Slow Cooker Christmas Ham Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat up a fully cooked ham in the slow cooker? ›

Cover and cook on low for 5-8 hours, until ham is thoroughly heated.

Pour in the cola, and make sure the ham joint is submerged in the liquid. Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on medium/high. I find that 5 hours is enough in my slow cooker. You want the gammon joint to be cooked through and tender but still retain its shape.

Cook all raw fresh ham and ready-to-eat ham to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F (62.8 °C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

Editor's Tip: For a fall-apart tender ham, let it cook longer; 10 to 12 hours on low. This method is perfect for families who prefer a more casual dinner of shredded hot ham and roll sandwiches.

Most hams come with baking directions that you can follow, but most will fall within these guidelines. You're going to want the internal temperature to be 145° F for pre-cooked ham and 160° F if cooking an uncooked ham. So for a 10 lb. cooked, bone-in ham, the cook time would be 2-2 1/2 hours or until 145° F.

Allow 20 minutes per pound when calculating how long to bake a fully cooked ham. For example, if the ham weighs 8 pounds, the cooking time would be 2 hour and 40 minutes. A fully cooked half ham will weigh approximately 3 to 4 pounds. Cooking time for a 3 pound ham would be 1 hour.

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Do you add water when cooking meat in a slow cooker? If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking.

To ensure the dinner cooks correctly and doesn't get soggy, decrease the amount of liquids you add. Usually only ½ to 1 cup of liquid does the trick. And, for extra flavorful results, try using liquid like broth, wine, or juice, instead of just plain water.

Do you have to cook Christmas ham? While most hams come fully cooked and can be enjoyed without further cooking, some are typically perfectly baked in the oven. Find the best Christmas ham recipe for you, and then follow its method for cooking a Christmas ham, whether it be in the oven or the slow cooker.

Does a fully cooked ham have to reach 140? ›

If reheating is desired, hams that were packaged in processing plants under USDA inspection must be heated to 140°F as measured with a food thermometer. Leftover spiral-cut hams or ham that has been repackaged in any other location outside the plant, must be heated to 165°F.

If you don't have a meat thermometer, there are three visual checks that must done. Pierce the thickest part of the meat with a fork or skewer and check that: The juices run clear. It is piping hot all the way through (it should be steaming)

But you do need to cook it at a gentle simmer, as if you boil a ham too briskly then it can also become dry. Overcooking the ham can also cause it to become dry. It can help to take the ham out of the fridge an hour before you start to cook it, so that it loses its chill and cooks more evenly.

Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor. Tasty additions such as aromatics, herbs, and spices switch up a traditional ham and make it truly memorable.

Though if you're warming up pre-cooked ham, you can put it in your slow cooker to heat through with just enough water or broth to cover the bottom of the liner. Make sure the ham is kept at a minimum temperature of 140°F for safe consumption.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the ham on a rack in a large baking pan and add about 1/4- to 1/2 inch of water to the pan. If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F.

For a precooked ham, reheat for about 18 minutes per pound to hit 140°F. In general, we prefer bone-in ham, which is more flavorful and less expensive per pound than boneless ham. Plus, you can freeze the ham bone to make stock or toss it into a pot of beans or braised greens.