How to Cook Ham So It Melts in Your Mouth

Hams include some of the most legendary of all cured meats, from French Bayonne hams to Italian prosciutto, from Chinese Yunnan hams to the Smithfields of the American South. Whether wet-cured or dry, smoked or unsmoked, the rich flavor of a good ham always comes through. However, some cooks struggle to achieve a moist, delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Understanding a few basics can make it much easier to get the finished product you are looking for.

A good ham is richly flavored but not necessarily tender. (Image: AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images)

Ham Basics

When a piece of pork is cured to make ham, it goes through both chemical and physical changes. Osmosis draws salt and the other curing ingredients into the muscle cells of the pork, where it causes the protein molecules to contract. This is why an uncooked ham has a firmer texture than raw pork roast. Because it's dense, ham requires long, slow cooking to become perfectly tender. It also must be protected from drying out during the cooking process.

Slow Cooking

Cooking any meat at high temperature causes its protein molecules to shrink and toughen. On a tender steak that is only on the grill for a few minutes, this isn't a problem. However, making a ham extra tender requires long, slow cooking. This creates time for fat to render out of the ham and for its connective tissues to melt into natural gelatin. This is what lubricates the muscle fibers and creates a moist, tender impression in the mouth. This slow cooking can take place either in the oven or in a slow cooker.

Slow-Cooker Ham

A full-sized ham is too large for all but the biggest of slow cookers. However, it's also too big for most families. The smaller ham portions available at most butchers and supermarkets would fit easily into a 6- or 7-quart cooker. Trim the ham of any excess fat, leaving approximately 1/4 inch to help prevent the ham from drying out. Glaze it if you wish, then place the ham in a preheated slow cooker with a 1/4 cup of water, white wine or cider. The liquid helps create steam in the slow cooker, preserving the ham's moisture.

Slow-Baked Ham

The same effect can be created in a low-temperature oven. Set it as low as 250 degrees Fahrenheit for a large ham or 300 degrees for a small one, and pour a 1/2 cup of boiling water into the bottom of your roaster to provide steam. Alternatively, slide your ham into the same type of roasting bag used for a turkey. This also keeps the ham moist as it bakes. Glaze the ham and cook it slowly until its internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. For maximum tenderness and moisture, let the ham rest for up to 30 minutes before slicing it.