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Tag: Food Safety; Ham

Ham it Up!

Ham
Sliced ham
Photo: Canva.com

Easter ham is a prominent menu item for many Easter gatherings.

When buying a ham, estimate the size needed according to the number of servings the type of ham should yield:

  • 1/4 – 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham
  • 1/3 – 1/2 lb. of meat per serving of bone-in ham

Whether you are cooking a raw ham or preparing a ready-to eat ham product, follow these steps for a ham that is cooked to perfection.

  • Ham that is not ready-to-eat but has the appearance of ready-to-eat products will bear a statement on the label indicating the product needs cooking.
  • Ham that requires cooking before consumption or fresh, raw ham must reach an internal temperature of 145°F (with a three-minute rest time). Set the oven no lower than 325°F.

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F, as they are already fully cooked. For cooked hams that have been repackaged in any other location outside the processing plant, heat to an internal temperature of 165°F, measured with a food thermometer, before you serve it.

Store leftover ham in the refrigerator. Use or freeze leftover ham within 3-5 days. Frozen ham is best used within 1-2 months.

A handy chart is available to determine the temperature and cooking time for the type of ham purchased from the USDA Hams and Food Safety website.

Carving Up Ham Facts

Spiral cut ham. Photo: USDA Flickr

From a simple sandwich, to the star of a buffet table, ham is a popular choice for many meals. The choices for ham include fresh, cook-before-eating, cooked, picnic, and country types. So, each type of ham has its own storage and cooking times.

Ham comes from the leg of the pork animal. Fresh ham is uncured and will be labeled “fresh” in the product name. They must be cooked before eating and will have a pale pink or beige color, like a pork roast. Cured ham or cured-and-smoked ham will have a deep rose or pink color. Country ham and prosciutto will have a pink to mahogany color. These can be eaten cold or heated.

The estimated amount per serving to buy is:

  • 1/4—1/3 pound per serving of boneless ham
  • 1/3-1/2 pound per serving of bone-in ham

Reheat cooked ham in the oven at 325°F to an internal temperature of 140°F as measured by a thermometer. A bone-in spiral ham will take about 10-18 minutes per pound.

For more information on ham, see this USDA publication entitled Ham and Food Safety at https://bit.ly/2zPxfPi.