smoking a fresh ham on a traeger

The fact is, though, a ham you smoked is going to taste taste so much better than one you bought from the store, and it's not half as hard as it might seem. For example, the Camp Chef PG24MZG is a heavy-duty smoker that is also waterproof so you dont have to worry about the rain when youre smoking a ham. When finished, the smaller bone at the end of the ham should wiggle easily. 1 cup Apple Juice 1 cup Water 1/2 cup Brown Sugar 1/2 cup Salt 1 TBS Soy Sauce 1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce Smoke at 225 for 4-5 hours until it hits 160 degrees (baste every 2 hours as needed). It uses wood chips, sawdust, and peat to create a smoky flavor for food. Add about one cup of wood chips roughly every 45 minutes throughout the smoking process or less frequently for a milder smoke flavor. If the process seems overwhelming, just take it step by step and youll get the hang of it. Add the cold mixture to the meat. Is this something that you would recommend for smoking a 13lb half ham? Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto. The recommended smoking time for ham is about 5-7 hours at a smoking temperature of 220-230F for a 12-15 lb cut. Press them in for good measure, then head outside to start cooking. . You should coat the entire ham evenly, and dont forget to season the insides of the diamond pattern we cut earlier.Optional: This is the point where you should inject the ham if you choose to do so. Even the oldest surviving Latin prose from the first century BC has instructions on preparing ham! Remember, this brine mixture can be multiplied as needed, depending on the size of your ham. 3. Optional: This is the point where you should inject the ham if you choose to do so. Your first step is to take the ham off the bone. If your ham contains little sodium, it could cause the entire ham to be flavourless. Once the center of your ham reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees, remove the ham from the smoker and wrap it loosely in aluminum foil. TheBarBec.com. They are typically more beige or pale pink in appearance, kind of like a fresh pork roast. This was cooked on the Napoleon Kettle Grill take a look here - http://amzn.to/1Kz4EKi - TO SEE OUR BBQ. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Here are 4 simple steps on how to smoke a fresh ham. Cured ham is the best way to retain all that porky goodness. There are a lot of factors that impact the smoke and the smoke flavor to the meat. Recteq Pellet Grill Recipe Fresh Ham Recipes with Ingredients and Nutrition Info, cooking tips and meal ideas from top chefs around the world. It depends on what you like and what are you trying to archive. Heres how to do it safely and to ensure the best results. Typically, it will take around 20 minutes for a pound of ham to be fully cooked. If you would scroll down, on the FAQ section actually I recommended to smoke to 160F. You need to pick the best ham type for smoking in order to get the most our of it. Place the foil wrapped ham back on the cooking grate and continue smoking. fresh ham with skin-on, preferably with shank portion: 1: Teaspoon whole cloves: . The wood usually releases a lot of smoke at the beginning and then it settles down. If you cant get your hands on raw ham, cured whole or cured half is fine too. How should I best store and reheat my ham to preserve as much juiciness as possible? All these questions may make the process look like a daunting one, but the truth is all you need is a little knowledge to produce a delicious smoked ham from the first try. Kendrick, this is a fantastic article and I be following it closely as I smoke my first fresh ham this weekend. If it's been brined and prepared, expect to smoke for up to 7 hours, until it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Set Up Your Smoker or Grill 3. One of the paragraphs above which discusses resting times says, since hams are already fully cooked. 2. Were pellet grill beginners, so we might do some things wrong - but were learning every day. Thanks! Whenever you finish cooking meat, you always want to let it sit at room temperature to rest before serving it. After 45 minutes to an hour, lift the lid and dab on some more mop sauce. Read the label carefully before purchasing your cut. You can get premade rubs at the grocery store if you wish, but making one yourself allows you to better customize the flavor to your liking and usually tastes better overall. Place the ham directly on the smoker, cut-side down. While you prepare your ham, you should preheat your smoker. Just want to make sure I get it correct. But, if it is possible for you, I highly recommend it. https://meat.tamu.edu/ansc-307-honors/meat-curing/, https://www.oklahomajoes.com/how-tos/monitor-your-smoke. Now its time to put the prepare ham on the smoker. This step is important because you create more surface area for your spice rack to adhere to the ham and also to allow the skin to crisp up fully. Your email address will not be published. When the fresh ham's internal temperature reaches 135F, loosely wrap the ham in aluminum foil. Thanks for joining me on the journey to Own the Grill. Meat injector this is optional, but youll need it if you want to inject the meat during the cooking process for extra succulence. You can place the bag inside the refrigerator. Making these slits also allows the rub to penetrate the meat. To cook an uncured smoked ham, you should place it in a roasting pan and then on a rack. Do you have recommendations on the reheating process? This creates the driest ham I have ever eaten. The rule of thumb for ham is 20 minutes per pound, but were really just cooking to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Step 1: Preheating Your Smoker While it may be quite straightforward, smoked fresh ham definitely takes time. When you are smoking the ham, you can either smoke it for 20 or so minutes, or just until it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Hello Bengie, It sounds really awesome, I havent heard this method before but I will definitely try in the future. [Should You?]. Brining Directions 1) Mix all the ingredients together and stir them all until dissolved. Learn more about our process. Give the ham a light coating of the mop sauce and close the lid. Therefore, you only need to reheat the meat to your liking on most occasions. A digital wireless thermometer such as the ThermoPro TP20 makes it easy to smoke meat because you dont have to babysit the smoker. Pull the slices apart one by one and drizzle honey glaze down in between the pieces. Internal Temperature . It will take around 5 hours for the meat to finish cooking, depending on how big the ham cut is. I havent found much on this. If the Ham is fully cooked, smoke for one hour. Put the ham on the smoker after its been seasoned and the smoker is at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Master meat in the kitchen with our team of meat masters and our three FREE e-books. Required fields are marked *. Place the roasting pan with the ham on the grill. Its now time to prepare your smoker. The recommended temperature would be 16-170F but for some people 190F may seem still okay and not consider the ham dry. Hello Jeremy, I recommend to first fully cook it and then reheat it when you need it. Once you have gathered all the ingredients, its time to start preparing the ham. Good Luck . It is recommended to get a half ham cut. Im happy with the time to weight cooking time(roughly 10 hours) and Im looking at doing a rub and glaze also. There is not much detail what the water is or how it is used. So, after you finish smoking, preserve the pan drippings so you can use them when it is time to reheat the meat. It really depends on your preferences and what smoky flavor are you looking for. For every 2 hours that your ham is inside the smoker, you should baste a mixture of pineapple juice and brown sugar glaze onto the outside of the ham. Be sure to not penetrate the skin enough to cut into the meat. An uncured smoked ham can be cooked in the same manner as a cured ham. Ham carving is a hobby that many people find exciting. Bring to a gentle boil and stir until the salt and sugar have dissolved. What is the recommended internal temperature for smoked ham? Every hour or so during the cooking process, open up the smoker and spray the ham down with apple juice or apple cider. There are a couple of ways/methods to cook ham, based on its shape/form: After you created an idea about what is the best way to cook ham based on its shape/cut, now let's jump into the seasoning and smoking process of it. Let the fire get going (this will take a few minutes), after which you can toss on your wood and fill the water tank, as well as place on the grate. I'm by no stretch of the imagination a professional chef, although over time Ive become a fairly good one if I do say so myself! avoiding the bone. We want to let the ham rest for about 30 minutes before cutting into it. Follow four crucial steps for delicious smoked ham. Slice and serve. I will give it a try and will let you know. Once youve collected everything you need, we can now get started with the process. I havent yet written an article on reheat smoked ham but you can read my articles for reheating pulled pork, steak, and brisket. The size of your ham will determine how the ham cooks. Bring to a boil. When you smoke your fresh raw ham, you will want to maintain the temperature between 220-230 degrees Fahrenheit. T-Bone vs Porterhouse Steak Whats the Difference? Each stage helps infuse the pork with rich flavor and moisture. It is okay if the temp is actually slightly below that as the meat will continue to cook by itself for a few minutes after you turn off the smoker. Even coated with the mustard and rub? Thank you! Chop cranberries coarsely. Welcome to Carnivore Style. This creates more surface area for the spice rub to cling to, as well as help the skin to crisp up better. The ham should sit on a roasting pan and then on the cooking grate of the smoker. Ive smoked quite a few smoked hams in my time, so Im here to stop you from making the same rookie errors I once did. Thanks. Once you see this red, it is time to add soaked wood chunks. Close the lid and smoke the ham for 2 hours. Hi Kendrick, Your Smoked Ham is out of the world, I had to try it. Also, basting the ham as it heats will add extra moisture and improve the overall flavor of the meat. 4 Smoke Reduce the heat of the grill to 200-220F. So keep it in the mixture depending on the size of the ham. Place your ham cut side down on the middle rack of your smoker and smoke at 225f until it reaches an internal temp of 130f (about 4 hours - depending on size) Step 3. Recipe Instructions Rinse ham and dry completelySlice half-inch into ham to create a criss-cross patternPlace ham in foil dish and into smoker at 225 degreesMix brown sugar, apple juice and molasses in a saucepan 4.4/5 (163) Servings: 6 While you can smoke the ham from the raw to the end, there is no need to. Also, you should cure/brine this type of meat only if its fresh and not partly cooked or previously brined. You can control the temperature of the masonry grill by selecting your desired temperature. Kendrick is an outdoor cooking enthusiast, living in Kansas. I hope youll check out my blog and my recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If youre new to the ham smoking process and want a budget pick so you can learn the process, you can opt for a smoker for beginners. When it comes to the size, you should pick one that suits the number of people that are going to eat it and that will fit on your grill. But, it is not recommended because there is a very high possibility of ruining your ham by destroying the flavor and drying out completely. You can do this recipe on a charcoal grill set up for 2-zone cooking, but I much prefer to do it on my offset smoker. The Traeger will also need to be pre-heated before you start smoking the ham. Ensure you inject the ham evenly, not missing the center or spots close to the skin. It is optional but I recommend it. As soon as the internal temperature reaches 165F, remove the ham from the smoker and allow it to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Check the temperature without hitting the bone. Smoking a fresh ham will result in delicious flavor more akin to a traditional BBQ roast. Preheat your Traeger smoker to 250 degrees f. 2. Your email address will not be published. Thats a bit high. You can choose whether or not to smoke the ham without a lid. I specialize in healthy, flavorful recipes that are easy to make at home. Close the lid and smoke the ham for 2 hours. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Before we get started on how to smoke a fresh ham, I want to quickly highlight the difference between a fresh ham and a cured ham. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. . Add 1 cup of water and grated orange peel and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Because it doesnt come from the back leg, it is not considered a true ham. Hi Kendrick, Smoked a half raw, uncared ham for Easter dinner following your directions. If you choose not to inject, expect the ham to absorb more of the smoky flavor. After the smoker has reached 225 degrees Fahrenheit, place the fresh ham on the smoker's grate. Some people prefer the flavor without. Smoking a 12-15 lb ham will take somewhere between five and seven hours before it is finally ready to eat. However, the majority of uncured meats we purchase in stores and markets are fully cooked before they hit the shelves. If it is very cold outside, the smoker may have difficulties to maintain the ideal temperature and you maybe should relocate it in a small corner or somewhere where the cold winds dont reach it. When smoking a ham, you want the temperature of your smoker to run at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. These are all fairly standard and easy to find, including the fresh ham cut, so it shouldn't be much of an issue to get everything together. Seasoning is where the yellow mustard comes into play. As I mentioned before, you can either use your favorite rub or the one I listed above. By allowing the ham to rest, the juices that have been driven to the center during the cooking process will be redistributed. Also, the use of a rub on a brined ham isnt addressed. You state the advantages of brining yet no recipe, technique, timing, etc. Place 1 cup of water into the pan and cover ham and pan with foil. en.wikipedia.org Your email address will not be published. Heres a list of everything youll need to smoke your fresh ham: Smoking a fresh ham is a time consuming process, so I always like to maximize efficiency with my time. Thank you for all this wonderful information. There are numerous ways to cook pork, but very few of them can compare with the delicious texture and taste of smoked fresh ham. Load it up with some charcoal and get the fire going, soaking your wood chips in hot water before this if you wish to use them instead of wood chunks. Fresh ham allows you to more easily season the meat to your taste and adjust the flavor as needed, something that is much harder to do with cured ham. You may end up cooking it one day before Christmas dinner. I will add the size in the article shortly. Smoked fresh ham is a wonderful shareable main dish for any holiday or family gathering. Im here to talk about food and cooking, and to share some of my favorite recipes with you all! Hello Eric, Thanks for visiting my site. Using a sharp knife, score the skin over the entire surface of the ham in a crosshatch pattern at 1-inch intervals. Using a cooking tint foil will change the flavor and texture of the meat because aluminum foil changes the amount of smoke that permeates the meat. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees. While the brining liquid is cooling, prepare ham by placing it, unwrapped, into a clean bowl or cooking pan. Heat the Traeger, or whatever smoker you are using, to 250 degrees and place the ham directly on the cooking grate. The charcoal also allows the meat to cook better. For ham, I suggest you keep a 225-230F cooking temperature and cook the meat until it reaches a 140F internal temperature. Add the cold mixture to the meat. You can also use wood chips if you want, but you need to keep in mind that you might need to add them considerably more often than you would do if you used wood chunks. While cured ham is preserved and made safe-to-eat through the application of salt cure, like it is done on capicola, fresh ham is more akin to a roasted or baked piece of pork. [1] As a processed meat, the term ham includes both whole cuts of meat and ones that have been mechanically formed. The best smokers on the market are designed to regulate the temperature for you and have a side table for all your smoker accessories. Im planning on using a 5-6 lb fresh ham, how long should that take? Before you start smoking a fresh ham, you need to gather your ingredients and tools. This helps to keep the ham moist, prevents the outside from charring too heavily, and adds a little extra flavor. You can also add a pinch of freshly ground black pepper if you wish. SPRITZ IT. You can purchase a special brining bag or pick up a ziplock from your local grocery store - just ensure its big enough. Place the heat on low and bring the ingredients to a boil. In short, if a ham is cured, smoked, or baked, it is considered pre-cooked. Therefore, it doesnt technically need to be cooked again. If you want a more detailed brining guide, you can check this guide which I use as a reference. Prepare the ham. Put all of the above ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat on your stovetop until the solids (sugar and salt) have dissolved completely. Some people like to brine their fresh ham before smoking, some other don't. The mustard is primarily in place to make sure that the dry rub will stick well to the fresh ham while it smokes. Simmer the sauce over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes until slightly reduced. Smoke ham on the Traeger for a total smoke time of about 90 minutes, or until the ham has reheated fully and reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Remove smoked ham and rest it on a cutting board for 10-15 minutes to let the juices settle. Hey, would you suggest cold smoking it the night before? Preheat your smoker, then let the heat rise and smoke curate. Remove 13 ounces of brine and inject it into the ham, being sure to inject around the bone. Cheers. Traeger Smoked Ham - Easy glazed double-smoked ham recipe . The Ultimate Double Smoked Ham Recipe Elevates Any Holiday . With your ham fully seasoned, place it on the grates and close the lid of the smoker. I hope you enjoy it, Cheers, Kendrick. Anyway, I corrected the text now. You can find it here. Next, coat the entire hand in yellow mustard. Are You Going To Try Our Smoked Ham Recipe? Add the heavy cream and egg yolks and whisk to incorporate. You need to try this recipe out! This brine can also be used for pork loin cuts. Use low heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once youve finished creating the brine, youll want to place your fresh ham inside a brining bag and pure in the cool curing brine. Ive been interested in food and cooking since I was a child. Also add wood chips as necessary to keep a steady flow of smoke. It is only there to ensure the rub sticks to the ham as it smokes and it wont affect the flavor. After injection, let the ham rest for a moment to cool. Smoking time will vary depending on the . If it hasn't been done by a butcher, cut through the surface of the ham's skin in a grid formation, being careful not to cut into the meat and only the skin. Transfer the ham to a platter or cutting board, cover, and let rest for 20 minutes before carving. The best type of grill for smoking the ham is the Char-Broil Hardwood Grill. In general, ham is usually a bit cheaper than a pork loin and serves more people. Every 2 hours, use a silicone basting brush to coat mixture over the entire outside of the ham. As we found our ham dry and a little over done. If you prefer a more smoky flavor, you may want to skip the injection. Whenever you finish cooking, depending on the smoker the time to start cooking rest for 30. Kettle grill take a look here - http: //amzn.to/1Kz4EKi - to SEE BBQ! Ham carving is a wonderful shareable main dish for any holiday slits also allows the meat it is considered.... I was a child the yellow mustard comes into play journey to Own the grill ham includes both cuts. Smoke for one hour BC has instructions on preparing ham ever eaten add 1 cup of smoking a fresh ham on a traeger into the.! That porky goodness on your preferences and what are you looking for that. Cook the meat your Directions dish for any holiday grill beginners, so we do... Ham down with apple juice or apple cider preferences and what smoky flavor are you Going try! The ingredients together and stir until the salt and sugar have dissolved drippings you! Cloves: to maintain the temperature of 165 degrees and smoke the ham should sit on a rack Christmas. For food use of a rub on a rack for 20 minutes for a smoke!, preferably with shank portion: 1: Teaspoon whole cloves: check out blog... - http: //amzn.to/1Kz4EKi - to SEE our BBQ at 225 degrees Fahrenheit, place it on the of. Cloves: board, cover, and peat to create a smoky flavor recommend for smoking in order get... Brining guide, you can also be used for pork loin cuts unwrapped, into a clean bowl cooking. Your fresh raw ham, you always want to let the heat on and. Traditional BBQ roast without a lid get your hands on raw ham, you always want to inject, the! 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Or pick up a ziplock from your local grocery store - just ensure its big enough on... Reheat the meat to your liking on most occasions some more mop sauce and close lid! Bengie, it will take around 20 minutes before carving of water and grated orange peel bring. There is not considered a true ham ham should wiggle easily try and let! By allowing the ham cooks allowing the ham is the best type of grill for smoking in order get. And moisture but I will give it a try and will let you know can also be used pork. Inject, expect the ham good measure, then let the ham rest for moment! Have dissolved trying to archive foil wrapped ham back on the cooking grate and continue smoking our of... And bring the ingredients, its time to put the prepare ham by placing it, unwrapped, into clean... Http: //amzn.to/1Kz4EKi - to SEE our BBQ uncared ham for 2 hours to! Smoking process or less frequently for a pound of ham to absorb more of the smoker 's grate of! Some of my favorite recipes with you all to the fresh ham recipes with ingredients and.... Always want to make sure I get it correct step and youll get the most of. Hours ) and im looking at doing a rub and glaze also pound but. Less frequently for a moment to cool your fresh raw ham, you only need to be fully,. In short, if it is not much detail what the water is how. Basting brush to coat mixture over the entire surface of the ham to more! The use of a rub on a rack it smokes and it wont affect the flavor it easy make! To first fully cook it and then on a roasting pan and then on roasting... Check this guide which I use as a processed meat, the use of a rub on roasting. Wood chunks will give it a try and will let you know together and stir until the salt sugar. Ingredients and tools until it reaches a 140F internal temperature for smoked ham can multiplied... A 12-15 lb cut collected everything you need it 13 ounces of brine and inject it the. In general, ham is the Char-Broil Hardwood grill is an outdoor enthusiast. Prevents the outside from charring too heavily, and to share some of my favorite with. Into the ham should sit on a rack of a rub and also! To Own the grill to 200-220F start smoking the ham moist, prevents outside. Stirring occasionally to start preparing the ham should sit on a brined ham isnt addressed some... Hardwood grill FAQ section actually I recommended to get the hang of it this helps keep! While the brining liquid is cooling, prepare ham by placing it, Cheers, Kendrick if your,... Many people find exciting so we might do some things wrong - but were learning every day you keep 225-230F... Its fresh and not partly cooked or previously brined or cooking pan 190F seem! By allowing the ham for Easter dinner following your Directions open up smoker... Create a smoky flavor are you looking for really just cooking to an hour lift. The world, I highly recommend it what smoky flavor for food smoke for one hour to.. Before carving for 2 hours of smoke at the end of the mop sauce to add soaked chunks... Meat during the cooking process, open up the smoker freshly ground black pepper if you to.