Classic Ham Glaze Food

PERFECT GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Dry a bone-in, fully cooked half ham (do not use a country ham) and bring to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Trim the ham skin, leaving the fat intact. Score the fat in a crosshatch pattern, making the cuts about 3/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart. Put the ham flat-side down on a rack in a roasting pan; add 1 cup water. Bake on the lowest oven rack, 40 minutes, adding more water if the pan gets dry. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Whisk 1 cup jam or marmalade with 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Brush the ham with half of the glaze; cover loosely with foil and bake 45 more minutes. Brush with the remaining glaze and bake, uncovered, until the glaze is browned, 40 to 50 more minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before carving.
• Don't toss your ham bone! Add it to simmering soups, beans or braised greens for extra flavor.
• Give your ham a great crunch: Sprinkle one of the below mixes onto the glaze before the last 40 to 50 minutes of cooking.
• Spring Herb Mix 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), 3 tablespoons each chopped parsley and chives, and the grated zest of 1 lemon.
• Cornmeal-Thyme Crush 1 cup cornbread stuffing mix; toss with 2 tablespoons chopped thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander and 1/2 cup cornmeal.
• Spicy Sourdough Grind 3 cups cubed sourdough bread in a food processor; toss with 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1 bunch chopped scallions.

CLASSIC HAM GLAZE

Steps:

• Mix brown sugar, orange juice, and honey together in a bowl until the brown sugar has dissolved.

CLASSIC GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Remove the ham from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Trim off any skin from the ham. Use a sharp paring knife to score through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. Insert the cloves into the ham (if using), placing them at the intersections of the cuts.
• Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4 inch water into the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 130 degrees F, about 2 hours, 30 minutes (about 15 minutes per pound).
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Pour half of the Glaze (see below for glazes) over the ham and brush to coat. If the water in the bottom of the pan has evaporated, add more. Return the ham to the oven and roast, basting every 10 minutes with the remaining Glaze, until glossy and well browned, about 45 more minutes.
• Boil 2 cups apple cider in a saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low; add 1/2 cup each apple jelly and maple syrup, 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard, 1/2 teaspoon allspice and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
• Mix 1 cup light brown sugar, 3/4 cup dijon mustard and the grated zest and juice of 1 orange in a bowl.
• Toast 2 teaspoons five-spice powder in a small saucepan over medium heat with 1 tablespoon peanut oil, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup hoisin sauce, 3 tablespoons each honey and rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 cup water. Boil and reduce to 1 1/2 cups, about 5 minutes.
• Grate the zest of 2 limes; set aside. Squeeze the juice into a saucepan; add 8 thin slices ginger and 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice. Boil until reduced to 1/2 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain, then add the lime zest, 1 cup apricot preserves and 1/4 cup dijon mustard.

GLAZED HOLIDAY HAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place the ham on a rack in a large roasting pan. Score the ham diagonally left to right, then right to left, to create a diamond pattern across the meat. Stud each diamond with a whole clove.
• Add a cup or two of water to the bottom of the pan, then bake the ham, uncovered, 25 minutes to the pound if it is ready-to-cook, about half that if it is ready-to-eat.
• Combine the mustard and the brown sugar in a bowl, then add the sherry to make a thick paste. Spread the mixture over the ham approximately 20 minutes before it is ready to remove from the oven, then bake until crust has formed.