Quick Answer: What Are The Best Ways To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham?

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There are three effective methods about how to warm up honey baked ham that will produce the best results. The first approach entails using the microwave and is the most efficient in terms of time. For a fried flavor, you can also reheat your ham in a pan on the stovetop. Finally, to maintain the honey-baked ham’s most authentic taste, you can also warm it up in the oven.

As the holidays approach, deciding on what to cook for the family meal becomes increasingly more urgent.

While most westerners opt for the classic turkey ensemble, another great alternative that is equally as delicious is the iconic “honey-baked ham.”

If you’re not familiar with this type of meat, honey-baked hams are essentially pre-cooked hams that have been infused with irresistible flavors of butter and honey.

They’re juicy on the inside and covered in a sweet, sticky and smoky crust (our mouths are literally starting to water).

Now, while the actual holiday meal is the most fulfilling, I think we can all agree that the leftovers are just as satisfying.

I mean, is there anything more delightful in life than leftovers? Minimal effort, clean-up and a second opportunity to taste all of your favorite holiday flavors.

It’s the whole package deal, really, and with a honey-baked ham this season, you won’t be able to get enough of them!

But, whether it’s for the big day or simply as leftovers, the question remains: how do you prepare honey-baked ham?

Luckily for you, as they are already pre-cooked, reheating this delectable slab of meat couldn’t be easier and can be completed in three different ways: in the microwave, on the stovetop, or, in the oven.

Each approach requires a slightly different amount of time, so you can choose which one best suits your needs.

The holiday season should be about relaxation and spending time with family- not worrying about whether or not you’re going to spoil the Sunday ham.

So sit back, read this article and enjoy your well-earned time off!

How To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham In The Microwave?

When you’re on holidays, the last thing you want is to have to spend ample time in the kitchen preparing meals.

So if you’ve got a honey-baked ham (whether it’s leftovers or not), we highly recommend trying the microwave approach to prepare it!

This method just takes a few short minutes and will have you back on the couch watching your favorite holiday movie in no time.

Pro Tips

Remember that these instructions are for sliced ham. Make sure to cut up your ham prior to putting it in the microwave or else it won’t heat all the way through (and would take an astronomical amount of time).

Many honey hams will come pre-sliced.

Make sure your ham isn’t touching or overlapping when you place it on the plate or in the container!

This is imperative so that each slice of ham can heat through evenly. For this reason, we also recommend heating a maximum of three slices at a time in the microwave (for the best results, 1 slice at a time).

If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can also wet your hands and dampen the paper towel by shaking them over top.

Don’t skip the dampening step! A damp paper towel will aid in ensuring your honey-baked ham doesn’t dry out.

In the case that you are using a plate or container with sides, another way to prevent dryness is by adding 1 tablespoon of water to the dish/container.

Another option would be to add a glass of water beside the dish in the microwave to create extra moisture.

The time it takes to cook the ham will depend on how thick your slices are and how many slices you are reheating at a time. The best approach is to simply check on it every thirty seconds and give it a little taste.

Be very careful when you remove the plate from the microwave and discard the paper towel, as it will likely be very hot! We highly recommend using oven mitts or a tea towel for this step (if you added water, be careful as this will also be very hot).

How To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham In A Frying Pan?

If you’ve never tried fried ham, you’re in for a real treat!

Heating your honey-baked ham on the stovetop is super easy and will give your meat a delicious flavor. Plus, it just takes a few minutes to prepare:

Pro Tips

Remember that these instructions are for sliced ham. Make sure to cut up your ham prior to putting it in the frying pan or else it won’t heat all the way through (and would take an astronomical amount of time).

Many honey hams will come pre-sliced.

Any oil such as vegetable, canola or olive oil will work for this.

An equal amount of butter is a great alternative!

If you notice that your ham is fattier than most, you could skip this step altogether.

A good way to know that you have sufficiently heated up the oil is by tilting your pan and observing whether or not the oil moves with ease. If it does, even with a slight tilt, it’s good to go.

If you are warming up more than one slice of ham, ensure they are not touching or overlapping in the pan.

When you first place the ham in the skillet, try moving it slightly to prevent any sticking.

The time it takes to cook the ham will depend on how thick your slices are and how many slices you are reheating at a time.

It’s important to remember that honey-baked hams are already cooked, so they shouldn’t have to spend a significant period of time in the skillet.

RELATED: Can You Eat A Ham That Has Been Frozen For 2 Years?

How To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham In The Oven?

If you want to reheat your honey ham the traditional way, the best method is to cook it in the oven.

The oven approach takes a little longer than the other methods but is totally worth it!

Pro Tips

Using parchment is the easiest method in terms of the cleanup, but if you don’t have any, adding a little oil such as vegetable or canola to the tray will also help to prevent sticking (it will just be a little messier!).

Ensuring your ham is spread out evenly on the baking sheet is critical for ensuring that each slice is evenly heated through.

If you are afraid that your ham might get a little dry, you can cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil, as this will lock the moisture in.

Adding a little water to the base of the tray would also work.

The time it takes to cook the ham will depend on how thick your slices are and how many slices you are reheating at a time.

If you’re unsure whether or not your ham is done, you can use a meat thermometer. Simply place it in the thickest part of the ham and if it reads a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), it’s done.

For every pound of ham, it will take approximately 10 minutes in the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Store Honey-Baked Ham?

To ensure the longest shelf life possible, it’s essential that honey-baked ham is stored properly.

Honey-baked hams contain a high amount of preservatives due to the curating process they go under. However, these hams also possess a high amount of sugar which doesn’t allow them to be stored at room temperature.

Leaving your ham on the counter for more than a couple of hours, for example, could be detrimental to your dinner.

The best ways to store your ham are either in the fridge or the freezer, depending on when you want to eat it.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Refrigerator: Wrap the honey-baked ham tightly in either foil, plastic wrap, or in an airtight container or bag (it’s really important that there is no excess air and the seal is tightly shut). After this, you can leave the ham in the fridge for up to 5 days.

A good tip is to always write the date so that you don’t forget how many days have gone by.

If you can, it’s best not to slice the ham and store it in the fridge this way as it could cause dryness.

Freezer: wrap your honey-baked ham tightly in foil or plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-friendly bag. Write the date on the bag and store it in the freezer for a maximum of 6 weeks.

When you want to eat the ham, keep in mind that it will take between 24-48 hours for the ham to thaw in the fridge, depending on how large it is.

Once you have thawed the ham, it should be eaten within 2 days.

How Do You Know When Honey-Baked Ham Has Gone Bad?

Leaving unnoticed rotten food in the fridge can happen to even the best of us. If you are concerned that your honey ham may be past its prime, look out for these indicators:

It has past its expiration date
It possesses a sour or sulfuric odor
There are green or gray discolorations visible
The texture is slimy/sticky
There is mold growing on it

If any of these signs are visible, you should avoid eating your ham and throw it away immediately.

Is Honey-Baked Ham Precooked?

Yes, honey-baked hams that you purchase at the store are pre-cooked, so when you prepare them at home, you are simply reheating them.

How To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham In The Microwave?

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Active Time: 2 minutes

Aditional time: 1 minute

Total Time: 5 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Slices of ham are placed on a microwave-safe plate or in a container covered by a dampened paper towel and cooked for 30 seconds intervals, ensuring to continuously flip them, until fully heated through.

Materials

Honey-baked ham

Tools

Microwave-safe plate or container
Paper towel
Tongs/fork

Instructions

Retrieve a microwave-safe plate or container
Place your ham slices onto the plate or into the container in a manner that each slice does not touch or overlap
Take a paper towel and place it over top of the plate so that it covers the pieces of ham
Fill a spray bottle with water and dampen the power towel with it (slightly)
Place the ham in the microwave and set the heat to 50%
Microwave the ham for 30 seconds
Remove and flip each slice over
Place in the microwave again for another 30 seconds
Repeat this process until each ham slice is cooked all the way through
Remove the ham from the microwave and discard the paper towel using oven mitts or a tea towel

How To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham In A Frying Pan?

Prep Time: 1 minute

Active Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 7 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Honey ham is placed in a greased frying pan on medium heat and warmed up on either side for 3-4 minutes.

Materials

Honey-baked ham
1 tablespoon oil

Tools

Frying pan
Tongs

Instructions

Retrieve a frying pan
Set it on the stovetop and put 1 tablespoon of oil in it
Set the stovetop to medium heat and allow the oil to heat up for a bit
Using tongs, put the slices of ham into the skillet very carefully as the oil will be hot
Cook the ham in the skillet for approximately 3-4 minutes
Flip the slices over using your tongs and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes
Repeat this until the ham is fully heated through
Once the ham is done, turn off the heat and serve immediately!

How To Reheat Honey-Baked Ham In The Oven?

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Active Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Ham is set on a lined baking sheet and heated in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 10 minutes, ensuring to be flipped after 5 minutes.

Materials

Honey-baked ham

Tools

Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Oven
Aluminum foil/water (optional)
Oven mitts/tea towel

Instructions

Set your oven to a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 celsius)
Take out a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper
Take your ham slices and place them onto the baking sheet so that they are all spread out evenly
Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for approximately 10 minutes, or until all of the slices are sufficiently warmed up
Make sure to flip the slices after 5 minutes
Remove from oven and serve immediately

Author
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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!