How Long Does It Take To Cook a Christmas Ham? Everything You Need to Know

December 24, 2023
2 mins read
As you prepare for the holidays, there's no doubt that some delicious cooking is on your menu! It's sometimes tough to choose cooking a turkey or a holiday ham, but if you're going for the latter, you're wondering: Just how long does it take to cook a ham?

As you prepare for the holidays, there’s no doubt that some delicious cooking is on your menu! It’s sometimes tough to choose cooking a turkey or a holiday ham, but if you’re going for the latter, you’re wondering: Just how long does it take to cook a ham?

We broke it all down for you to ensure that your ham is absolutely delicious for any upcoming holiday dinner you have planned. Whether you’re reheating a pre-cooked spiral ham or cooking a raw and fresh ham in the oven, we have all the answers you need. And since your ham will be served and ready, don’t forget all the fixings!

Get the recipe: Maple-Bourbon Glazed Ham.

How Long to Cook a Ham

According to the USDA, both half- or whole-cooked hams—canned and vacuum-packaged in an FDA-inspected facility—can be eaten chilled, straight from the packaging. If you do wish to reheat a cooked ham, bake at 325°F until a food thermometer inserted into the ham reads aninternal temperature of 140°F.

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For raw and fresh ham, bake at 325°F until a food thermometer inserted into the meat reads 145°F to indicate it’s done.https://content.jwplatform.com/players/LS07uUJQ-DYZyctrj.htmlHow to Cook a Ham

Related: Do you have enough ham to feed your guests? Find out here.

It’s important to remember that how long you’ll need to bake your ham depends largely on its weight, cut and whether it’s cooked or uncooked. For your reference, use the USDA’s chart below to determine how long to cook a ham:

CutWeight/lbsMinutes/lbMinimum Internal Temperature & Rest Time
HOW LONG TO COOK SMOKED HAM, cook-before-eating
Whole, bone in10 to 1418 to 20145° and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes
Half, bone in5 to 722 to 25
Shank or Butt Portion, bone in3 to 435 to 40
Arm Picnic Shoulder, boneless5 to 830 to 35
Shoulder Roll (Butt), boneless2 to 435 to 40
HOW LONG TO COOK PRE-COOKED SMOKED HAM, cooked
Whole, bone in10 to 1415 to 18Reheat cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants to 140 °F and all others to 165 °F.
Half, bone in5 to 718 to 24
Arm Picnic Shoulder, boneless5 to 825 to 30
Canned ham, boneless3 to 1015 to 20
Vacuum packed, boneless6 to 1210 to 15
Spiral cut, whole or half7 to 910 to 18
HOW LONG TO COOK FRESH HAM, uncooked
Whole leg, bone in12 to 1622 to 26145° and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes
Whole leg, boneless10 to 1424 to 28
Half, bone in5 to 835 to 40
HOW LONG TO COOK COUNTRY HAM
Whole or Half. (Soak 4 to 12 hours in refrigerator. Cover with water and boil 20 to 25 minutes per pound. Drain, glaze, and brown at 400 °F for 15 minutes.)

Not into ham? Try these leg of lamb recipes for the holidays instead. Plus, here’s the lowdown on what to make with ham leftovers.

The Full Guide to Buying, Cooking, Serving Ham

Up next: How to Decide Between a Fresh or Frozen Turkey, According to a Turkey Farmer and Other Turkey Experts


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