie grilled cheese
Revive spiral ham remnants into all sorts of comforting casseroles, skillet dishes, sandwiches, salads, and more. With a fully cooked Aldi spiral ham, you’ll enjoy several subsequent easy weeknight meals.
By following these step-by-step instructions for baking, resting, carving, and storing, you can successfully cook a delicious Aldi spiral ham for your next gathering. Your guests will be impressed with your skills turning an affordable supermarket find into such a mouthwatering entree.
