Break out the smoker and take your holiday ham to the next level. Learn how to make smoked ham with this recipe.

Smoked Ham Recipe: 5 Tips for Smoking Ham

Smoked ham is a flavorful barbecued preparation of ham, cooked slowly over indirect heat on a [smoker grill](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bbq-smoker-6-types-of-meat-smokers-and-the-best-smoker-for-texas-style-barbecue). To make it at home, you can coat a cured whole ham with a flavorful BBQ dry rub and [smoke](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-meat-smoking-learn-how-to-smoke-meat-and-make-texas-style-bbq-smoked-meats) it over wood chips until crispy and caramelized.
The word “ham” typically refers to a cut of meat taken from a pig’s hind leg and preserved through brining (also known as wet curing) with a nitrate solution or traditional dry [curing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cure-meat) with seasonings like salt. There are several types of ham, including cured ham, fresh ham, country ham, Black Forest ham, spiral cut ham, double smoked ham, and hickory-smoked ham. While most grocery store hams come pre-cured, not all get smoked. Smoked ham is a cured ham that has been slowly cooked over indirect heat in a smoker to become imbued with a mild smoky flavor.
Whether you’re a pro at the smoker or a first-time griller, these tips will help you cook the best ham possible: 

1. __Choose the right ham__. When purchasing a ham from the butcher or grocery store, ask for at least three-quarters of a pound of ham meat per person. Remember that the total cooking time will vary depending on the size of the ham. Choose bone-in rather than boneless ham: The bone insulates the meat, which prevents it from drying out during the slow cooking process.
2. __Pick the proper wood__. Many different types of [smoking wood](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-select-smoking-woods) work for smoking ham, including applewood, cherry wood, pecan, and [hickory](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bbq-101-what-is-hickory-wood), each of which will imbue the ham with a nice smoke flavor without overpowering the dish. 
3. __Keep the temperature consistent__. Keep a close eye on the smoker’s temperature throughout the cooking process. Extreme dips in temperature could result in unevenly cooked meat with a dry or burnt surface and cold or undercooked center. 
4. __Incorporate different seasonings and rubs__. Adjust the BBQ rub to include the spices and herbs of your liking. Incorporate spicier additions, like red pepper flakes and ground peppers for an added kick, or rub the ham all over with mustard before adding the rub for tanginess. Spritz the ham intermittently with apple juice or [apple cider vinegar](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-uses-for-apple-cider-vinegar) for moisture and sweetness. When the ham comes out of the smoker, further customize the flavor by adding a maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey glaze.
5. __Use the broiler__. If you’d prefer a thicker, more coagulated glaze on the outside of your ham, place the smoked ham under a preheated [oven broiler](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-broil-in-the-oven) after applying the glaze. The glaze should thicken up nicely in two to three minutes.
Break out the smoker and take your holiday ham to the next level. Learn how to make smoked ham with this recipe.

Smoked ham is a flavorful barbecued preparation of ham, cooked slowly over indirect heat on a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bbq-smoker-6-types-of-meat-smokers-and-the-best-smoker-for-texas-style-barbecue' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bbq-smoker-6-types-of-meat-smokers-and-the-best-smoker-for-texas-style-barbecue","linkCopy":"smoker grill","category":null}'>smoker grill</a>. To make it at home, you can coat a cured whole ham with a flavorful BBQ dry rub and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-meat-smoking-learn-how-to-smoke-meat-and-make-texas-style-bbq-smoked-meats' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-meat-smoking-learn-how-to-smoke-meat-and-make-texas-style-bbq-smoked-meats","linkCopy":"smoke","category":null}'>smoke</a> it over wood chips until crispy and caramelized.

What Is Smoked Ham?

The word “ham” typically refers to a cut of meat taken from a pig’s hind leg and preserved through brining (also known as wet curing) with a nitrate solution or traditional dry <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cure-meat' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cure-meat","linkCopy":"curing","category":null}'>curing</a> with seasonings like salt. There are several types of ham, including cured ham, fresh ham, country ham, Black Forest ham, spiral cut ham, double smoked ham, and hickory-smoked ham. While most grocery store hams come pre-cured, not all get smoked. Smoked ham is a cured ham that has been slowly cooked over indirect heat in a smoker to become imbued with a mild smoky flavor.

Difference Between Ham and Smoked Ham

Whether you’re a pro at the smoker or a first-time griller, these tips will help you cook the best ham possible: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Choose the right ham. When purchasing a ham from the butcher or grocery store, ask for at least three-quarters of a pound of ham meat per person. Remember that the total cooking time will vary depending on the size of the ham. Choose bone-in rather than boneless ham: The bone insulates the meat, which prevents it from drying out during the slow cooking process. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Pick the proper wood. Many different types of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-select-smoking-woods' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-select-smoking-woods","linkCopy":"smoking wood","category":null}'>smoking wood</a> work for smoking ham, including applewood, cherry wood, pecan, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bbq-101-what-is-hickory-wood' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bbq-101-what-is-hickory-wood","linkCopy":"hickory","category":null}'>hickory</a>, each of which will imbue the ham with a nice smoke flavor without overpowering the dish. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Keep the temperature consistent. Keep a close eye on the smoker’s temperature throughout the cooking process. Extreme dips in temperature could result in unevenly cooked meat with a dry or burnt surface and cold or undercooked center. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Incorporate different seasonings and rubs. Adjust the BBQ rub to include the spices and herbs of your liking. Incorporate spicier additions, like red pepper flakes and ground peppers for an added kick, or rub the ham all over with mustard before adding the rub for tanginess. Spritz the ham intermittently with apple juice or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-uses-for-apple-cider-vinegar' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-uses-for-apple-cider-vinegar","linkCopy":"apple cider vinegar","category":null}'>apple cider vinegar</a> for moisture and sweetness. When the ham comes out of the smoker, further customize the flavor by adding a maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey glaze. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Use the broiler. If you’d prefer a thicker, more coagulated glaze on the outside of your ham, place the smoked ham under a preheated <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-broil-in-the-oven' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-broil-in-the-oven","linkCopy":"oven broiler","category":null}'>oven broiler</a> after applying the glaze. The glaze should thicken up nicely in two to three minutes. </li></ol>

5 Tips for Smoking Ham

Brown Sugar Smoked Ham Recipe

Break out the smoker and take your holiday ham to the next level. Learn how to make smoked ham with this recipe.

Break out the smoker and take your holiday ham to the next level. Learn how to make smoked ham with this recipe.
