Molly Ayala
Cooking ham in an electric roaster is a convenient way to prepare a holiday meal, as it frees up oven space for other dishes. Electric roasters are also low maintenance, allowing you to set and forget them. Spiral hams are a popular choice for electric roasters, as they are pre-sliced and usually pre-cooked, requiring only heating and glazing. To cook a spiral ham, preheat the roaster oven to 325°F, add water to the bottom, score the ham, wrap it in foil, and roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes. While the ham roasts, prepare the glaze by boiling and simmering the ingredients until thickened. Brush the ham with half the glaze, rewrap it, and roast for another hour. Finally, brush the remaining glaze onto the ham, turn the heat up to 425°F, and roast for an additional 10–15 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To cook ham with a sweet, savoury glaze |
| Oven temperature | 325°F |
| Internal temperature | 140°F |
| Oven type | Electric roaster oven |
| Ham type | Spiral-cut, precooked ham |
| Glaze type | Pineapple, maple, brown sugar, honey, bourbon |
| Ham weight | 8-10 pounds |
| Cook time | 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours |
| Additional items | Food thermometer, aluminium foil, roasting rack, saucepan |
| Benefits | Frees up oven space, easy to cook, juicy and tender ham |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Choosing the right ham
Firstly, decide whether you want a city or country ham. Country ham is popular in the southern United States and is dry-cured, rubbed with salt and seasonings, smoked, and aged for several months or years. This type of ham is extra salty and often served on biscuit sandwiches or holiday tables. If you opt for a country ham, check if it is pre-cooked, as uncooked country hams require baking in the oven and may need to be soaked beforehand to reduce saltiness.
Secondly, consider whether you want a bone-in or boneless ham. Bone-in hams are known to be more flavorful and juicy, and the bone can be saved to flavor soups and stews. However, they can be more challenging to carve, especially if they have a T-shaped bone. Boneless hams, on the other hand, are easier to carve and serve, but may be less juicy.
Thirdly, decide on the specific cut of ham. The three most common cuts are the butt end, ham shank, and center slice. The butt end, or top half of the ham, has more tender and fattier meat, resulting in a richer flavor. However, it can be tricky to carve due to the T-shaped bone. The ham shank, or lower half of the leg above the ham hock, is a more budget-friendly option and easier to carve, but the meat tends to dry out more during cooking. The center slice, or center cut, is usually sold in slices and can be fried, grilled, or glazed for a sweet flavor.
Lastly, consider the size of the ham and how many people you need to serve. A whole ham can weigh between 15 to 20 pounds and serve up to 30 people. If you're feeding a smaller group, a half ham or a center slice may be more suitable.
Remember, the quality of the ham is essential. Look for a good brand or source, as a low-quality ham may turn out dry and flavorless despite your best cooking efforts.
The Right Depth for Electrical Cables: How Deep is Enough?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Preparing the glaze
Once the glaze is ready, brush it onto the ham. Remove the ham from the oven and unwrap the foil. Brush the ham with half of the glaze and wrap it back up in the foil. Place the ham back in the oven and roast for another hour.
After an hour, remove the ham from the oven again and brush the remaining glaze onto the ham. This time, leave the foil open at the top. Turn up the heat to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and roast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to bake in the glaze and give it a nice, golden finish.
If desired, you can also add some glaze to the ham before serving. Let the ham rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Tightening Electric Clutch Nuts: How Much is Too Much?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wrapping the ham
Firstly, trim any excess fat from the outer layer of the ham. You only need to leave about a quarter of an inch of fat to ensure the meat stays moist during cooking. Then, use a sharp knife to score the ham. This involves making a series of diagonal cuts about a third to a half-inch deep and an inch apart across the surface of the ham. This process will help the glaze penetrate the meat and also creates an attractive diamond pattern on the ham's surface.
Next, it's time to wrap the ham in foil. For this step, you will need two large sheets of aluminum foil. Place the ham in the centre of the foil sheets and bring the edges together over the top of the ham, leaving the opening at the top. Make sure the ham is securely wrapped, then place it on the roasting rack in your preheated electric roaster.
Roast the ham for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to one hour and thirty minutes. This initial roasting time helps to cook the meat through before the glazing process. While the ham is roasting, you can prepare the glaze by combining the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring the glaze to a boil and then simmer until it thickens, usually for about five minutes.
Once the ham has roasted for the initial cooking time, remove it from the oven and brush it generously with half of the glaze. This step adds flavour and moisture to the meat. After glazing, re-wrap the ham in foil, ensuring the opening is still at the top. Return the ham to the oven and roast for another hour.
Finally, after the second hour of roasting, remove the ham from the oven again and brush with the remaining glaze. At this point, you can leave the foil open. Turn up the heat to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and roast the ham for a final 10 to 15 minutes. This last step helps to caramelize the glaze, giving your ham a delicious, sticky coating.
In summary, wrapping the ham in foil during the cooking process is essential to lock in moisture and create a tender, juicy meat dish. By following these steps and timing your unwrapping and glazing process correctly, you can ensure your baked ham is both delicious and visually appealing.
General Electric Stock Split: Did it Happen?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Roasting the ham
Roasting ham in an electric roaster is a convenient way to prepare a delicious meal, especially during the holidays. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving tender and juicy roasted ham:
Preparing the Ham:
Start by trimming any excess fat from the outer layer of the ham, leaving about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch. Then, using a sharp knife, score the ham by making diagonal cuts about 1/3 inch deep and 1 inch apart, creating a diamond pattern. This technique helps the ham cook evenly and allows the glaze to penetrate the meat.
Wrapping and Roasting:
Wrap the ham in aluminium foil, ensuring the opening is at the top. This step is crucial for retaining moisture and keeping the ham tender. Place the wrapped ham on the roasting rack inside your preheated electric roaster. Set the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, and roast for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Glazing:
While the ham is roasting, prepare the glaze by combining the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring the glaze to a boil and then simmer for about 5 minutes or until it slightly thickens. After the initial roasting period, remove the ham from the oven and brush it generously with half of the glaze. Wrap the ham in foil again and return it to the oven for another hour of roasting.
Caramelizing the Glaze:
For the final step, brush the ham with the remaining glaze and adjust the oven temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the foil open to expose the ham. Roast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to caramelize the glaze and give your ham a mouthwatering finish.
Temperature and Resting:
The ideal internal temperature for your ham is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy. Once the desired temperature is reached, remove the ham from the roaster and let it rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before carving and serving. This resting period ensures the juices redistribute, resulting in a juicy and tender ham.
Filleting Catfish: Electric Knife Technique for Beginners
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Serving the ham
Once your ham has reached an internal temperature of 140°F, it's time to take it out of the roaster oven. If you want to add a little extra glaze to the ham, you can brush the top with the glaze that has dripped into the foil. Let the ham rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. If you're cooking a smaller or larger ham, heat it for approximately 15-20 minutes per pound until it reaches 140°F.
When you're ready to serve, use two heavy meat forks inserted into each side of the ham to lift it onto a cutting board. Slice the ham as desired and serve. If you're serving a spiral ham with a bone in the centre, a good rule of thumb is to plan for 1/2 pound of ham per person. If it's a boneless ham, you'll need about 1/3 pound per person.
If you have any leftovers, roaster-cooked ham will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze leftover ham slices in an airtight container for 2-3 months, then thaw them overnight in the fridge. Leftover ham makes great sandwiches, sliders, breakfast egg casserole, or soup.
Some electric roasters come with removable serving dishes, which are great for serving at parties. If your roaster doesn't have one, you can buy a serving dish separately.
California's Electricity Costs: Paying a Premium?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Spiral-cut, precooked ham works best as it's easier to serve and heats up well in the roaster oven.
Cooking times vary depending on the size of the ham. As a rule of thumb, plan for 1/2 pound of ham per person. For a 10-pound ham, roast for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then brush with glaze and roast for another hour. Finally, turn the heat up to 425 degrees F and roast for 10-20 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
Preheat your roaster oven to 325 degrees F. Then, after glazing the ham, turn the heat up to 425 degrees F to caramelize the glaze.
You can use a store-bought glaze packet or make your own. Popular glaze flavours include pineapple, maple, brown sugar, honey, and bourbon.
Wrap the ham in foil with the opening at the top before roasting. Also, don't forget to let the ham rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
