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Original poster

Cooking the ham in advance

27 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 21/12/2021 15:51

I've ordered turkey for Christmas Day and ham for Boxing Day. However, ds has said he'd like ham for Christmas Day but I don't want to be cooking two roasts on Christmas morning.

I normally boil the ham til cooked, then take it out, remove the skin and make a glaze, then pop it in the oven for 30 minutes. Is there anyway I could do the main cooking on Christmas Eve and then do the glaze and final roast on Christmas Day? I can't imagine it will heat through though, without the glaze burning. Ham will be about 2kgs. Any ideas?

OP posts:
TooMinty · 21/12/2021 15:57

www.nigella.com/recipes/ham-in-coca-cola

30-40 minutes at 180 according to Nigella. I have done this and it's fine. I'm swithering between this and just serving cold this year.

Bowlowner · 21/12/2021 16:00

Nigella ham in coca cola in the oven here as we speak! She says you can do that (see number 5. at end of recipe).

www.nigella.com/recipes/ham-in-coca-cola

Bowlowner · 21/12/2021 16:01

Xmas Grin Cross posted!

Atla · 21/12/2021 16:02

I'm thinking about cooking my ham on Xmas Eve - saw a nigella slow roast in molasses/treacle that I might try ...

IamChipmunk · 21/12/2021 16:05

I do a version of Nigellas ham in cherry coke every year. I always do the main cook on xmas eve and leave it to sit in fridge glazed overnight then finish on xmas day.
I just give it half an hour in the oven to catch the glaze when im doing the stuffing etc, it always heats through...

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 21/12/2021 16:08

thanks, that's very reassuring. I couldn't face boiling the ham whilst juggling all the other stuff on Christmas Day, but if it really does only take 30 minutes or so to heat through, I can bung it in the oven when I take the turkey out.

OP posts:
IamChipmunk · 22/12/2021 13:17

@EmmaGrundyForPM thats exactly what I do! Just bung it in when the turkey comes out to rest and frees up some space for stuffing, pigs etc.
Never had any heat issues, always warmed through.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 22/12/2021 13:20

What actual ham is do you buy? Is it called gammon?

BarkminsterBlue · 22/12/2021 14:05

We cook the ham on Christmas Eve and serve it with Christmas dinner but we don't mind that it's cold. The plates, gravy and accompaniments more than warm it up. If you're going to do the Nigella method of boiling on the first day and baking on the second I'd want to use a probe thermometer to make sure it reached a safe internal temperature all the way through with the first cooking.

sleighbelleuk · 22/12/2021 17:09

@Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas, yes. I buy an unsmoked, boneless gammon joint. Tesco are doing big, outdoor reared ones at the moment, but most supermarkets do bigger gammon joints at this time of year. They tend to be on the ends of aisles near the meat section.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 22/12/2021 17:10

Thanks! Sounds silly but I see them ant don't know what to buy!

didireallysaythat · 22/12/2021 17:12

I always boil it the day before, leave it in the stock to cool down overnight (I put the pan in the garage out of the way) and then it only needs 30+ mins in the oven to develope some colour.

sleighbelleuk · 22/12/2021 17:15

It's not silly, @Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas. If you've never done it before, why would you know?

This is the one I got www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/268880284

alrightfella · 22/12/2021 17:48

I cook my ham in coke on the 23rd then leave in the fridge. on Christmas eve I just put it in the oven for 30 mins or so with the glaze on and then we gave it for dinner.

Christmas Day I just carve some fresh slices and warm through wrapped in tinfoil in the oven for anyone that wants any with their Turkey. It still stays really moist and you can't tell it's been reheated.

Hairwizard · 22/12/2021 18:12

I soak mine over night in cider then cook in slow cooker. Then i so glaze and finish in oven after turkey is out.

Curiousmouse · 22/12/2021 19:37

I always do mine on Christmas Eve.

JengaNonConfirming · 22/12/2021 19:40

I'll be cooking mine on Christmas Day, but in the slow cooker, to save on oven space.

Butternutsqoosh · 22/12/2021 19:48

You've just reminded me to get it out the freezer tomorrow to cook on Xmas Eve! Thankyou!!

sleighbelleuk · 23/12/2021 17:32

My first one is cooked! This one is for a family gathering on Boxing Day. I’m doing another smaller one tomorrow that will be just for home. Christmas Eve dinner is always ham, egg and chips. Then the rest in sandwiches over the next few days.

Cooking the ham in advance
thatsallineed · 23/12/2021 17:40

I do our gammon on Christmas Eve - always have done. For me, the smell of it gently simmering is when the festivities can begin!

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 24/12/2021 03:56

@sleighbelleuk that looks amazing!

OP posts:
halloweenie13 · 24/12/2021 04:08

We cooked the gammon and beef yesterday afternoon, we also peeled the potatoes ready for par boiling today for roasting and mashing for mashed potato and swede and usually we make homemade carrot and coriander soup for starter but this year we've just got the tubs of it, to save space and washing up

SaveWaterDrinkGin · 24/12/2021 04:18

I always just roast mine from raw in the oven. Am I missing a trick with the boiling? Boiled ham sounds disgusting!

CruellaDeVilla · 24/12/2021 04:33

I’m doing ham in coke for boxing day, could I cook it on Christmas eve and finish it on boxing day?

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