Here are all the ways you can heat up your Honey Baked Ham, from the oven to the microwave.
It’s not strictly necessary to warm up a Honey Baked ham because it comes fully cooked and ready to eat. However, we don’t know many people who skip breakfast to eat lukewarm ham slices. For those of you who like your pre-cooked ham steaming hot, there are a few ways to get it there without drying it out.
Honey baked ham is a classic centerpiece for holidays and special gatherings. The combination of savory, tender meat topped with a sweet and sticky glaze is beloved by many. When buying a pre-cooked ham like those from HoneyBaked Ham® proper reheating is important for bringing out the best flavors and texture. Follow these simple tips for warming up a honey baked ham prime rib to serve a crowd-pleasing dish.
Allow Proper Thawing
The first step in reheating honey baked ham is letting it thaw completely if frozen. For food safety, thaw frozen hams gradually in the refrigerator over 24-48 hours. This ensures the meat thaws evenly throughout. Room temperature thawing can lead to bacterial growth on the outer portions. Once thawed the ham is ready for gentle reheating.
Heat Gently By the Slice
According to experts, the best way to heat pre-cooked hams like those from HoneyBaked Ham® is to gently warm one slice at a time as needed. Heating the entire ham at once tends to dry out the outer portions. For serving, simply slice off what you need and use one of these methods:
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Place a ham slice on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on HIGH for 15-30 seconds until warmed through Repeat for each slice needed,
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On the stovetop, add a slice to a skillet with a little butter or oil over medium-low heat. Cook 1-2 minutes per side, flipping once.
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For oven warming, preheat to 325°F. Arrange slices on a baking sheet and heat for 7-10 minutes until warmed through.
Heating individual slices preserves moisture and prevents overcooking. Be sure to use a lower heat setting and check often.
Maintain Juiciness
When reheating any pre-cooked ham, moisture loss is a risk leading to dry meat. Here are some tips to keep honey baked hams tender and juicy:
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Heat only what you plan to eat rather than the entire ham. Leftovers can be reheated as needed.
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Use a lower temperature setting and avoid overheating.
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Warm larger hams wrapped in foil rather than uncovered to retain moisture.
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Add a splash of water or broth to the reheating dish or foil packet.
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Brush on some of the original glaze as it reheats for extra juiciness.
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Let the ham rest 5-10 minutes after warming so juices redistribute.
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Carve across the grain for tender slices that hold moisture.
Add New Flavors
You can give your honey baked ham a flavor boost by adding new seasonings and glazes before reheating:
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Coat slices in your favorite barbecue sauce or mustard glaze before warming.
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Rub on a blend of brown sugar, spices, and mustard.
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Infuse flavor with pineapple, cherry, or apricot preserves.
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Top slices with extra honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup.
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For savory depth, sprinkle on smoked paprika, garlic powder, or onion flakes.
Experiment with sweet and savory flavors to make that honey baked ham unique. Brush glazes on just before serving to keep the ham glistening.
Preheat Your Oven
One of the easiest reheating methods for hams is a low oven. Here is a simple oven warming technique:
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Thaw ham completely if frozen. Unwrap and place in an oven-safe dish or pan.
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Preheat your oven to 300°F-325°F. Low, gentle heat is key.
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For whole hams over 8 pounds, loosely cover with foil. This traps in moisture.
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Bake until heated through, 15-20 minutes per pound. For partial hams and slices, less time is needed.
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Check temperature periodically. Stop heating once the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
The low, steady heat of the oven gently brings out the full flavors of the ham without overcooking it. Monitor carefully and remove once warmed through.
Make a Honey Glaze
One way to seriously upgrade a basic honey baked ham is to make your own glaze. Whip up a sweet-savory glaze by combining:
- 1⁄2 cup honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons mustard or fruit preserves
- 1-2 teaspoons spice blends like cinnamon or nutmeg
- Splash of pineapple or orange juice
Paint the glaze over the ham in the last 15 minutes of reheating so it gets sticky and caramelized. Make extra to serve on the side for drizzling over slices.
Safety Tips
When handling and reheating ham, follow these safety guidelines:
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Refrigerate ham at 40°F or below until ready to reheat.
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Thaw frozen hams for 24-48 hours in the fridge before reheating.
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Reheat fully until the internal temperature reaches 140°F. Use a meat thermometer to verify.
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Discard any ham left out more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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Store leftovers within 2 hours in the fridge. Use within 3-5 days.
Properly reheating and storing ham prevents bacteria growth. For optimal flavor and food safety, gently reheat honey baked ham prime rib slices as needed.
The Slow Cooker Method
If you want to make your family and friends jealous with a juicy, tasty ham, warm it up in the slow cooker. Put the Honey Baked Ham, or just a few slices, into a few inches of broth or sauce. This is because you need a lot of moisture in a slow cooker. Set on low and keep checking it until its at the desired temperature.
Leave it for a few hours in the broth if you really want it dripping. Don’t want to change the flavor of the ham too much; just add some water. Wrap the whole ham in aluminum foil and put it in the cooker with a few inches of water to keep it from burning. Helpful Hack.
During the warm-up phase, add slices of fruits (like oranges, pears, and apples) or vegetables (like onions) to get a more complex flavor.
They say not to heat up a whole ham in the microwave, even though it sounds like a great idea (just like leaving forks in the microwave). Doing so will cause the outside to melt and the inside to be cold. To heat the ham by the slice, cut off what you need and heat it for 10 to 20 seconds at a time until it reaches the right temperature. Because microwave-heated ham wont stay hot for long, serve the slices immediately after warming them. Quick Tip.
When you heat up ham slices in the microwave, always wrap them in a wet paper towel to keep them from drying out.
You can also heat ham slices in a skillet. Set the stove to low and heat a slice on each side until it’s warm. Because a skillet heats up ham really quickly, be careful not to cook the slice too much and make it dry. Read More.
4 Ways to Heat a Honey Baked Ham
The Honey Baked Ham Co. recommends that you let the ham stand at room temperature ½ hour before serving to get it to the ideal temperature. Were not going to argue with company that makes the ham in question, but we are going to offer a few of the different ways you can warm up a Honey Baked ham. You know, just in case. Related Articles
To heat a whole Honey Baked Ham in the oven, follow these three simple steps:
- Keep the Honey Baked Ham in the foil wrapper that came with it, or take it out of the wrapper and wrap it in your own foil.
- Maintain the oven temperature at about 275°F to 300°F.
- For every pound of ham, heat it for 10 minutes.
If you’d rather heat items by the slice, just cut off the part you want to heat, wrap it in foil, and put it in an oven-safe dish. Then, use the same temperature (275-300°F) for no longer than 15 minutes to heat the slice.
How to reheat prime rib in the oven
FAQ
Does honey baked ham have prime rib?
How long to warm up honey baked ham?
How long should a honey baked ham be cooked?
To heat a honey baked ham in the oven, follow these three simple steps: Keep the Honey Baked Ham in its original foil wrapper or remove the wrapper and wrap with your own foil to keep it from drying out. Heat for 10 minutes for every pound of ham. Maintain the oven temperature at about 275°F to 300°F.
How do you reheat prime rib to keep it juicy?
To keep prime rib moist as you reheat it, make sure the pan is tightly covered, the piece of meat is not too large, and there is some added moisture in the pan, like broth. If you’d like to add a nice crust, pat the reheated roast dry. Add a drizzle of oil to a skillet, turn the heat to medium, and sear the prime rib on all sides for 1 to 2 minutes.
How do you reheat a Ham in the oven?
To reheat ham in the oven, preheat it to 275 degrees F and lay it in a dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture and cook it for 10 minutes per pound. Insert a meat thermometer to ensure the temperature is 135 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends for safe consumption.
How do you slice a Honey Baked Ham?
Honey Baked Hams® are pre-sliced in a spiral. However, if you prefer to section the ham into smaller portions, follow these steps: 1. Using a knife, cut around the bone of the Ham. 2. Cut along the natural muscle lines to remove the top section of slices. 3. Cut straight down from the base of the bone to release the remaining sections.