To Boil a Ham
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Place the ham in a large pot and cover it with soft water.
Cook
Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a slow boil.
Cook for 4.5 hours, adjusting time for larger hams.
Skim the surface regularly to remove any scum.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures.
Explore the science
What each ingredient does
- Ham
- Provides the meat, which becomes tender as slow simmering breaks down its connective tissue.
The step that matters
Keep the water at a slow boil. A hard, rolling boil toughens the meat's proteins and can make the outside overcook before the centre is done. A gentle simmer cooks the ham evenly and keeps it tender. Skimming removes scum that would otherwise cloud the cooking liquid.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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