This ham roast recipe is perfect for holiday gatherings! Learn if fresh ham roast is the same as ham, get the best fresh ham recipe and more. Cooking ham roast is easier than you might think, especially because most ham roast is already cooked! It only takes about 10-12 minutes per pound at 325F (163C) to roast ham. The butter and brown sugar glaze makes this pork ham roast recipe extra delicious!

This pork ham roast in oven is a treat, and perfect for your Christmas or Easter dinner table. This fresh ham roast recipe would also be lovely for Sunday dinner, when hams go on sale after the holidays.

Better yet, this roast ham recipe could not be easier. There’s no need to brine, or use a marinade (though brining can give your fresh ham recipes very good results). This ham pork roast comes out perfect without all the fuss, with glazed crisp edges, and deliciously tender meat.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how to cook ham roast, today’s article has everything you need. You’ll learn how to cook fresh ham, including a chart showing how long to cook a fresh ham. In addition, I’ll also share how to roast ham that’s been cured.

🐷 Is a ham roast the same as a ham?

According to Merriam-Webster, a “ham” is a cut of thigh meat, especially from a hog. A “roast” is a piece of meat suitable for cooking with dry heat, AKA roasting (source). Hams and ham roasts are usually cured, and yes, these terms tend to be used interchangeably.

Ham refers to a wide variety pork products, including ham steaks, spiral cut ham, precooked ham, half ham, whole ham, city ham, country ham, smoked ham, and sometimes fresh pork ham roast as well. Before you start any cured or fresh ham roast recipes, it’s important to make sure the recipe is for the type of ham you have. Bone-in and boneless ham, and the degree of processing can impact the cooking times.

Is a ham roast the same as a pork roast?

No! “Pork roast” generally means raw cut of pork from the front or back of the pig. “Ham roast” is taken from the hind legs of the pig, and it is usually smoked and cured. An example of a pork roast that is not a ham roast is a fresh pork shoulder roast.

Is ham roast already cooked?

Yes, but not always. In the US, “ham” usually refers to a smoked and cured piece of meat that is pre-cooked. Roasts labeled “pork” in the store are more often uncooked. That said, it is possible to find uncured ham, and items labeled fresh pork ham roast.

Sometimes, “fresh ham” refers to a precooked ham that is refrigerated, not frozen. Before cooking fresh ham, check whether it is precooked or not. This has a big impact on the cook time. Cooking a fresh ham for too long can dry it out.

🍖 How long does it take to roast a ham?

How long do you cook a ham for per pound? Use this table as a general guide for how to cook a ham roast. Keep in mind that hams are leaner than cuts such as pork shoulder. Watch them closely so you don’t overcook them.

Fresh Ham Cooking Chart

All times given are for an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163C):

Size	Precooked Bone-In Ham Reheat Time (minutes, whole or half ham)	Baking Uncooked Fresh Ham Bone In (minutes, whole or half ham)	Boneless Fresh Ham Roast (minutes, whole or half ham)	Smoked Ham, Bone In, Cook before eating (minutes, half or whole ham)
5 lbs (2.3 kg)	90-120	175-200	–	110-125
6 lbs (2.7 kg)	108-144	210-240	–	132-150
7 lbs (3.2 kg)	126-168 Spiral cut: 70-126	245-280	–	154-175
8 lbs (3.6 kg)	Spiral cut: 80-144	280-320	–	–
9 lbs (4.1 kg)	Spiral cut: 90-162	–	–	–
10 lbs (4.5 kg)	150-180	–	240-280	180-200
11 lbs (5 kg)	165-198	–	264-308	198-220
12 lbs (5.4 kg)	180-216	264-312	288-336	216-240
13 lbs (5.9 kg)	195-234	286-338	312-364	234-260
14 lbs (6.4 kg)	210-252	308-364	336-392	252-280
15 lbs (6.8 kg)	–	330-390	–	–
16 lbs (7.3 kg)	–	352-416	–	–

As you can see, your pre-cooked cured ham roast recipe will generally take less time than roast fresh ham. Spiral hams take less time to reheat than uncut hams. Boneless hams have longer cooking times than bone-in hams of the same weight.

Do you glaze ham before or after cooking?

In general, do not add glaze until the final 30 minutes of roasting a fresh ham. This will help prevent the sugars in the ham glaze from burning.

An alternative is to cook the ham, glaze, and broil in the oven until the glaze is golden brown. Setting the glaze should only take a few minutes. Again, you need to be very careful not to overcook the glaze because it can burn easily.

Should I put anything on my ham before cooking?

Often, a recipe for fresh ham (uncooked) will have you season the ham before cooking. For precooked, smoked hams, you don’t need to add anything. Brush on glaze at the very end of cooking.

What temperature is a ham roast done?

According to FoodSafety.gov, uncooked ham roast and cook before eating smoked ham roast should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of at least 145F (63C). After cooking, the ham roast should rest for at least 3 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants should be reheated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60C). All other cooked ham should be reheated to 165F (74C).

How do you know when roast ham is cooked?

The best way to know a ham roast is cooked is to use a meat thermometer to ensure it reached the minimum safe internal temp. The color of the ham is not a good indicator of doneness.

Is it better to cook a ham at 325 or 350?

The best temperature to cook a ham is 325F (163C), and this is the temp advised on many USDA charts. Fresh ham roasts especially may dry out or overcook if you set your oven temperature too high.

How long do you cook a cooked ham at 350?

Today has step-by-step directions for how to cook a fresh ham roast, and they recommend cooking ham for 20 minutes per pound at 350F (177C). Make sure to wrap the ham in aluminum foil to help retain moisture. Basting the ham throughout the cooking time can also help prevent dry ham.

How long does it take to cook a 10 lb ham?

To cook a 10 lb spiral ham at 350, cover with foil and bake 50-60 minutes. This is for a precooked ham; add glaze to hot ham before serving.

❓Do you cover a ham when roasting?

Should ham be covered or uncovered? Cover your ham with foil while roasting for the best results, regardless of whether it is fresh or precooked. For glazed ham, uncover the ham and add the glaze for the last 25-30 minutes of cook time.

How do you keep ham from drying out in the oven?

What keeps ham moist? Can you overcook ham? Ham is easy to overcook! Here are my top tips for keeping ham moist in the oven:

• Don’t trim the fat from the ham before cooking
• Keep the ham covered with foil for most of the cooking time
• Keep a close eye on the ham and use an instant-read thermometer to ensure it’s perfectly done

To summarize the ham roasting chart above, here are some time ranges for cooking ham:

• Precooked spiral cut ham, 7-9 lbs: 10-18 min/lb at 325F
• Cooked half bone in ham, 5-7 lbs: 18-24 min/lb at 325F
• Cooked whole bone in ham, 10-14 lbs: 15-18 min/lb at 325F
• Bone in half ham, uncooked, 5-8 lbs: 35-40 min/lb at 325F
• Uncooked fresh boneless ham, 10-14 lbs: 24-28 min/lb at 325F
• Uncooked fresh bone in ham, 12-16 lbs: 22-26 min/lb at 325F

➕ What to Make with a Ham Roast

Honey roast ham goes well with all of your favorite holiday side dishes. Here are some sides dish ideas for ham roast:

• Green bean casserole
• Scalloped potatoes
• Mashed potatoes
• Costco Mac and Cheese
• Maple syrup roasted sweet potatoes
• Cranberry sauce
• Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon

🍯 What should I baste my ham with?

What can I add to ham for flavor? For my smoked ham roast, I cover with foil to keep the ham moist for most of the cooking time. You could also add a little water to the roasting pan. When it’s almost done, I baste the ham with a salty, juicy glaze sweetened with honey and brown sugar.

Here’s what you need to make the best glaze for ham roast:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger powder

You should not need salt, since cured ham is already very salty. Black pepper is a fine addition, if desired. Don’t skip the mustard- it adds a little kick to the glaze you won’t get without it.

Some like to use juices, such as pineapple juice or orange juice in their ham glaze. If you’re making a fresh ham roast, you can score it with a sharp knife in a diamond pattern, and stud the surface of the ham with whole cloves.

🥗 What is ham roast used for?

Ham roast is most commonly used as a main dish for holiday meals, particularly at Christmas and Easter. Here are some of my favorite ways to use ham roast leftovers:

• Add it to split pea soup
• Serve with eggs
• Make a ham sandwich
• Chop and use as the protein in tacos, burritos, fajitas, or quesadillas
• Dice and use it to top a salad

🌡️ Ham Roast Storage

Leftover roast ham that won’t be used in 3-4 days should be moved from refrigerator to freezer. Ham roast freezes and reheats well. To freeze, store leftovers in vacuum-sealed bags or freezer bags with the air pressed out.

Reheat ham roast slices in an air fryer at 400F (200C) for 3-5 minutes. Alternatively, try reheating roast ham slices in a microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.

📋 Roast Ham Calories

Here is the nutrition information, including calories, for 3 ounces of spiral cut ham roast (Sam’s Choice brand):

• Calories: 140
• Total fat: 7g
• Saturated fat: 2.5g
• Cholesterol: 45mg
• Sodium: 790mg (fresh, uncured ham has less)
• Total carbohydrate: 8g
• Sugar: 6g
• Protein: 14g
• Iron: 4% DV

This nutrition information is for unglazed ham. Nutrition info for ham with glaze can vary, depending on how much glaze is on the piece you’re eating. Most of the fat in ham comes from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat.

Is baked ham keto? Ham roast is a naturally low carb and keto food, but the ham glaze often adds a lot of carbohydrates from sugar. Fresh (uncooked) ham without glaze is your best bet for a low carb ham.

FAQs

What’s a good boneless fresh ham roast recipe?

Cook a 10-14 lb boneless fresh ham roast for 24-28 minutes per pound at 325F (163C). Start the ham cut side down on a roasting pan, and cover the pan with foil. About 30 minutes before the cooking time is up, glaze the ham, and finish cooking uncovered.

How to make fresh ham roast pulled pork?

My favorite way to make pulled pork with fresh ham roast is to make it in the crockpot. For fall apart ham in the oven, brine fresh raw ham, add a dry rub after brining, and cook covered at 275F for about 2 hours per pound. Use two forks, claws, or BBQ gloves to shred the pork apart.

How to cook ham steak?

Here are directions for ham steak on the grill, microwave, or stovetop.

How long to cook a 3 lb fully cooked ham?

Wondering how to cook a 3 pound boneless ham? According to the Foodsafety.gov, a 3 lb boneless cooked ham takes 45-60 minutes in a 325F oven.

How long to cook a 4 pound cooked ham?

According to the Foodsafety.gov, a 4 lb boneless cooked ham takes 60-80 minutes in a 325F oven.

How long to cook a 9 pound ham at 325?

Bake a 9 pound precooked ham for 90-162 minutes at 325F if it’s spiral cut. For an uncut, bone in cooked ham, try 135-162 minutes at 325F.

Can I cook a fully cooked ham at 375?

Yes, but using a lower temp is less likely to dry the ham out. Food Network has directions for precooked ham at 375.

👩🏻‍🍳 More Pork Roast Recipes

Looking for more pork roast recipes? Try these:

• Boston Butt Pork Roast
• Air Fryer Pork Shoulder Roast
• Ham Shank Recipe
• Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin (Air Fryer)

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