Expert: Carol Schlitt - 12/1/2006

Question
How long will it take to re-heat the ham and how should I do that?  Thank you.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I am hosting a dinner at 7pm but have an event to attend at 4p.  I am baking a 9 lb ham which needs to bake for 3 hours.  Can I bake it for 2 hours, leave it covered and in the oven (off) for 2 hours and then resume the cook time with 1 hour to go when I get home?
-----Answer-----
Hi Julie,

No -- partially cooking the ham is a dangerous proposition. Here's why...

Ham (and all meats) are considered potentially hazardous food. In other words, ham can easily support the growth of harmful bacteria which grow between 40 and 140 degrees.  When you partially cook a potentially hazardous food you raise the internal temperature to this temperature range. Some bacteria may produce a toxin that will not be killed by the final heating.

My recommendation is to either bake the ham, refrigerate and then reheat right before the dinner party - or - have a friend bake the ham for you and you pick it up (or have them deliver it to you)at 6-6:30 p.m.

Good luck Julie -- I hope your dinner party goes well.

Carol C. Schlitt
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
University of Illinois Extension

Answer
Hi Julie,

It will only take 30 minutes in a 325 degree oven (covered with foil) or 5-10 minutes in a microwave oven (100% power)- covered with foil AFTER heating.  Be sure to add some liquid in either method to ensure a nice, juicy meat.



Carol