Brining a ham prior to cooking is a great way to ensure it turns out incredibly juicy, tender and full of flavor. But what if your ham is already precooked – can you still get the benefits of brining?
The short answer is yes – brining a precooked ham can take it from dry and bland to unbelievably moist and delicious. While brining is typically done prior to cooking raw meat, it can also be used to impart flavor and moisture into an already-cooked ham.
Why Brine a Precooked Ham?
Brining a precooked ham offers several advantages:
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Enhanced flavor – The brine infuses the ham with seasoning, enhancing its taste A brine often contains aromatics like cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, etc.
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Added moisture – The salt in the brine helps the ham better retain moisture as it cooks/reheats, keeping it juicy and preventing dryness
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Tenderized texture – Brining can help break down some of the ham’s fibers, resulting in a more tender and succulent texture.
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Deeper seasoning – Unlike just seasoning the surface, brining allows the salt, sugar and spices to deeply penetrate the entire ham.
So while a precooked ham is fully cooked, brining can take it from bland and dry to richly flavored and incredibly moist. The process hydrates and seasons the ham all the way to its core.
How Long to Brine a Precooked Ham
For ideal results, a precooked ham should be brined for 12-24 hours. This gives enough time for the brine to thoroughly penetrate and impart flavor. Go for a full 24 hours for very large hams.
If you’re short on time, you can brine for a minimum of 4-6 hours. Just note that the shorter brine time won’t penetrate quite as deeply.
Brine Ingredients for Precooked Ham
The basic brine for a precooked ham contains:
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Water – The liquid base that will extract seasonings and aromatics.
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Salt – Necessary for proper brining. Table salt or kosher salt work well.
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Sugar – Helps balance and temper the saltiness. Granulated white sugar is commonly used.
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Spices and aromatics (optional) – Things like peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves, thyme, crushed garlic, citrus zest, etc can add great flavor complexity.
For quantities, a good rule of thumb is 1 cup salt and 1/2 cup sugar dissolved per gallon of water. This 8:4:1 ratio of water to salt to sugar makes a well-balanced brine. Adjust to your taste and ham size as needed.
Step-By-Step Process for Brining Precooked Ham
Brining a store-bought precooked ham is simple. Here are the basic steps:
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Make the brine – Heat water in a pot with salt, sugar and any aromatics until fully dissolved. Let cool completely.
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Place ham in container – Put the ham in a container like a large stockpot, cooler or bin.
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Pour brine over ham – Pour the cooled brine over the ham until it’s fully submerged.
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Refrigerate – Cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours. A cooler kept outside works great.
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Remove ham – Take the ham out of the brine. Discard used brine.
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Rinse ham – Rinse the ham under cold water to remove excess surface salt. Pat dry.
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Cook as desired – Bake, roast, grill or reheat ham per your recipe. Enjoy!
And that’s all it takes to go from a bland boiled ham to an incredibly moist and flavor-packed feast! The brine really brings it to life.
![Brined precooked ham][]<div class=”credit”>Credit: Brent Hofacker/The Image Bank/Getty Images</div>
Brining Tips for Precooked Ham
Here are some tips to ensure brining success:
- Use a non-reactive container like plastic or stainless steel. Metal pots can react with the brine.
- Submerge fully. The ham must be completely covered by the liquid. Use weights if needed.
- Brine in the refrigerator. Cool temperature prevents bacterial growth.
- Invert halfway through – Flip ham over in the brine to evenly distribute flavors.
- Rinse well after brining to remove excess surface salt.
- May need to reduce cook times since brined ham cooks faster.
Unique Brine Flavorings
While basic brine contains salt, sugar and water, you can also add unique flavors. Consider:
- Fresh herbs – Rosemary, thyme, sage, etc
- Warm spices – Cinnamon, allspice, ginger, star anise
- Citrus – Lemon, lime, orange zest or juice
- Vinegars or wines
- Maple syrup, honey, molasses or fruit jams
- Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard
- Chili flakes, smoked paprika, garlic
Get creative with brine flavors to make your holiday ham truly special. The possibilities are endless!
Brining Smoked Ham?
You can certainly brine a precooked smoked ham, but it may not need as lengthy of a brine time since it’s already fairly seasoned. 6-12 hours is often sufficient for a smoked ham.
Can You Brine a Half Ham?
Absolutely! Cut hams work great for brining. Follow the same brining principles. Use a container that fits the size of your half ham and enough brine to fully submerge it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I brine a spiral cut ham?
Yes, brining a pre-sliced spiral cut ham can really boost its flavor. The brine penetrates into all the crevices.
Should I rinse pork after brining?
Always rinse the pork well after brining to remove excess surface salt. This prevents the meat from becoming overly salty.
Can I freeze a brined ham?
It’s best to brine ham right before cooking. But you can brine then freeze the ham if needed. Thaw in fridge before roasting.
Can you eat ham right out of the brine?
No, the ham still needs to be cooked/reheated after brining until it reaches safe internal temperatures. The brine alone does not “cook” the meat.
Why does my brined ham taste too salty?
Reduce the salt in your brine, rinse well after brining and soak in fresh water for 30 minutes to dilute excess salt if your ham tastes overly salty.
The Takeaway
Brining is a simple way to take a basic precooked ham from bland and dry to juicy, tender and bursting with flavor. For ideal results, submerge the ham in a salt,