Why You Should Consider Cooking Spiral Cut Ham In A Roasting Bag

It's no surprise why spiral ham is so loved at the dinner table next to either scalloped or creamy mashed potatoes. This perfectly sliced cut of pork is oh-so-delicious that, even though people often associate it with special occasions like Easter and Christmas, we can bet hardly anyone would object to an all-year-round serving. But despite the easy preparation process of this meat (thanks to the fact that it comes pre-cooked), several home cooks find it daunting.

If you're one such cook who just can't seem to get that ham juicy enough or tender enough, well, it's time to try baking your ham in a roasting bag (also known as an oven bag). True, most recipes talk about either going the "low and slow" route using a slow cooker or the oven prep route with the ham wrapped in aluminum foil. However, among the various cooking methods of preparing spiral ham, using a roasting bag is hands down the best of all. So, let's talk about exactly how to go about cooking this irresistibly flavorsome cut of pork.

Begin by removing your ham from the fridge and give it about an hour to come to room temperature. Once warmed up, place the meat in an oven bag with the cut side facing down, then tie up the bag and place it on a baking dish. Before you pop it into your preheated oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit, remember to insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the ham through a slit in the roasting bag. Also, if you have excess plastic hanging from the tied end, you can trim it off or tuck it into the baking dish.

Once the temperature reading on the thermometer hits 130 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the meat from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes, at which point the temperature will have risen to the recommended 140 degrees Fahrenheit (as per USDA). Now you can remove the ham from the bag, glaze it, broil for a bit, and you're all set. This will be the tenderest and juiciest spiral ham you've ever had.