Smoking Spiral Cut Ham

str8upcop04 · Nov 27, 2012

My wife is intent on me smoking a spiral cut ham for X-mas, I was wondering if anyone had a good roadmap to follow for SPIRAL cut hams with a good honey based glaze? I'm thinking on a temp of @225F to an internal of 120ish with a good chunk of hickory. I've searched around a bit on here and it seems like spiral cut hams aren't a popular cut to smoke. Any tips, hints, and or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to do a spiral but trying to keep the peace for the holidays:razz:. Thanks again Brethren!

P.S. Pron will be included when finished.

-Justin

Grain Belt · Nov 27, 2012

I have smoked dozens of spiral cut hams on my kettle. I like to cook them at 300-325 until it hits 135-140. If I glaze I do it the last half hour to 15 minutes so the sugars set but don't burn. Some people think they will dry out but I feel the weight of the ham keeps the cuts fairly well sealed other than maybe the first 1/3 of an inch or so.

Bigdog · Nov 27, 2012

Ive cooked them a bunch of different ways and never had a bad one. Did one last weekend on my new YS640 and my wife said it was the best yet. Cooked it in a foil 1/2 pan, fat side down on its side for the first hour or so at 250 with pecan and cherry. Took it out and glazed all interior slices with the gold packet supplied. Put it back in the smoker with the cut side down for a total of 3 hours.

Igotgas · Nov 27, 2012

^^^^ what they said. I have never smoked a ham that wasn't a spiral cut and I have had good results.

K80Shooter · Nov 27, 2012

Hickory is very good on hams, we did one the day after Thanksgiving and it was wonderful! You might also want to try throwing a chunk of apple in there with the hickory.

The glaze we used was Honey & Pralines, we made sure to get plenty between the slices and stood it on the cut end. I would take it off around 130 internal, 140 is good but I find the outside 1/8 inch almost to tough to eat at this temp.

J-Rod · Nov 27, 2012

I was thinking of smoking a ham at Christmas too. Thanks for the nudge!

centexsmoker · Nov 27, 2012

Here is our go-to on the BGE forum: (Credit Egret). I've never done it but everyone who has raved about it.

Maple-Bourbon Ham*
by John Hall (egret)

Ingredients :

Maple-Bourbon Paste (recipe follows)
10-12 # cooked, ready to eat ham (bone-in Butt or Shank section)
1/2-1 cup Maple Syrup
Cherry and Apple Chunks

Procedure :

The day before smoking, place ham in a pan flat side down. Inject in multiple locations with maple syrup (use more than 1 cup if it will take it).
Smear the Maple-Bourbon Paste all over the exposed surfaces (except flat side). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until ready to smoke (You can remove ham from refrigerator up to one hour before cooking).
Stabilize egg at 250° with plate setter (legs up) regular grid with raised grid attached. Put 3 or 4 good size chunks of wood on coals, then place ham on raised grid. Cook until internal temperature reaches 140° (this should take about 5 hours).

Maple-Bourbon Paste

2 Tbls. pure Maple Syrup
2 Tbls. freshly ground Black Pepper
2 Tbls. Dijon or Honey-Dijon Mustard
1 Tbls. Bourbon
1 Tbls. Vegetable Oil
1 Tbls. Paprika
1 Tbls. Onion Powder
2 tsp. coarse Salt, either kosher or sea salt

Woodmonkey · Nov 27, 2012

I second the Egret ham. I prefer the spiral cut as the injecting is just brushing the marinade between the slices and then cutting is very easy. Save the bone for soup.

http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=734577&catid=1

Bigdog · Nov 27, 2012

centexsmoker said:
Here is our go-to on the BGE forum: (Credit Egret). I've never done it but everyone who has raved about it.

Maple-Bourbon Ham*
by John Hall (egret)

Ingredients :

Maple-Bourbon Paste (recipe follows)
10-12 # cooked, ready to eat ham (bone-in Butt or Shank section)
1/2-1 cup Maple Syrup
Cherry and Apple Chunks

Procedure :

The day before smoking, place ham in a pan flat side down. Inject in multiple locations with maple syrup (use more than 1 cup if it will take it).
Smear the Maple-Bourbon Paste all over the exposed surfaces (except flat side). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until ready to smoke (You can remove ham from refrigerator up to one hour before cooking).
Stabilize egg at 250° with plate setter (legs up) regular grid with raised grid attached. Put 3 or 4 good size chunks of wood on coals, then place ham on raised grid. Cook until internal temperature reaches 140° (this should take about 5 hours).

Maple-Bourbon Paste

2 Tbls. pure Maple Syrup
2 Tbls. freshly ground Black Pepper
2 Tbls. Dijon or Honey-Dijon Mustard
1 Tbls. Bourbon
1 Tbls. Vegetable Oil
1 Tbls. Paprika
1 Tbls. Onion Powder
2 tsp. coarse Salt, either kosher or sea salt

Great sounding recipe but it sounds like it is for a non spiral cut ham. 5 hours seems way too long. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

centexsmoker · Nov 27, 2012

Bigdog said:
Great sounding recipe but it sounds like it is for a non spiral cut ham. 5 hours seems way too long. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Sorry- it has been adapted for spiral sliced by others from this recipe. Internal temp is still the same but it should only take a few hours. Good catch

centexsmoker · Nov 27, 2012

I'll dig up the spiral over there and repost if it's any different.

centexsmoker · Nov 27, 2012

Bigdog said:
Great sounding recipe but it sounds like it is for a non spiral cut ham. 5 hours seems way too long. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Ok- here is the adaptation:

Last weekend we went to Scottsdale for my fiance's daughter's wedding. She asked me to bring a Maple Bourbon ham she had tried once at Christmas. I was more than happy to oblige! We weren't sure how many would be there, so we got 2 spiral cut hams at Costco. I've never done Egret's recipe on a spiral cut, but from now on it's the only way I'll go. Spread the paste in between the slices and let them sit over night. Then on to the egg to smoke, with apple & cherry wood. Smoked each one 3 1/2 hours. Got rave reviews!

Bigdog · Nov 27, 2012

Great thread fellas!:thumb: I nominate this thread for the road map. So many misconceptions about them being dry. Course they will be if you over cook them because you treated them like a regular half ham.

JLStout · Nov 28, 2012

Use hickory to smoke ham. I have been using pineapple juice as a moisturizer with fantastic results. Open a can of pineapple rings, pour the juice over the ham, and lay a few rings on top. Smoke for 2 hours uncovered, then foil till you reach at least 145.

str8upcop04 · Nov 28, 2012

Thanks for all of the replies, I'm actually starting to get excited about the spiral cut. I will definately post some pron over the weekend so be sure to check back. You guys/gals rock!:clap2:

MisterChrister · Nov 28, 2012

Jeez guys, ya sure made it easy on me figuring out what to cook for Christmas! This sounds great! I must admit, I always thought they'd dry out; thanks for the wisdom!

-Chris

Edit: And finally I can bust out the hickory without the wife commenting how it makes the food taste hammy!

gtr · Nov 28, 2012

Glad this popped up - it never would have occurred to me to smoke a spiral cut ham, but now it totally sounds worth doing. :thumb:

centexsmoker · Nov 28, 2012

I've never done it but it's very common with the BGE guys. Seems like dozens have done it and they all rave about it. Since I'm curing my own now, probably won't try it this holiday but it sure would be nice to grab one and have it ready in a few hours instead of a week!

pci · Nov 28, 2012

centexsmoker said:
Here is our go-to on the BGE forum: (Credit Egret). I've never done it but everyone who has raved about it.

Maple-Bourbon Ham*
by John Hall (egret)

Ingredients :

Maple-Bourbon Paste (recipe follows)
10-12 # cooked, ready to eat ham (bone-in Butt or Shank section)
1/2-1 cup Maple Syrup
Cherry and Apple Chunks

Procedure :

The day before smoking, place ham in a pan flat side down. Inject in multiple locations with maple syrup (use more than 1 cup if it will take it).
Smear the Maple-Bourbon Paste all over the exposed surfaces (except flat side). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until ready to smoke (You can remove ham from refrigerator up to one hour before cooking).
Stabilize egg at 250° with plate setter (legs up) regular grid with raised grid attached. Put 3 or 4 good size chunks of wood on coals, then place ham on raised grid. Cook until internal temperature reaches 140° (this should take about 5 hours).

Maple-Bourbon Paste

2 Tbls. pure Maple Syrup
2 Tbls. freshly ground Black Pepper
2 Tbls. Dijon or Honey-Dijon Mustard
1 Tbls. Bourbon
1 Tbls. Vegetable Oil
1 Tbls. Paprika
1 Tbls. Onion Powder
2 tsp. coarse Salt, either kosher or sea salt

I have tried this several times you can't go wrong & the drippings make incredible gravy

Pappy · Nov 28, 2012

The Big Bob Gibson cookbook has a good spiral ham recipe & glaze in it.

Smoking Spiral Cut Ham

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