Ham is decadent and delicious meat often served at feasts and holidays. It’s naturally smokey and sweet– which is only enhanced when the meat is cured.
If you like the taste of ham, you may also enjoy honey-baked ham. This ham is generally slow-smoked, spiral-cut, and finished with a sticky-sweet glaze. Drizzle some extra sauce on top to take it the full nine yards.
While some people make their own honey-baked ham from scratch at home, there are also many store-bought options.
Store-bought honey-baked ham comes already cooked and ready to eat. However, you might not eat it right away, or you may have leftovers and want to save them for later. After all, you wouldn’t want any of the tasty meat going to waste!
Sometimes warming a honey-baked ham is all that’s required before serving it to guests. Luckily, reheating a honey-baked ham is quite simple. Heating up a honey-baked ham can be done in an oven, microwave, or skillet.
Read on to learn how to reheat a honey-baked ham and some useful storage tips!
How to store honey-baked ham?
How long does honey-baked ham last? This depends on how it is stored. The curing process adds natural preservatives that help your ham last longer.
However, the first step to preserving your honey-baked ham is to store it correctly. You can store it in either a fridge or a freezer.
This will make sure the flavor, texture, and consistency of your meat stay good as long as possible. Follow these steps to store your honey-baked ham:
- Let the meat cool to room temperature. Do not slice the meat if possible.
- Place in an airtight container, or wrap in foil or plastic wrap. Make sure there is as little air as possible and the meat is fully covered.
- Write the date on the packaging.
- Place in the refrigerator or freezer.
Labeling your ham with the date is a handy trick to make sure you eat your meat within the appropriate time frame. The sooner you eat it, the better. However, it can keep 3-10 days depending on how it was cooked.
It is not recommended to slice the meat before storing it. The more flesh is exposed, the higher likelihood it has to dry out. For maximum moisture and flavor, keep the ham whole.
If you freeze your honey-baked ham, make sure to thaw it slowly in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Consume it within two days of thawing.
How long is honey-baked ham good for?
So how long is honey-baked ham good for? This depends on your cooking methods. If you have cooked or cured your meat at home, it is usually safe to store in your refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
If you are buying a precooked ham from your local store such as the Honey Baked Ham Company, it can last 7 to 10 days in your refrigerator. In this case, you should follow the instructions on the company’s packaging.
If you’re wondering can you freeze honey-baked ham? you’re in luck. To preserve it longer, you can freeze the ham. Cured and cooked hams generally last 1-2 months in the freezer. Fresh or uncured hams last 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
How long will honey-baked ham last in the refrigerator?
Are you wondering how long will honey-baked ham last in the refrigerator? This depends on how it is prepared, cooked, and stored. Cured meats have more preservatives– which may be natural such as salt or it could be chemical additives. These will lengthen the ham’s shelflife.
A fully cooked, but uncured meat will last an average of 3-5 days in the fridge. Cooked and cured meat will last a few extra days.
Some companies and grocery stores that make honey-baked ham say it can last 7-10 days in the fridge.
However, when cooking your ham at home, it is best to err on the side of caution. Consuming it within 3-5 days is the safest best to avoid food poisoning and bad bacteria, and also maintain a fresh taste.
The temperature of your fridge should remain just under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This will slow the growth of harmful bacteria and preserve your meat well.
The best ways to reheat honey-baked ham:
There are a few ways to reheat honey-baked ham. Heating honey-baked ham in the oven is the most recommended because it can cook slowly and evenly throughout.
Cooking it on a skillet on the stovetop is another option if an oven is not available to you. Microwaves are convenient and fast but have the potential to dry out the meat or not warm it up evenly.
Whether you have a traditional honey-baked ham or a turkey one, the honey-baked ham turkey heating instructions are roughly the same.
Turkey tends to be lighter, drier meat–but has an excellent skin that absorbs the flavors nicely. I’d add extra water at the bottom of the pan when baking to ensure the meat doesn’t dry out.
How to warm honey-baked ham in the oven?
An oven is an ideal way to reheat ham. It is easy to do and requires minimal prep, but does take a bit longer.
To know how to bake a honey-baked ham, you should understand how to wrap it and the honey-baked ham reheat temperature. Follow these heating instructions for the honey baked ham to enjoy your meat to the fullest:
- Preheat the oven to 275-300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wrap the ham in tin foil, covering the top as well. This will allow the ham to cook from the inside out, and allow it to be warm throughout.
- Add a small layer of water to the bottom of an oven-safe baking tray. It should be enough to line the bottom of the tray. This will prevent the ham from drying out.
- Place the tinfoil-wrapped ham on the baking tray.
- Cook in the oven. Every pound of ham requires about 10 minutes of cooking.
How to warm up honey-baked ham on a stovetop?
A stovetop is another good way to reheat a honey-baked ham. The benefit to this is that it gives the outside coating extra flavor from the skillet. However, the larger your ham slices are, the harder it is to heat the inside consistently and thoroughly.
As such, it is best to heat thinner slices on the stovetop or use very low heat to ensure thorough cooking.
Follow these honey baked ham cooking instructions using a stovetop:
- Heat a skillet on a stovetop at low heat.
- Add butter or oil to coat the pan.
- Place your slices in the pan in a single layer.
- Heat until warm. Turn over and repeat on the opposite side.
- Remove and serve.
How to reheat honey-baked ham in a microwave?
Microwaves are a fast, convenient option to reheat food. However, they don’t always do your food justice. It’s important to know how to reheat honey-baked ham appropriately in a microwave to maintain its tasty flavor and texture.
Heating up a honey-baked ham in the microwave is not recommended for the whole ham. If you want to heat the entire ham or a large portion, it will not do so evenly. The outside will be hot, while the inside will be cool. It also has the potential to dry the outer crust if left in the microwave too long.
So if you want to know how to warm up a honey-baked ham in the microwave, the answer is by the slice. Here is the best way to microwave honey ham:
- Cut it into slices. This will ensure that all parts warm up evenly without drying out.
- Spread the slices out on a microwave-safe plate.
- Heat it for 15-20 seconds.
- Check the temperature and continue heating if it requires more time, turning the slices over every time you check.
How to serve a honey-baked ham?
How to serve a honey-baked ham depends on preference. You can serve it straight from the fridge cold or let it reach room temperature. If you prefer it warm, follow one of the heating methods suggested above.
If you want to know how to prepare a honey-baked ham for a smaller group, you should consider how much the group can eat. You may only want to serve a portion of the ham. Slice or carve off the amount you’d like. You may or may not keep it on the bone.
I recommend adding extra honey sauce on the top of the ham or providing it as an aside. Serve with vegetables or salad and bread to complete the meal. Bon appetite!
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This sweet and savory recipe creates the quintessential honey-baked ham we know and love. The juices add a nice tanginess, and the sugary glaze gives the outside a sweet crunch. You are sure to enjoy this classic ham!
How To Reheat and Store Honey-Baked Ham (Tips & Tricks)
Ingredients
Instructions
Honey-baked ham is an excellent choice for a celebration, a big gathering, or when you want a night off from cooking. Most have already been cooked– all you need to do is reheat, slice, and serve it to your guests.
If you like the smoky and sweet flavors of ham, I highly recommend you try a honey-baked ham!
