HAM PER POUND RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. For a whole 10- to 15-pound ham, allow 18 to 20 minutes per pound; for a half—5 to 7 pounds—about 20 minutes per pound; or for a shank or butt portion weighing 3 to 4 pounds, about 35 minutes to the pound. In all cases, cook uncovered until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. For an attractive, quick finish, remove the ham from the oven about 30 minutes before it is done and glaze as directed below.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F. To heat the ham, place it on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, and bake uncovered. For a whole ham, allow 15 to 18 minutes to the pound; for a half, 18 to 24 minutes per pound. The ham will be ready when the internal temperature reaches 140°F. To glaze the ham, remove it from the oven about 30 minutes before it is done, and increase the oven heat to 425°F. Remove all the rind but a collar around the shank bone. Slash the fat in the top of the ham in a diamond pattern, and cover the surface with brown sugar, dry mustard moistened with cider vinegar, prune juice, wine or ham drippings.
• Stud the fat at the intersections of the diamonds with whole cloves. Or decorate with alternating half pineapple rings studded with cranberries and stars cut from preserved orange peel.
• Return the ham to the oven, reduce the oven heat to 325°F again, and cook about 30 minutes. Place on a platter. Garnish with: Slices of jellied cranberry sauce topped with thin orange or pineapple slices.

Steps:

• Remove ham from the refrigerator an hour or two before you plan to begin cooking it so that it will come to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Score the ham skin and fat with a knife, creating a crisscross pattern of diamonds.
• Stick a whole clove into each intersection of the scoring.
• Put the ham into the baking pan and then put the pan in the oven.
• Estimate the amount of time the ham will need to cook. A 12-pound ham will take about 18 to 20 minutes per pound to bake, or roughly three and one-half to four hours. At the lowest time estimate, begin checking the internal temperature. When it reaches 160 degrees F, the ham is done.
• Tips & Warnings: --Let the cooked ham rest for about 15 minutes before carving. --If you wish to add a glaze, do so toward the end of baking. Try a brown sugar and powdered mustard coating, or melted preserves such as apricot or cherry. --If you used whole cloves during baking, remove them when carving the ham. --Use the leftover ham for sandwiches or casseroles, and cook the ham bone with beans for a hearty soup. --If the ham does not reach the proper temperature, it may not be safe to eat. Be sure to cook your ham until it is thoroughly done. --After handling the raw ham, wash your hands in warm, soapy water. Do not re-use the knife without washing.