How Long to Cook a Ham: Minutes Per Pound at 325°F
At 325°F a cooked half ham takes 18 to 24 minutes per pound to reheat, so a 6 lb half ham needs 1 h 48 min to 2 h 24 min. The time depends on the kind of ham, and it is done when a food thermometer says so, not when the timer does.
Ham cooking time chart
From the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service timetable for ham, with the oven at 325°F. Times are approximate:
| Kind of ham | Minutes per pound | Safe internal temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked, whole, bone-in | 15 to 18 min | 140°F (165°F if repackaged or leftover) |
| Cooked, half, bone-in | 18 to 24 min | 140°F (165°F if repackaged or leftover) |
| Cooked, spiral-cut | 10 to 18 min | 140°F (165°F if repackaged or leftover) |
| Cooked, boneless | 10 to 15 min | 140°F (165°F if repackaged or leftover) |
| Cook-before-eating, whole, bone-in | 18 to 20 min | 145°F, rest 3 minutes |
| Cook-before-eating, half, bone-in | 22 to 25 min | 145°F, rest 3 minutes |
| Cook-before-eating, boneless picnic shoulder | 30 to 35 min | 145°F, rest 3 minutes |
Time for your ham
Multiply the weight by the minutes per pound. For example, a 7 lb spiral-cut ham takes 1 h 10 min to 2 h 6 min and a 12 lb whole bone-in ham takes 3 h to 3 h 36 min. Enter your own weight and kind of ham in the ham size calculator, which also tells you what size to buy.
How to heat it
- Read the label. "Fully cooked" hams need only warming. "Cook before eating" hams must reach 145°F, and a country ham needs soaking before it is cooked.
- Set the oven to 325°F and put the ham flat side down in a roasting pan. Cover a spiral-cut ham, or the cut end of any ham, with heavy foil.
- Check the temperature with a food thermometer in the thickest part, not touching the bone: 140°F for a cooked ham from a federally inspected plant, 165°F for leftovers or repackaged ham, and 145°F with a 3 minute rest for a cook-before-eating ham.
- Glaze late. Brush it on for the last 20 to 30 minutes, since sugar burns.
- Store leftovers promptly. Do not leave ham out for more than 2 hours.
Planning the day
A ham needs no thawing days like a turkey, and it can sit at the back of the oven while the sides are done. For the quantity, see how much ham per person; for a turkey dinner, the turkey size calculator and how long to cook a turkey.
Source
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Ham and Food Safety, "Cooking or Reheating Hams" and the "Timetable for Cooking Ham".
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to heat a cooked ham?
At 325°F, a whole bone-in cooked ham takes 15 to 18 minutes per pound and a half ham 18 to 24 minutes per pound. A 6 lb half ham takes 1 h 48 min to 2 h 24 min.
What temperature should ham be heated to?
A fully cooked ham packaged in a USDA-inspected plant is heated to 140°F, and leftover ham or ham repackaged elsewhere to 165°F. A cook-before-eating or fresh ham needs 145°F and a 3 minute rest.
How long to heat a spiral-cut ham?
10 to 18 minutes per pound at 325°F, covered with heavy foil. USDA gives about 10 minutes per pound as the lower figure, and heating much longer dries the slices.
Do I have to heat a fully cooked ham?
No. A cooked, vacuum-packed ham from a federally inspected plant can be eaten cold from the package. Heating it is for taste.
What oven temperature for a ham?
No lower than 325°F, which is the temperature the USDA timetable is written for.
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