This Kentucky spiral ham with a brown sugar crust is our favorite. It’s easy to make, serves a few people, and tastes great.
The Kentucky Legend ham is an iconic Southern treat beloved for its rich, smoky flavor and tender juicy meat. When perfectly cooked this premium ham is a showstopper centerpiece for any special occasion from Easter dinner to Christmas feasts. But baking a Kentucky Legend ham can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. How long should you bake it for? What temperature is best? Read on for a complete guide to baking a mouthwatering Kentucky Legend ham.
Choosing the Right Size Ham
Kentucky Legend hams are available in a range of sizes from 4 lbs to 16 lbs and even larger Make sure to choose a size appropriate for the number of people you plan to serve A good rule of thumb is to allow 1/3 to 1⁄2 pound of uncooked ham per person, An 8 lb ham will feed about 16 people,
For special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s better to have leftovers than not enough. A bone-in ham can be tricky to carve, so chose a half ham or spiral sliced ham for easier serving.
Getting Ready to Bake
Before you even preheat the oven, take the ham out of the refrigerator and let it come closer to room temperature. This helps it cook more evenly.
Place the ham fat side up on a roasting rack in a pan. The rack elevates the ham letting air circulate and prevents the bottom from getting soggy.
Score the fat in a diamond pattern. This gives the ham a decorative look and allows the glaze to seep into the meat.
Brush any skin or coating with a mixture of brown sugar, honey, and Dijon. Or coat with a crumb mixture like brown sugar and crushed pineapple.
Insert a meat thermometer deep into the thickest part of the ham, careful not to hit the bone.
Baking Time and Temperature
The optimum oven temperature for baking a Kentucky Legend ham is 325°F. This relatively low temperature cooks the ham slowly so it stays tender and juicy.
The general rule of thumb is to bake a Kentucky Legend ham for 15-20 minutes per pound.
For example, an 8 lb ham would bake for 2 – 2 1⁄2 hours and a 12 lb ham would need 3 – 3 1⁄2 hours.
However, always rely on a meat thermometer over time to determine doneness. Ham is safely cooked and ready to eat at 140°F.
Basting and Glazing Tips
Every 30 minutes, brush the ham with pan drippings or stock to keep it moist.
For added flavor and color, apply your favorite glaze during the last hour. Brush on brown sugar glaze, honey mustard glaze, sweet & spicy rum glaze – get creative!
If the ham starts to brown too quickly, tent loosely with foil. For a smokey ham, add applewood or pecan chips to pan.
Let It Rest
Once the Kentucky Legend ham reaches the target internal temperature of 140°F, remove it from the oven. The temperature will continue rising as it rests.
Let the ham sit for at least 15 minutes before carving so juices redistribute. The meat will be juicier and more evenly cooked.
Carving the Kentucky Legend Ham
Place the whole ham on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, slice vertically along the bone to detach the main, meaty portion.
Cut across the grain in thin slices. Keep them thick enough to show off the lovely rosy color.
Or for a spectacular presentation, carve thin slices down to the bone spiraling around the ham.
Serve the Kentucky Legend hot ham with traditional Southern sides like buttery mashed potatoes, baked mac and cheese, collard greens, biscuits, and a selection of mustards and chutneys.
Ham Leftover Inspiration
A Kentucky Legend ham will provide leftovers for days. Savor the smoky flavor in soups like ham and bean or ham and potato. Dice for amazing omelets and quiches. Layer on biscuits for heavenly sandwiches. Let roasted ham star in pasta bakes, fried rice, and casseroles. With this much flavor, your leftovers creativity is the only limit!
Baking a Kentucky Legend ham requires patience but delivers an incredibly moist, decadent Southern specialty your guests won’t soon forget. Allow 15-20 minutes per pound in a 325°F oven until the internal temperature hits 140°F. Rest before slicing and serve this magnificent ham with pride at your next special occasion.
Can I prepare this ham beforehand?
Absolutely! This ham is super easy to prepare beforehand. Once you make it, you can just store it in the fridge in an airtight container. This makes it super easy to serve without having to make it that same day. The ham doesn’t need to be served warmed and is just as delicious straight from the fridge.
A great ham for the holidays or parties.
This brown sugar-crusted Kentucky spiral ham is easy, delicious, and perfect for holidays or parties. If you put it inside cheese biscuits, bakery rolls, or croissants, you can make sliders with it. It’s small, but it can feed a lot of people as an entree with sides. This ham is always a hit when I serve it to family and friends. The meat is cut just right and tastes great thanks to a sweet marinade.
Kentucky Legend Ham Glazed With Whiskey
FAQ
How long to cook precooked ham in oven at 350?
How long to cook a 10 lb fully cooked ham?
Are Kentucky legend hams good?
How do you cook a ham with pineapple ring?
Use toothpicks to cover surface of ham with pineapple rings. Place one cherry in the center of each pineapple ring. Combine brown sugar with reserved pineapple juice and brush on ham. Bake in oven according to package direction, basting with juices several times during cooking.
How do you cook a Kentucky legend Ham?
To cook the Kentucky Legend ham, preheat the oven to the recommended temperature and place it on a rack in a roasting pan. Make sure to wrap the ham tightly with foil to help trap the moisture and heat. Bake the ham according to the recommended cooking time, allowing it to rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
How long do you cook a 10 pound Ham?
Brush the glaze or rub the seasoning onto the ham, covering all sides. Bake the ham: Place the ham in the preheated oven and allow it to cook for approximately 15-20 minutes per pound. The total cooking time will depend on the size of your ham. For example, a 10-pound ham would need to cook for about 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
What temperature do you cook a Kentucky legend Ham?
When the internal temperature of the ham reaches 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s ready to be taken out of the oven. Before placing the Kentucky Legend ham in the oven, it’s important to preheat it to the correct temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a fully cooked ham.