We will give you instructions how to cook as well as a recipe for a homemade glaze.
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In fact, when I started this blog, I wrote about reasons not to buy a boneless ham. So why am I reviewing a boneless ham? This isn’t the boneless ham I usually review. When I think of a boneless ham, I picture the following. This is the only thing that came to mind for me. This ham looks very unnatural.
That is a ham that has been pressed, formed, modeled into a log shape. Very unnatural. Nothing I want to be a part of. Now take a look at this boneless ham from Costcos Kirkland brand. This is what the Master Carve ham at Costco actually use to look like. They since have only sold it has a half ham. I wanted to provide the visual for you so you can see that it looks like whole.
Doesnt look like your grandmas boneless ham now does it. While the boneless meat is cut out, the meat is not pressed into a log shape. Instead, a thin, almost heart-shaped piece of meat is used. Jump to:
Kirkland’s Master Carve Half Ham is a delicious fully-cooked ham sold at Costco. It’s safe to eat cold from the package, but heating it makes it taste better and makes it easier to cut and serve. This easy-to-follow guide will show you how to heat your Kirkland ham the right way.
Why Heat the Ham?
While safe when cold, gently heating the Kirkland Master Carve ham offers some benefits:
- Brings out the natural flavors of the wood smoking
- Makes the fat soften and meat more tender
- Allows easier slicing without tearing
- Gives the ham a hot, ready-to-eat temperature
Heating for a short time won’t dry out or overcook the already fully-cooked ham. It just enhances it!
Suggested Tools
Heating up a ham is simple with just a few basic tools:
- Aluminum foil
- Baking sheet or pan
- Oven mitts
- Meat thermometer (optional)
You’ll also need a standard oven. Avoid any special convection, air fryer, or other heating modes. Stick with conventional baking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these easy steps for heating Kirkland half hams
1. Preheat Oven
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. This moderately low temperature prevents overcooking.
2. Wrap Ham in Foil
- Take ham out of packaging. Keep any juices!
- Wrap ham very tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil.
- Ensure there are no tears or openings in the foil.
3. Place on Baking Sheet
- Put wrapped ham on a baking sheet or pan.
- Having a barrier between the ham and oven rack prevents burnt drippings.
4. Heat for 10-15 Minutes Per Pound
- For a 4 lb ham, bake for 40-60 minutes.
- For a 5 lb ham, bake for 50-75 minutes.
- Check often to avoid overcooking.
5. Check Internal Temp (Optional)
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temp.
- Target an internal temp of 130°F for hot and easy slicing.
- If under, re-wrap and bake longer.
6. Let Stand 10 Minutes
- Once at desired temp, remove ham from oven.
- Let stand wrapped for 10 minutes before unwrapping.
7. Unwrap and Slice
- Carefully unwrap and discard foil.
- Slice ham across the grain for tender pieces.
- Pour over any juices from baking.
And your Kirkland Master Carve ham is ready to serve and enjoy!
Handy Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips to get the most out of heating your ham:
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Leave ham wrapped while baking for more even heating.
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Avoid unwrapping ham while still hot to prevent moisture loss.
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Carve across the grain for most tender texture.
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Add juices released during heating for extra flavor.
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Don’t overcook! 130°F internal temp is ideal.
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Allow leftovers to cool completely before refrigerating.
Answering Common Questions
If you’re new to preparing bone-in hams, here are some helpful answers to common queries:
Should you bake the ham in the original packaging?
No, remove the original plastic or packaging first and tightly wrap ham in foil instead. This prevents melting or burning the packaging.
What if my ham is closer to 3 lbs or 6 lbs?
Simply adjust baking time up or down using a range of 10-15 minutes per pound. Monitor temperature carefully.
Can I use pineapple juice or another liquid?
It’s best to heat ham dry in just foil to retain natural juices. Adding other liquids risks changing flavor.
Do I need to rest or tent it after baking?
Yes, resting wrapped for 10 minutes allows heat to evenly distribute without drying meat.
What’s the lowest safe internal temperature?
You want to hit at least 130°F internally for food safety when reheating deli ham.
Serving Suggestions for Hot Ham
Once heated, Kirkland’s Master Carve Half Hams make for easy, delicious meals and appetizers. Here are some serving ideas:
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Slice and add to biscuits, sandwiches, paninis, etc.
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Dice ham for hearty omelets, frittatas, and scrambles
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Pair with scalloped potatoes and salad for an easy dinner
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Top arugula salad with ham slices and vinaigrette
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Make slider sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls
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Add to pastas, risottos, and stir fries for extra protein
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Serve ham over melon slices for an elegant starter
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Fill crepes or tacos with shredded ham for a fun twist
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Use in soups, stews, beans, and other one-pot meals
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Create a breakfast hash with ham, potatoes, peppers and onions
However you choose to serve it, Kirkland’s Master Carve Ham is sure to be a delicious addition to any meal when properly heated. Enjoy this quality product hot or cold!
ℹ️ In Natural Juices
This ham is marked as “ham in natural juices”. Your cheap hams are labeled as “ham and water product”. If you add water to these, the ham costs more because you’re paying for the extra weight of the water.
Also water does nothing but delute the flavor of the ham. A ham in natural juices is required to be at least 18. 5% protein where as a ham and water product can contain any amount of water. A Cooks brand ham contains 23% added ingredients!.
Read my post “Whats in Ham” to find out what’s in this ham and other hams. A lot of water was added to this ham, which I think makes it taste pretty bland.
One of the tastiest hams I have had. It has less added water than the cheap hams I normally buy the flavor shines stronger. Also I found that the ham itself wasnt overly salty. I have had hams that after eating I had to drink a gallon of water to stay hydrated.
The texture was melt in your mouth good and the ham had plenty of moisture.
RELATED – I also have reviewed the Spiral Ham from Costco.
More often than not I find myself disagreeing with the instructions given on a piece of meat. But this time I had no complaints.
Put it in an oven set to 350 degrees and roast it until it reaches 130 degrees on the inside. Then let it rest until it reaches 140 degrees. They say it should only take 10 minutes, but it took me 15 to 20 minutes to carry over those last 10 degrees.
Overall cooking time was about 2 hours.
I would even roast the ham at a lower temperature for a longer time if you have a lot of time to cook it. A longer temperature allows the ham to re-heat (yes it has already been cooked) more evenly.
In order to get the temperature right, you need a thermometer. I recommend a probe thermometer that remains in the meat the entire cooking time. Just stick it in the most center part of the ham. Since there are no bones to worry about, it is rather easy to find the sweet spot.
The thermometer that I use is DOT® Simple Alarm Thermometer from ThermoWorks.
I cooked the ham in my KitchenAid roasting pan. I placed it on the rack in the pan so that there could be airflow all around the ham.
You could also just cut it up and brown it in a pan with a little oil. I have done that before. Its a great way to caramelize the ham pieces.
At some point Costco decided to stop including the glaze with the ham. I was originally disappointed until I created a recipe for my very own glaze. I think mine is better!.
Get my recipe for my Homemade Red Currant Glaze
The instructions on the ham originally said to apply the glaze with in last 20 minutes of cooking. When the ham was at 120 degrees, I took it out and applied my glaze.
I brushed the glaze on with my Oxo Silicone Basting Brush. One of the best kitchen tools I have. Easy to brush things on and it actually comes off the brush and it easy to clean. Cant say enough good things about this brush.
Buy a Boneless Ham
Okay, I can change my mind (kind of). For years I told my readers never to buy a boneless ham. Avoid all boneless hams if they look like a log or a football.
If the boneless ham has a natural shape, like the Kirkland Master Carve Ham, you can take the money and enjoy a tasty piece of meat where every pond you pay for is edible.