For years, I’ve been making my glazed ham the day earlier than serving then simply reheating it on the day of. It comes out 100% completely. The glaze is simply pretty much as good as freshly made and the ham flesh doesn’t dry out in any respect. Use this make-ahead glazed ham methodology for both my favorite Maple Glazed Ham or traditional Brown Sugar Glazed Ham!
I secretly love the problem of developing with menus which have a “wow” issue however has loads of make-ahead choices so I can scale back my workload on the day. No person needs to be caught within the kitchen after they have family and friends over.
But in addition as a result of I secretly dream of being a poised cooking goddess, Nigella Lawson fashion, who can swan out gracefully from the kitchen with plate after plate of meals with out breaking a sweat.
I’m nonetheless engaged on that half.
As for the not being caught within the kitchen half? I’m getting fairly good at that.
And for Christmas feasting events, considered one of my handiest secret weapons is to make glazed ham the day earlier than!
Tips on how to make glazed ham the day earlier than
The factor with glazed ham is that it doesn’t truly have to be cooked as a result of it’s already cooked. It’s nearly getting that glaze excellent!
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Bake day earlier than – Make your glazed ham the day earlier than while you’ve obtained time to baby-sit the ham within the oven, basting and brushing as a lot as wanted for the proper golden glaze. The one ham glazes I take advantage of:
i) Maple Glazed Ham – my particular one, with stunning woody maple flavour
ii) Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham – my traditional one
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Cool for two – 3 hours on the counter till you possibly can barely really feel heat while you hover your hand over the floor. Nonetheless, the within will nonetheless be heat – it’s a sizeable hunk of meat we’re working with right here! Don’t depart a scorching ham out for for much longer than this, for meals security causes.
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Fridge 3 hours uncovered – Then refrigerate the ham uncovered for 3 to six hours (nonetheless within the pan, with all of the pan juices) to permit the within of the ham to chill proper down. You do not need to cowl the ham whereas there’s even a little bit of residual heat on the within as a result of it can make the ham sweat = compromises the glaze. 😩
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Cowl then refrigerate in a single day – Cowl the ham loosely with a sheet of baking/parchment paper (the glaze received’t stick) then loosely with foil or cling wrap.
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In a single day uncovered – Typically, if I’m pressed for time so the ham hasn’t totally cooled earlier than I head to mattress, I simply depart the ham uncovered within the fridge in a single day. All that fats on the floor of the ham prevents the ham from drying out, and the minimize face is so effectively caramelised that it too shouldn’t be at any threat of drying out.
Nonetheless, I do advocate masking in case you have time to totally cool the ham. For precaution and likewise so that you don’t cross contaminate meals with odours. No person needs ham flavour infused of their mini cheesecakes!
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Reheat – Take the ham out of the fridge 2 hours prior. Cowl loosely with baking/parchment paper then loosely with foil. Reheat in a 130°C oven for two hours or till the centre of the ham registers 60°C/140°F (or a skewer inserted into the center is scorching).
Add water as wanted to forestall pan juices from drying out (we would like a syrupy sauce on the finish to serve with the ham!) You shouldn’t want oven time with the foil off to re-caramelise the glaze however you possibly can if wanted.
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Baste, baste, baste as wanted for a shocking shiny sticky end!
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Sauce discount, if wanted – If the pan juices are too watery (since you by chance added an excessive amount of water when reheating), both return the pan with out the ham into the oven to scale back to a syrupy consistency. Or pour it right into a saucepan and simmer on the range.
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Serve the ham as you ordinarily do! My default nowadays is to place it on a picket board on a mattress of inexperienced fluff age (no matter’s low cost on the time – kale, watercress, endive are regulars). Wrap paper across the deal with, tie with a ribbon, stick a sprig of rosemary in!
Use any ham glaze!
Whereas I’ve referenced the 2 ham glazes on my web site all through this put up (my favorite Maple Glazed Ham and traditional Brown Sugar Ham Glaze), these make-ahead steps ought to work for any glazed ham.
I hope you discovered this tip helpful! I’d like to know what you suppose if you happen to make your glazed ham forward of time this yr. Inform me within the feedback under! – Nagi x
Christmas cooking stressing you out? I get it. See my 6 greatest tricks to make Christmas cooking simpler proper right here!
Lifetime of Dozer
Dozer confirms he can’t inform whether or not the glazed ham was made at the moment or yesterday.