Guide: How to Cook a Ham
Learn how to cook the perfect Kurobuta ham to the right temperature with a detailed guide from the experts at Snake River Farms
Short Content: Kurobuta hams are one of the most special products we offer at Snake River Farms. The people who buy our hams are some of our most passionate and loyal customers! Each ham is sourced from 100% Berkshire pork, cured using traditional methods and smoked over real hardwood. This guide is designed to help you get the best possible dining experience.
Although Snake River Farms Kurobuta hams are impressive on the table, they’re also extremely easy to prepare. All Snake River hams are fully cooked, but for the richest flavor, they are best baked. Use the following instructions for a perfectly prepared ham you’ll be proud to serve.
Different Ways to Prepare Ham
Oven Preparation - Requires: Oven Roasting, Pan
Pre-heat Oven
Set your oven to 325°F
Prepare the Ham
Remove ham from any packaging. Place fat side up in a roasting pan. If using a half ham, place the flat side directly on the roasting pan. Do not add water or cover the ham with foil.
Bake
Place the ham in the heated oven, uncovered, until the ham reaches 140°F. Every oven is different, so cooking times will vary. A thermometer is the single best way to determine doneness. See the ham chart for approximate cooking times, but use a thermometer to decide the right time to remove your ham from your oven.
Remove from Oven
Take the ham out of the oven and place on a cutting board.
Rest
Loosely cover ham with foil and allow it to rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
Slice and Serve
For bone-in hams, the best technique is to cut large sections of the ham parallel to the bone and cut these portions into slices.
Grill Preparation - Requires: Grill - gas or charcoal
Pre-heat Grill
Pre-heat grill on one side. The idea is to have direct heat and flame under half of the grill and use the other half as an oven to heat your ham. The goal is to create a temperature of about 325°F on the cool side when the cover is closed.
Prepare the Ham
Remove ham from its packaging. Place on cutting board or platter for transfer to grill.
Grill Ham
Place the ham directly on the cool side of the grill with the fat side up. If using a half ham, place the flat side down. The ham will cook using indirect heat. Check to make sure there are no coals or direct flames under the ham.
Remove from Grill
Check the internal temperature of the ham using an instant read thermometer. Remove the ham from the grill when the internal temperature reaches 140°F. A whole bone-in ham will take up to 4 hours to fully heat. A half bone-in ham will take about 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours. Take the ham off the grill and place on a cutting board.
Rest
Loosely cover ham with foil and allow to rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
Slice and Serve
For bone-in hams, the best technique is to cut large sections of ham off parallel to the bone and cut these portions into slices.
See our short videos "How to Slice a Bone-In Ham" or "How to Slice a Half Bone-in Ham" for complete directions.
* Double Smoked Ham
Add extra smoky flavor to your Kurobuta ham by turning your charcoal grill into a smoker! Place a disposable aluminum pan below the main cooking grate. Place pre-lit charcoal briquettes on both sides of the pan to create a cool zone in the center of the grill below the ham. Add 2 to 3 chunks of your favorite smoking wood, such as cherry or apple, to the charcoal, and return the main cooking grate to the grill. Let it smoke until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
Pellet Grill Preparation - Requires: Pellet Grill, Roasting Pan
Prepare the Ham
Remove ham from any packaging. Place fat side up on a rack in a roasting pan. If using a half ham, place the flat side directly on the rack.
Smoke
Set pellet grill to 275°F. Place roasting pan with the ham on the grill grate. Smoke the ham for 2 hours. Increase the temperature to 300°F and continue to roast the ham, misting occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F. For a whole bone-in ham, this will be about 3 to 4 hours.
Remove the Grill
Take the ham out of the oven and place on a cutting board. Turn the pellet grill off.
Rest
Loosely cover ham with foil and rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
Slice and Serve
For bone-in hams, the best technique is to cut large sections of ham off parallel to the bone and cut these portions into slices.
See our short videos "How to Slice a Bone-In Ham" or "How to Slice a Half Bone-in Ham" for complete directions.
Glazed Ham
Our savory Kurobuta hams are superb all by themselves, but if you want the extra sweetness of a glaze, feel free to use one. Using a sharp knife, make ¼-inch vertical cuts in the ham about 1 inch apart. Bake, smoke or grill the ham until it reaches 130°F, then coat with the prepared glaze. Continue to heat until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Then, remove from the heat source and rest.
Selecting a Kurobuta Ham
Snake River Farms offers two different types of ham in various sizes.
Bone-In Ham – The original Snake River Farms ham, packed with rich flavor and distinct texture. The bone adds a traditional presentation and is the foundation for flavorful stocks and soups. This ham is available in a full size or cut in half.
Boneless Ham - Also known as a “deli ham” because it’s so easy to slice for sandwiches, our boneless hams are made from the same Kurobuta pork and cured exactly like our bone-in hams. These hams are convenient to serve. Since there is no bone to deal with then can be sliced and plated with minimal effort.
Bone-in vs Boneless Ham
Bone-in and boneless hams each have their advantages. Select one depending on which benefit appeals to you the most.
If you want a classic ham with a traditional appearance on the table, go with a bone-in ham. The bone helps surrounding meat cook to a juicier, more tender finish. The leftover bone is a flavorful foundation for stocks and soups, providing an additional meal.
Choose a boneless ham if you value convenience. Our boneless hams are made of the same high-quality Kurobuta pork and cured just like our bone-in hams, but they can be quickly sliced and plated at the table.
How Much Ham Per Person?
We recommend at least 8 ounces for each person at your table. If you want to have leftovers or your crowd is full of hearty eaters, use 12 ounces for your calculations.
The following table is a conservative guide to the number of servings for each of our hams:
| Ham Size | Avg. Weight | Servings | Cook Time | Internal Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Boneless | 3.5 lbs. | 5 - 9 | 1.25 to 2 hrs. | 140°F |
| Whole Boneless | 7 lbs. | 10 - 12 | 1.5 to 2.5 hrs. | 140°F |
| Half Bone-In, Small | 6 lbs. | 8 - 10 | 1.5 to 2 hrs. | 140°F |
| Half Bone-In, Large | 8 lbs. | 10 - 12 | 1.75 to 2.5 hrs. | 140°F |
| Whole Bone-In, Large | 16 lbs. | 18 - 22 | 3.5 to 4 hrs. | 140°F |
How Do I Thaw My Ham?
Our hams ship frozen and it’s best to fully thaw them before cooking. Put your frozen ham in the refrigerator several days before you plan to serve it. Thawing in a refrigerator is highly recommended as it is the best way to ensure food safety. Snake River Farms hams range in size from about 3.5 lbs. for a Small Boneless Ham and up to 16 lbs. for a Whole Bone-in Ham, so the actual time to thaw will vary greatly.
Once completely defrosted, our hams will keep for up to 30 days in their original sealed packaging. Because of this, we recommend placing your ham in the refrigerator well in advance of the day you plan to prepare your meal.
To see how long it will take to thaw your ham, refer to the ham chart below for approximate defrosting times:
| Ham Size | Average Weight | Time to Defrost |
|---|---|---|
| Half Boneless | 3.5 lbs. | 1 to 2 Days |
| Whole Boneless | 7 lbs. | 2 to 3 Days |
| Half Bone-In, Small | 6 lbs. | 2 to 3 Days |
| Half Bone-In, Large | 8 lbs. | 2 to 3 Days |
| Whole Bone-In | 16 lbs. | 3 to 4 Days |
Quick Thaw Method
Sometimes things just don’t work out as planned and you need to speed up the thawing process. You can use a cool water bath to help quickly thaw a frozen ham.
How to quickly thaw a ham in water:
- Keep your ham sealed in the original packaging.
- Close the drain to your sink and fill with cool tap water.
- Place ham in water and allow to sit.
- A half bone-in ham can thaw enough to bake in about 3 to 4 hours. A whole bone-in ham will take more than 4 hours.
PLEASE NOTE: We DO NOT recommend this method in normal situations. It is for emergencies only. For best results, please plan ahead so your ham thaws slowly in your refrigerator.
How Long Does It Take to Cook a Ham?
All our hams are fully cooked, so baking times are short. Depending on the size, the time varies from about one to four hours. See chart for estimated times. However, don’t rely on time. Use a meat thermometer to find the exact time to remove your ham from the oven.
The goal is to fully heat the ham to 140°F measured at the thickest part. When checking the temperature of bone-in hams, check the thickest part away from the bone. It’s a good idea to check several areas throughout the ham.
140°F is the magic temperature to ensure a moist and juicy ham. Higher temperatures will adversely affect the quality, so avoid overheating.
Refer to our temperature chart to find the right cooking time based on your type of ham:
| Ham Size | Cook Time | Internal Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Half Boneless | 1.25 to 2 hrs. | 140°F |
| Whole Boneless | 1.5 to 2.5 hrs. | 140°F |
| Half Bone-In, Small | 1.5 to 2 hrs. | 140°F |
| Half Bone-In, Large | 1.75 to 2.5 hrs. | 140°F |
| Whole Bone-In, Large | 3.5 to 4 hrs. | 140°F |
Our Favorite Ham Recipes
Ham is an incredible crowd pleaser and will steal the show of any dinner party. The next time you cook ham, take it to the next level with Kurobuta ham from Snake River Farms.
Try some of our best ham recipes:
Maple Dijon Kurobuta Ham With Fried Sage
Porchetta Ham
Hawaiian Bun Kurobuta Sliders
Al Pastor Ham
Double Smoked Ham With Peach-Pomegranate Glaze
How to Make a Ham Glaze
Kurobuta ham from Snake River Farms is an incredible crowd pleaser and will steal the show of any dinner party. The next time you cook ham, take it to the next level with a ham glaze. It's a great way to impart an additional sweet and savory dimension to an already remarkable meal.
Here are a few of our favorite ham glazes for your next get-together:
Ginger Ale, Brown Sugar and Rum Glazed Kurobuta Ham
Kurobuta Ham With Pomegranate-Orange Glaze
Pineapple-Glazed Kurobuta Bone-in Ham With Bourbon-Cherry Sauce
Maple-Bourbon Glazed Ham With Cranberry-Raisin Chutney
What to Do with Ham Leftovers
Leftover ham recipes are always a big hit and a great way to enjoy a Snake River Farms Kurobuta Ham for a second time. Here are some of our favorite quick and easy leftover ham recipes that are sure to please anyone ready for another round of this crowd-pleasing favorite.
Try some of these great leftover ham recipes:
Sheet-Pan Kurobuta Ham and Sweet Potato Hash
Kurobuta Ham and White Bean Soup
Kurobuta Croque Madame
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