How to Bake a Fully-Cooked Semi-Boneless Ham for Maximum Flavor

As its name makes clear, a semi-boneless ham has some bones in place — and also some bones removed.

"Unless you are a butcher or very familiar with pork anatomy, you will have a hard time getting a good yield from a fully bone-in ham," says Shawn Matijevich, lead chef for online culinary arts and food operations at the Institute of Culinary Education.

Opt for a semi-boneless ham instead of bone-in, and the leg bone will still be in place, but the hip and shank bones will be removed, says David Rose, executive chef at Omaha Steaks. "The leg bone keeps the ham juicier and is easier to carve, too."

Nearly all semi-boneless hams will be precooked when you buy them. That means you can go ahead and enjoy it cold so long as it's vacuum-packaged and prepared in a federally inspected plant, according to the USDA.

That being said, you can bake a fully-cooked semi-boneless ham in a way that makes it juicy and flavorful for the perfect dinner. The best part is, it won't take long and you'll have ham leftovers for other recipes that will last for days.

To do it, follow the steps below.

Take the ham out of the refrigerator about an hour before you plan to place it in the oven, says Chef Brandon Collins, mustard sommelier for Maille.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the ham in a large roasting pan, or alternatively, in a Dutch oven.

If the ham has a sufficient layer of fat, use a small, sharp knife to score the fat in a diamond pattern, Rose says.

Pour your liquid in the bottom of the pan so it's 1/4 inch deep. You can use water, or try one of these options Collins suggests:

• Dark beer
• Chicken or pork stock
• Soda, such as root beer, ginger ale or lemon-lime varieties

Tent the ham with aluminum foil, Rose says. You want the aluminum foil to fit over the pan loosely so some steam can escape.

Place the ham in the oven and let it bake. It'll take roughly 18 to 22 minutes per pound to cook, Rose says. So, a five-pound ham will take between 90 and 110 minutes to reheat.

You do not need to prepare a glaze for your ham. But, doing so will make it more delicious. A glaze, which is typically sweet, counteracts ham's saltiness.

There are many options when it comes to glazing a ham. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

• ‌Rum and Coca-Cola glaze:‌ combine 3/4 cup each of dark spiced rum and Coca-Cola with 1 cup of Polaner Cherry Spreadable Fruit, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a medium-sized saucepan, Rose says. Whisk to combine the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce the temperature until the glaze reaches a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from the heat and cool the mixture to room temperature.
• ‌Brown sugar and mustard glaze:‌ Combine brown sugar, spices (such as paprika, cumin, black pepper and garlic powder) with a tangy mustard like Maille Dijon Originale and some liquid in a medium saucepan, Collins says. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool before glazing.

Remove the foil in the last hour of baking. Apply your glaze (if you're using one) every 15 minutes with a basting brush, Rose says.

Remove the ham from the oven once it reaches an internal temperature of 140 F, using a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Technically, you don't need to let cooked ham rest before slicing and serving it.

That said, Collins suggests that you let your ham rest for 20 minutes to allow all the flavors to soak into the meat. Once that time is up, transfer the ham to a serving platter, carve and serve.