- Kitchen Tips
- Cook Times and Temperatures
The cooking times and temperatures you need for your holiday ham.
By
Melanie Fincher
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Melanie Fincher
Melanie Fincher is a Birmingham, Alabama–based food writer who covers everything from cooking techniques to gadget reviews. She has nearly 7 years experience writing news and lifestyle content.
Allrecipes' editorial guidelines
Updated on November 1, 2023
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Cooking a holiday ham is a time-consuming endeavor. Make sure you know exactly how long you'll need to cook your ham before you get started — a whole, bone-in ham (not pre-cooked) can take upwards of four hours to cook, depending on how much it weighs.
Here you'll find exact cooking times and temperatures for cooking a ham in the oven, according to FoodSafety.gov. But first, check the label on your ham to determine a few things. Find out if it's bone-in or boneless, pre-cooked or uncooked, and how much it weighs. (If you have a country ham or a fresh ham, you'll find the cooking times for those below as well.)
It's easy to overcook ham out of fear that it's underdone. That's why we recommend using an instant-read thermometer to know exactly when your ham has come to a safe internal temperature.
How to Cook a Perfect Ham
Smoked Ham, Pre-Cooked
You'll find most hams available at the grocery store are smoked and fully cooked, and simply require you to heat them up. Reheat cooked ham in an oven set to 325 degrees F until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.
| Type | Weight | Cook Time |
| Whole, bone in | 10 to 14 lbs. | 15 to 18 min/lb. |
| Half, bone in | 5 to 7 lbs. | 18 to 24 min/lb. |
| Arm picnic shoulder, boneless | 5 to 8 lbs. | 25 to 30 min/lb. |
| Vacuum packed, boneless | 6 to 12 lbs. | 10 to 15 min/lb. |
| Spiral cut, whole or half | 7 to 9 lbs. | 10 to 18 min/lb. |
Smoked Ham, Uncooked
If you're cooking a smoked ham that has not been pre-cooked (oftentimes labeled as "cook before eating"), you'll need to cook it at 325 degrees F until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
| Type | Weight | Cook Time |
| Whole, bone-in | 10 to 14 lbs. | 18 to 20 min/lb. |
| Half, bone-in | 5 to 7 lbs. | 22 to 25 min/lb. |
| Arm picnic shoulder, boneless | 5 to 8 lbs. | 30 to 35 min/lb. |
| Shoulder roll (butt), boneless | 2 to 4 lbs. | 35 to 40 min/lb. |
Country Ham
Most hams you purchase at the store are going to be city hams (wet-cured), as opposed to country hams, which are dry-cured and are usually sold uncooked. Because they are intensely salty, whole or half country hams need to be soaked. The longer you soak, the less salty your ham will be. After soaking and boiling, cook your ham at 400 degrees F to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
| Type | Cook Time |
| Whole or half | 1. Soak for 4 to 12 hours in the refrigerator. 2. Cover with water, then boil 20 to 25 minutes per pound. 3. Drain the ham and cook at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes to brown. |
Fresh Ham, Uncooked
Fresh hams are relatively uncommon, but refers to the uncured rear legs of a pig. They are always sold uncooked. Cook at 325 degrees F to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
| Type | Weight | Cook Time |
| Whole leg, bone in | 12 to 16 lbs. | 22 to 26 min/lb. |
| Whole leg, boneless | 10 to 14 lbs. | 24 to 28 min/lb. |
| Half, bone in | 5 to 8 lbs. | 35 to 40 min/lb. |
Best Ham Glaze Recipes
For many families, a ham simply isn't complete without a flavorful glaze to seal the deal. Here are a few of our favorites:
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- Brown Sugar and Mustard Ham Glaze
- Classic Ham Glaze
- Pineapple Glaze for Ham
- Southern Sweet Ham Glaze
- Cherry Ham Glaze
- Maple Cinnamon Ham Glaze
- Awesome Ham Glaze and Marinade
- Apricot and Honey Ham Glaze
For more inspiration, browse our entire collection of Ham Glaze Recipes.
Related:
- 21 Tasty Recipes for Using Up Leftover Ham
- 19 Best Side Dishes to Serve With Ham All Year Long
- Browse our entire collection of Ham Recipes.
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