Keep in mind that dark brown sugar has more molasses in it and will result in a richer flavor.

Either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar will work well. Snag your favorite or whatever is on hand and you’ll be good to go. You don’t need to go extremely fancy with the bourbon you choose for this recipe. Skip the fake stuff and go with some all-natural maple syrup. This glaze is so good, I have a recipe post as well as a bottled version available in the Hey Grill Hey Store. The absolute secret “ingredient” for this ham is the maple bourbon glaze. But make sure to invite the neighbors! An 8-pound ham can easily feed 14-16 people, so plan on a crowd or some tasty leftovers after dinner! The final result is a meal worthy of any occasion. This ham is braised with chicken stock, bourbon, and maple syrup before being covered in a sticky sweet glaze. Combine it with a great glaze, and you’ll have a dinner that tastes as good as it looks.įor this spiral ham, we’re adding in as much flavor and moisture as possible to complement the meat and smoke flavors. Yes! You can cook spiral ham in a smoker! In fact, the spiral ham you purchase from the grocer is already cooked, so you’re simply looking to add your own sauce or glaze and re-heat the meat.Ĭooking the ham in a smoker imparts some great BBQ flavor that you won’t get from your oven or a gas grill.

Whether you’re cooking this for a classic Easter dinner, or you just need something delicious for a weekend meal, this ham delivers big time. Stick with our guide, and your ham will be moist, juicy and flavorful.It doesn’t get much better than this smoked spiral ham with a maple bourbon glaze. If the ham is taken out at a higher temperature than 135☏ it will become dry. If you plan on serving this later in the day at room temperature, it’s even more important to take it out of the oven at 135☏, as the heat from inside the ham continues to cook it. The beautiful thing about ham is that it can be eaten at hot, cold or at room temperature. Place the ham back in the oven for about 10 minutes (uncovered) to get those nice crispy pieces on the ends. Once the ham reaches 135☏, remove the foil and brush the remaining glaze so it gets in between the slices.The ham will ‘braise’ in the liquid so it’s important not to add too much, yet not let it dry out. Cover it tightly and cook in a preheated oven for 12-15 minutes per lb., checking every so often to see if more liquid is needed. Place the ham in a deep roasting pan and add about a cup of either water or vegetable broth.Allow the ham to come to room temperature before cooking it by placing it on the counter (lightly covered) for an hour or two.The internal temperature for ham should reach 145☏, so taking it out at 135☏ will allow it to reach the right temperature without drying it out. Meat from the oven will continue to cook after it is taken out.Throw out the glaze packet! Making your own glaze is super simple and tastes worlds better.The oven is what is considered ‘dry heat’ so keeping moisture ‘IN” means covering the meat. Be sure to cover the ham with foil or a lid that tightly fits a roasting pan.

This will allow the moisture to ‘steam’ or ‘braise’ the ham.

While pouring a ton of liquid in the bottom of the pan may seem like a good idea to prevent the ham from drying out, a better option is only pouring in about ½ cup at a time.

Cheaper hams have been injected with salt water, as well as artificial flavors, for preserving them in stores.

In the event you do wind up with a supermarket ham, chances are it has been cured or plumped up.

Next time, try calling your local butcher and ordering one ahead of time. Sure, it’s easy to grab a ham at your local supermarket that’s on sale, but truth be told, it’s of poor quality.

Below are the 6 most common mistakes and some pointers to a delicious spiral ham: So how exactly do you cook a glazed spiral ham without drying it out? Well, look no further. The tricky part to ‘cooking’ a ham is to not dry it out. A glazed ham does not require nearly the work that a turkey does which is the main reason for its popularity. Today the ham still remains the most popular option not only for Easter, but for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well, despite how much attention Tom the turkey gets.

Internal temp spiral sliced ham