5 Ways to Reheat Ham Without Drying It Out (2024)

Have a lot of ham leftovers from a holiday feast? To avoid any dry meat, our Test Kitchen likes to reheat precooked ham on the stove top.

By

Katlyn Moncada

5 Ways to Reheat Ham Without Drying It Out (1)

Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production.

Updated on February 8, 2024

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5 Ways to Reheat Ham Without Drying It Out (2)

So you just finished eating a holiday feast complete with a juicy oven-roasted ham as the main course but ended up with a few extra pounds of ham leftover. Since it lasts up to a week in the fridge, you can easily makeover the juicy ham by adding it to a pot of soup or pasta, but sometimes you want another plain slice the next day that isn't dry or tough. Not to worry, reheating ham that's just as tasty as it was right out of the oven is possible. Use one of our Test Kitchen's methods to reheat cooked ham on the stove, oven, microwave, air fryer, or slow cooker that's still super juicy and flavorful.

How to Reheat Ham in the Oven

Preheat oven to 325°F. Arrange slices in a single layer on a greased baking pan. Add a couple of tablespoons of broth or water and cover with foil. Bake for about 10 minutes or until heated through, turning slices once.

How to Reheat Ham in the Microwave

Arrange slices in a single layer on a plate. If the dish is deep enough, add 1 tablespoon of broth or water. Cover slices with a damp paper towel and microwave 30 to 60 seconds or until heated through.

How to Reheat Ham on the Stove Top

Reheating ham via skillet is an easy way to get a few slices nice and hot in a flash. To reheat ham slices on the stove, add a few slices at a time to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add up to ½ cup of chicken broth to keep the meat moist or opt for a couple of tablespoons of butter or oil to give the ham a nice sear.

How to Reheat Ham in a Slow Cooker

The USDA doesn't recommend reheating leftovers in a slow cooker. Though if you're warming up pre-cooked ham, you can put it in your slow cooker to heat through with just enough water or broth to cover the bottom of the liner. Make sure the ham is kept at a minimum temperature of 140°F for safe consumption. You can also check the package for specific directions on timing and liquid amounts.

How to Reheat Ham in an Air Fryer

Our Test Kitchen recommends the following method for reheating ham in the air fryer. Wrap 6 to 8 ouncesof sliced leftover ham in aluminum foil.Preheat the air fryer to 325°F. Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer basket and heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until heated through. ( Wrapping in foil helps prevent the ham from drying out.)If you prefer crispy ham, preheat air fryer to 350/360°F.Arrange ham slices in a single layer in your air fryer basket (or tray).Air fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning after 2 minutes.

Enjoy those juicy reheated ham slices with your other leftover sides, with veggies, or fried eggs for a quick meal. Leftover ham is also delicious in sandwiches, casseroles, and pasta dishes.

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5 Ways to Reheat Ham Without Drying It Out (2024)

FAQs

5 Ways to Reheat Ham Without Drying It Out? ›

Reheating ham via skillet is an easy way to get a few slices nice and hot in a flash. To reheat ham slices on the stove, add a few slices at a time to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add up to ½ cup of chicken broth to keep the meat moist or opt for a couple of tablespoons of butter or oil to give the ham a nice sear.

How to reheat a ham without drying it out? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

How do you make leftover ham moist? ›

How do I reheat ham without drying it out? Put a bit of water and olive oil in the pan, cover the pan, and reheat slowly, just enough to warm the ham. You don't have to cook it again, just warm it.

How do I make sure my ham doesn't dry out? ›

How do you bake a ham without drying it out? Spiral cut hams should be covered with aluminum foil to help retain moisture when re heating. You could also place a foil pan with water underneath the ham to create some steam inside the oven to keep everything moist.

How do you keep ham warm and moist? ›

Cover it in Foil

The foil traps steam and keeps the meat moist. You don't have to wrap the aluminum foil tightly around the ham because you'll want to be able to check on it later. Instead, simply cover the ham with the foil, tucking it under the lip of the roasting pan.

How do you heat a spiral ham without drying it out? ›

— How to cook your spiral ham without drying it out. To avoid drying it out, add water to the bottom of your roasting pan, place the ham on a baking rack above the water, and cover it with foil. You'll also want to use a meat thermometer to check your ham's temperature to avoid overcooking.

What liquid keeps ham moist? ›

Any meat that is roasted in the oven needs moisture so it won't burn at the bottom of the pan or dry out. The trick is to make sure you add some kind of liquid to your pan. So here's the hack: Add half a cup of wine or stock to the bottom of your pan before popping that ham in the oven.

Why is my ham slimy but no smell? ›

An “off” texture: One of the first signs of spoilage is best described as a texture that just looks weird. If your ham appears dully or somewhat slimy, it's likely that the early stages of spoilage have kicked in.

How do you moisten dry Christmas ham? ›

Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Wring out excess water and place ham in the Ham Bag, pillowcase or wrap in tea towel. Store in coolest part of fridge. Re-soak bag in solution every few days or when Ham Bag dries out.

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham? ›

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the ham on a rack in a large baking pan and add about 1/4- to 1/2 inch of water to the pan. If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F.

Should ham be room temp before heating? ›

While baking a show-stopping ham is simple and easy, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to bring the ham to room temperature for an hour (for even heat distribution) as well as up to 2 1/2 hours to bake it long, low and slow, depending on your ham's size.

Why is my ham so wet? ›

Slimy ham is a sign of bacterial growth, so don't consume it if it's wet or oily. Some bacteria may cause ham to become sticky, too. In any case, avoid ham that doesn't feel right in your hand.

How long to reheat a precooked ham? ›

Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover tightly with lid or foil. Bake at 325 F for 15 to 18 minutes per pound until a meat thermometer registers 140 F. Basting the ham as it heats will add to the moisture and overall flavor.

How long to cook precooked ham at 400 degrees? ›

OVEN METHOD FOR HEATING HAM

BAKE AT 325 DEGREES F FOR 16-20 MINUTES PER POUND, UNTIL A MEAT THERMOMETER REGISTERS 135 DEGREES F. UNWRAP THE HAM AND APPLY THE GLAZE; INCREASE THE HEAT TO 400 DEGREES F AND BAKE FOR 15-20 MINUTES LONGER UNTIL THE GLAZE IS BURNISHED.

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