How Long To Bake A Ham (And Why)?

Exact Answer: Per Pound 18 To 24 Minutes

Everyone knows the importance of food. It’s because all are aware that it’s the reason for their survival. Without food, no one can survive.

Now, a variety of food is available throughout the world. 

In a particular country, they loved their food very much. The best example is China, where most of the animals like cats, monkeys, cows, snakes, and insects are cut down regularly to fulfill their basic nutrients. 

Another country here may do not like their food, but the people of China have been eating this type of food since ancient times.

Ham is a type of food loved by a lot of people throughout the world.

How Long To Bake A Ham?

First, remember two things before calculating the cooking time of ham; whether ham is bone-in or boneless, and the second is, whether fully cooked or if the packing instructs to cook before eating. 

Bone-in ham, the uncooked ham must be cooked at 145°F for safety. Already cooked ham needs only to heat at 140°F for adequate safety.

A food thermometer should be used for measuring the internal temperature. In pre-cooked, half ham weighed five to seven pounds, it takes 18 to 24 minutes per pound heated at 325°F. 

It will take up to 18 minutes per pound weighing between 10 to 14 pounds. The internal temperature should be 140°F.

In pre-cooked and boneless ham, weighing between 6 to 12 pounds should heat at 325°F for 10 to 18 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should be 140°F.

Uncooked and bone-in ham takes 22 to 25 minutes of roasting at 325°F per pound in a half ham weighing between 5 to 7 pounds. It takes 18 to 20 minutes for a whole bone-in ham weighing between 10 to 14 pounds at 325°F. The internal temperature should be 145°F.

Uncooked and boneless ham, depending on the cut, can weigh between 2 to 8 pounds. The ham weighs between 2 to 4 pounds for the shoulder roll and is cooked for 35 to 40 minutes per pound at 325°F. The internal temperature should be 145°F.

Why Does It Take That Long To Bake Ham?

The “butt end” and “shank end “, a whole ham contains. It’s cured just because of making ham from a piece of pork. It undergoes both physical changes as well as chemical changes. During these changes, salt and other ingredients draw into the muscle of the pork due to osmosis, so protein molecules contract.

To get a perfectly cooked and perfectly tender texture ham, the dense ham should require slow cooking and a long time. A bonny ham takes much more time as compared to boneless ham. It’s also difficult to slice a bonny ham as compared to boneless ham.

It’s the reason that’s why a boneless ham is advised for a beginner. The protein molecule and other meat shrink and toughen when the ham is cooked at a high temperature. Generally, a three to four-ounce ham contains around 25 grams of protein.

It will be difficult to chew if it is cooked for too long. When the people are in the oven, they can cook a little, because heat remains.

It’s also possible to turn them a little hard from the tender. Thicker ribs take more time but thinner ribs shorten the time and cook faster. Undercooked pork carries the risk of foodborne illness.

Conclusion

It’s very interesting to know that China is the first country that used pork leg back in 4900 B.C. Then its recipe spread throughout ancient Europe with the Romans, who practiced trade with China at that time. The word “ham” is derived from old English and its meaning is a bend of the knee or hollow.

As it is processed meat, if its consumption increases by 50 grams per day, it leads to a 19% increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer. If an individual reaches the 510 grams weekly limit for red meat, then the processed meat consumed a day increases the cancer risk by 21% at every 48 grams. 

Researchers estimate that 3.3% of deaths could be prevented by consuming an average of fewer than 20 grams of processed meat.

References

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1750-3841.12121
2. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/50155/458-223.pdf?sequence=1