Basting Ham

[tater03]

You know what is weird is every Easter we go to someone else's house to have dinner. So I have never actually made a ham. Was just wondering what you all use to baste your ham? Thanks

[sweetnell3]

I've always use brown suger,honey,little mustard & a little pineapple juice with crushed pineapple & sometimes cherries on top.That the way my grandmother & mom always did it.

[vicki2]

Brown sugar and orange juice. That's our family's recipe. I've tried other things but that one reminds me of home.

[cat lover]

We use several different ones depending on the "flavor" we want at the time. Here is one we like:

Berry Glazed Ham

1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup bourbon

Combine all ingredients and coat the ham with the sauce, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees about 2 hours. Baste the ham with the drippings in the pan every 30 minutes. Allow the ham to set about an hour before cutting.

I always use this on a "precooked" ham, but it would work on a can ham also. If you use a "fresh" ham you'll need to cook it longer before you baste and follow these directions.

[Stephanie2377]

Wow, I should have come here before we made our ham! We had a pre-cooked one that we reheated ourselves. I wish I had followed your suggestions instead of using the sauce that came with the ham! I am sure it would have been more tasty.
I have added these to my collection!

[dallasalice1]

I have also had a ham basted with coca cola. But fave is brownsugar, pineapple juice a little mustard and bake pineapple slices on top.

[echos]

I must say , I never do baste a Ham. I use the cloves instead.Takes a little longer, but, I love it better. Adds a great smoky element , I think.

[barbszy]

I don't bake ham; I boil it. You can boil a half ham in a deep stockpot filled with water, just at a tiny bubble level, for about 2 to 3 hours for a 10-lb ham half. Get the "butt end" and add cabbage at about the last 45 minutes. You will have a beautifully moist and juicy ham; leftovers are great--never dried out.

[cat lover]

Barbszy, do you do a "precooked" one this way or are you talking about a "raw" ham?

[barbszy]

Cat lover, it's a fully cooked smoked ham.

[echos]

Wow, boil a Ham, I am going to try this. We raise hogs, ad I am always looking for new and different recipes to use in my hand out phamplet.

[Lizzie-boo]

My ham glaze is brown sugar and dry mustard with a little orange juice just to make it spreadable.

Barb,
Your method of simmering the ham sounds like a great way to ensure it's not dried out. I'm going to have to keep that in mind.

Liz

[ajrsmom]

My Aunt used to make the best ham using Ginger Ale on it to keep it from drying out. I never learned how she made it other than that but I do know that she used cloves on her ham, too.

[Lizzie-boo]

Ajrsmom,
My mom used ginger ale, too. We lived in Michigan, so it had to be Vernor's ginger ale (a local favorite that is very pungent compared to something like Canada Dry or Seagram's ginger ale). She'd just pour it over the ham, and cover with foil so that the ginger ale would "steam" the ham while it cooked. I've used that method occasionally myself and it does make for a nice juicy ham.

Liz

[barbszy]

FIL bastes his baked ham with Coca-Cola.

[cat lover]

I've done the orange juice/ brown sugar mix to baste a ham before: 2 cups orange juice mixed with 3/4 cup packed brown sugar.
Just use it to baste the ham during the last 30 minutes of cooking; especially good on a country ham.

[ajrsmom]

Ajrsmom,
My mom used ginger ale, too. We lived in Michigan, so it had to be Vernor's ginger ale (a local favorite that is very pungent compared to something like Canada Dry or Seagram's ginger ale). She'd just pour it over the ham, and cover with foil so that the ginger ale would "steam" the ham while it cooked. I've used that method occasionally myself and it does make for a nice juicy ham.

Liz That does sounds a lot like what I remember! :)

[ajrsmom]

FIL bastes his baked ham with Coca-Cola. Does this give the ham a sweet taste?

[barbszy]

No. It might give the rind part a sweet taste but I never eat the rind. The ham just tastes delicious :) I still prefer a boiled ham, and lucky me, that's what Mom is making for "Day After Christmas" when we all gather there.