There are a lot of great deals on ham at Aldi if you want to serve one for a holiday like Easter, Christmas, or the New Year. We’ve written about a few of the hams that the discount store has sold over the years, such as a hardwood smoked butt portion bone-in ham, an applewood smoked uncured spiral ham, and a spiral sliced hickory smoked honey ham.
Many kinds of hams have been added to Aldi in preparation for Easter. I chose to try a new one that is spiral-sliced, boneless, and comes with a brown sugar glaze packet.
Appleton Farms Hickory Smoked Boneless Spiral Sliced Ham cost $3. 99 per pound at the time of publication. I purchased a 4. 13-pound ham for $16. 48.
Because this is a seasonal item, Aldi will only have it in stock for a few weeks to a couple of months. You won’t be able to find it all year. This ham was bought in late February 2022, when Aldi started selling hams before Easter. It has a use-or-freeze-by date of May 15, 2022.
There are water, dextrose, and 2% or less of salt, potassium lactate, corn syrup, brown sugar, sodium phosphates, sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite used to cure this ham.
Some of the things that go into the glaze are water, modified corn starch, soybean oil, cellulose gum, spices, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (which are preservatives), and calcium disodium EDTA.
An ounce of this ham with glaze has 120 calories, 4 grams of fat (5% of the daily value), and 2% sodium. 5% of the daily value for saturated fat, 45% of the daily value for cholesterol, 83% of the daily value for sodium, 4% of the daily value for total carbohydrates, and 16% of the daily value for added sugars. If you eat the ham without the glaze, it only has 2 grams of added sugars (4% DV).
As the ham is already cooked, all that needs to be done to make it warm is to heat it up. You can also eat it cold from the fridge. There are no instructions on how to heat it, but there are instructions on how to use the brown sugar-flavored ham glaze that comes with it.
So I had to wing it to heat the ham. I put it in a roasting pan with a rack and wrapped it in foil so it wouldn’t dry out. I then heated it at 325 degrees for about 10 minutes per pound, which meant it would take about 40 to 50 minutes to heat my ham, which was just over 4 pounds.
After heating the ham for 50 minutes, I thought the middle could have been a little warmer, but I already had some other side dishes ready, so I served it anyway, even though it was already fully cooked.
It might have needed another 10 to 20 minutes in the oven to get really hot in the middle. That would have made it a total of an hour or an hour and ten minutes. If I made this again, I might raise the oven temperature from 325 degrees to 350 degrees to make it cook faster.
In the event that I were to serve this ham again, I could also heat it in a slow cooker. It’s small enough that it should easily fit in a slow cooker with around a 7-quart capacity. I’m not sure how long it would take to heat up in a slow cooker, but I might give it three to six hours on low heat and add the glaze near the end. If needed, the slow cooker could be turned to the “keep warm” setting.
To use the glaze, take the ham out of the oven and take off the foil. Then, turn the ham on its side. (Be careful; the ham will be hot, and you might want to use utensils to move the ham. ) Place the refrigerated glaze packet under warm water for 1 minute or until the glaze is softened. Cut off a corner of the packet and apply glaze evenly over the ham surface. Allow to sit 5-10 minutes while the glaze melts into the ham.
The glaze is different from other ham glazes I’ve used because it’s ready to serve. With most of the other hams I’ve had, the spices came in a packet as a powder. I added water to the powder and heated it on the stove. It was easier to use the glaze on this boneless spiral ham because I only had to cut it open and pour it over the meat.
This glaze isn’t as thick as other ham glazes I’ve tried, and it tastes different—it’s sweeter and doesn’t have the subtle spice flavors I’m used to with other ham glazes.
The spiral cut makes it easy to serve and eat. There is a small piece of the ham in the middle at the bottom that isn’t cut all the way through. This keeps the whole ham from falling apart. The ham is soft enough that it’s easy to cut into servings with a fork. If you want it to look better, you could use a knife to cut through the uncut part more cleanly.
There was also enough ham in this 4-pounder to feed two adults and two kids, with extra for sandwiches, tetrazzini, or anything else you can think of.
This ham has more of a processed texture compared to traditional bone-in hams. It doesn’t have any fatty bits (which my kids appreciated), and the whole ham is a uniform texture. As one blogger puts it, “Once the bone is taken out of a ham, the meat has to be reshaped in a machine called a vacuum tumbler so it doesn’t fall apart when it’s sliced.” This can give boneless ham a bit of a spongy texture. ”.
One other observation: when I served this ham, some parts had a noticeable rainbow sheen on them. There is nothing wrong with the ham, and it’s definitely not spoiled. Light experiences an iridescent sheen on ham because it was cut against the grain, which leaves space between the muscle tissues and causes an effect called diffraction. This is how most deli meats are cut.
This spiral-sliced ham without bones doesn’t taste as good as a ham with bones, and you can’t use the bone to make soup or ham and beans later. However, this ham is a good choice if convenience is high on your priority list. It’s easier to cut and takes less time to heat than a bone-in ham. The glaze is also ready to serve. The fact that it’s not quite the same as a bone-in ham didn’t bother my family either; they all happily ate it.
Spiral sliced hickory smoked ham from Appleton Farms is fully cooked and can be heated in the oven or served cold. It comes with a brown sugar glaze that is ready to open and drizzle over the ham. Because it is spirally cut, it is easy to take out individual servings. The ham has a consistent tenderness that makes it great for picky eaters or for making sandwiches. This ham from Aldi is one of the easiest to cook. It’s not as good as a bone-in ham, but ham bone bean soup is something that comes to mind.
Appleton Farms spiral hams are a delicious choice for holiday feasts and special gatherings. Their signature sweet and salty flavor plus moist, tender texture make them a crowd-pleasing centerpiece. But determining the right cooking time is key to ham success.
Follow this complete guide to learn how long to cook an Appleton Farms spiral ham to juicy, glazed perfection
Factors that Affect Cooking Time
Several factors impact how long it takes to cook a spiral sliced Appleton Farms ham:
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Weight – Allow approximately 18-20 minutes per pound A 10 lb ham takes 3-35 hours,
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Bone-in or boneless – Boneless hams cook faster. Extend time for bone-in.
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Cooking method – Oven, grill or smoker times vary.
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Thickness and shape – Irregular shapes take longer.
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Pre-cooked or fresh – Pre-cooked hams just need reheating.
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Recipe directions – Appleton Farms provides specific guidelines.
An accurate meat thermometer is the best way to test doneness. Cook to 140°F for optimal taste and texture.
Oven Roasting Times
Most recipes recommend oven roasting. Use these time guidelines:
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Small (4-7 lbs) – Cooking time: 2-2.5 hours at 325°F
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Medium (7-10 lbs) – Cooking time: 2.5-4 hours at 325°F
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Large (10-15 lbs) – Cooking time: 4-5 hours at 325°F
Reduce time slightly for boneless or spiral cut. Preheat oven fully before cooking.
Step-by-Step Oven Roasting
Follow these tips for foolproof oven-roasted spiral ham:
- If frozen, thaw 48 hours in fridge before cooking.
- Preheat oven fully to 325°F. Use a meat thermometer.
- Place ham on a rack in a roasting pan for air circulation.
- Brush with glaze during last 30 minutes if desired.
- Cook 18-20 minutes per lb until 140°F internal temperature.
- Let rest 10-15 minutes before carving.
The ham may release a lot of juices during roasting. Adding a roasting bag or foil tent can reduce that.
Grilling Times for Added Flavor
Grilling imparts delicious smoky flavor. Use indirect heat and these guidelines:
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Small (4-7 lbs) – Cooking time: 90 mins – 2 hours at med heat.
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Medium (7-10 lbs) – Cooking time: 2-2.5 hours at medium heat.
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Large (10-15 lbs) – Cooking time: 3-4 hours at medium heat.
Cook over indirect heat, rotating periodically. Apply glaze during last 30 minutes if desired. Grill to 140°F internal temperature.
Smoker Cooking Times
For deepest smoke flavor, cook in a smoker:
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Small (4-7 lbs) – Cooking time: 3-4 hours at 225-250°F
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Medium (7-10 lbs) – Cooking time: 4-6 hours at 225-250°F
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Large (10-15 lbs) – Cooking time: 6-8 hours at 225-250°F
Use apple, cherry, hickory or other complementary wood. Brush with glaze during last hour if desired. Cook to 140°F.
Handy Tips for Doneness
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Always use an instant-read meat thermometer for accuracy.
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Test temperature in thickest section without hitting bone.
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Remove from heat at 135°F. Carryover cooking raises it to 140°F.
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If overcooked, the ham will be dry. Stop early for a juicy interior.
Let It Rest, Then Carve and Serve
Never skip the resting time! Let the ham sit 15 minutes before carving so juices redistribute.
To serve, carve into thin slices across the grain. Arrange slices on a festive platter with fruit, berries or pineapples. Pair with classic side dishes like scalloped potatoes, roasted veggies or glazed carrots.
Cooking an Appleton Farms spiral ham is easier than you think. Allowing ample time for the size and following recipe guidelines will reward you with a juicy, glazed, showstopping ham worthy of your most special meals.
My aldi ham hack
FAQ
How to cook appleton farms fully cooked spiral ham?
How long does it take to cook a fully cooked spiral ham?
How long to cook a 3 lb fully cooked ham?
How do you use the glaze packet that comes with the ham?
How long to cook Appleton Farms spiral ham?
The cooking time for an Appleton Farms spiral ham depends on its size. A 5-pound ham will need to cook for 18-20 minutes per pound, while a 7-pound ham will need to cook for 20-22 minutes per pound. What temperature should I cook an Appleton Farms spiral ham?
How to cook Appleton Farms Ham?
Once it is thawed, you can begin heating it. There are several ways to heat an Appleton Farms ham. You can bake it in the oven, cook it in the microwave, or heat it on the stove. If you are baking the ham, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the ham in a baking dish, and bake it for about 15 minutes per pound.
Can you cook Appleton Farms boneless spiral ham in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can cook the Appleton Farms Boneless Spiral Ham in a slow cooker. Place the ham in the slow cooker, add some liquid such as water or apple juice to keep it moist, and cook on low heat for about 6-8 hours or until the desired internal temperature is reached.
How do you reheat Appleton Farms spiral ham?
To reheat, place slices in a roasting pan and cover with foil. Bake at 250°F until heated through or microwave in 30-60 second intervals until hot. With these tips, you’ll be able to bake a delicious and impressive Appleton Farms Spiral Ham for your next holiday gathering or special occasion.