For up to 14 people, a half-ham is sufficient. The butt half is the upper part of the ham. Its meat tends to be very tender and flavorful—but it often contains part of the hip bone, which makes carving a little awkward. The shank half is the lower part of the ham.

What is the difference between a whole ham and a half ham?

Whole hams are big hunks o' meat, sometimes weighing more than 20 lb. Even if you're feeding the entire choir from church, you still want to buy a half ham, which will run from 6 lb. to 10 lb. (or at most, two half hams, which will cook more evenly than one whole ham).

What is a half cooked ham?

A ham that has been heated during some part of the processing to an internal temperature exceeding 137°F but less than 148° F. ... A partially cooked ham still requires additional cooking prior to eating.

Which half of ham is better?

The shank end (or leg portion) sports that classic ham profile, so it's a good choice for a picture-perfect table. The meat tends to be leaner and it has one long bone, which makes carving easier. The butt end (the top half of the ham) has more tender, fattier meat, lending a richer flavor.

How big is a half ham?

Ham Sizes & Varieties

Whole hams generally range from 10 to 18 pounds, half hams from 5 to 10 pounds, and spiral sliced hams from 7 to 10 pounds.

How To Cook A Ham In The Oven

What is the best ham to bake?

WHAT IS THE BEST HAM TO BUY? For ultimate flavour and a juicy result, aim for a fully cooked bone-in ham. The best ham we baked during testing is the half leg pictured (shank end of the leg). The other type of 'half leg' which is the butt end (shaped like a dome) contains part of the hip bone and is harder to carve.

What is the best tasting ham?

• Best ham overall: Melissa Cookston's Memphis BBQ Double-smoked Spiral Cut Ham.
• Best heritage breed ham: Snake River Farms Kurobuta Half Ham.
• Best boneless ham: D'Artagnan Berkshire Best Boneless Smoked Ham.
• Best smoked ham: Smoking Goose Pecan Smoked Duroc Ham.

What is the healthiest ham to buy?

The healthiest is their All-Natural Uncured Ham and All-Natural Applewood Smoked Uncured Ham, which are preservative-free and made without nitrates or nitrites. They only contain 70 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 440 milligrams of sodium per serving.

What is partial cooking?

Partial cooking is—as it sounds—cooking the food partway and then continuing later. For example, potatoes for homefries are sometimes cooked in advance and browned on a griddle or steaks for a banquet seared hours before the banquet and then brought to temperature in an oven.

How long does it take to cook a partially cooked ham?

If you're starting with a fully cooked city ham, bake it in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes per pound. If your ham is only partially cooked, bake it for 20 minutes per pound. To help keep your ham moist and juicy, place the ham cut-side down in a baking pan and tent it with foil.

Are smoked hams already cooked?

The answer, in short, is if it is cured, smoked or baked, ham is considered “pre-cooked,” and would not technically need to be cooked. ... As a deli meat, it can be eaten right out of the refrigerator, but other hams are typically reheated for improved flavor and texture.

What are the different types of ham?

• Bayonne Ham. A salty boneless French ham, it is named after the southwestern France port city Bayonne. ...
• Black Forest Ham. ...
• Boiled or Cooked Ham. ...
• Canadian Bacon. ...
• Capicola. ...
• Culatello. ...
• Gammon. ...
• Honey or Maple Ham.

Is eating ham unhealthy?

It's rich in protein and several beneficial nutrients. However, regularly eating processed meats like ham may increase your risk of certain cancers. Thus, it's best to limit your intake and stick to fresh, less processed types of ham as part of a balanced diet.

Is Smithfield a good ham?

This is an awesome salt cured ham. They are very salty, and the meat is slightly dry, which is exactly what it is supposed to be. Wonderful to eat on some sourdough bread, great for parties. You can only eat a little at a time, but I just keep going back for more.

Is bone-in ham better than boneless?

The traditional bone-in ham provides maximum flavor and classic presentation. Not only does meat on the bone typically cook slower than boneless meat, it also can cook more evenly since the bone conducts heat.

What is the most expensive ham?

The most prestigious and expensive ham in the world hails from Spain and it's called jamon Iberico de bellota, or acorn-fed Iberico ham. One leg of it, weighing between 13 to 17 pounds, can cost up to $4,500.

Do you cook a ham at 325 or 350?

For boneless hams, bake at 325 degrees; for 6- to 8-pound hams, about 20 minutes per pound. For a bone-in ham, cook at 325 degrees; for up to 14 to 16 pounds, about 12 minutes per pound.

Do you remove the rind from ham before baking?

You'll want to leave the rind on the ham during the first two hours of cooking; this allows the layer of fat underneath to slowly baste and flavor the meat during cooking. ... You also don't want to baste the ham with the drippings from the pan; use extra glaze instead.

What size ham should I get?

The best rule of thumb for ham is to plan about 1/2 pound per person when picking a bone-in ham (it's heavier) and 1/3 pound if boneless. Look, at the end of the day, some people will eat more than expected, some will eat less—it'll even out.

How much ham do I need per person calculator?

1. 6 people: 2 to 3 pounds.
2. 12 people: 4 to 6 pounds.
3. 20 people: 6 3/4 to 10 pounds.