When You’ve Got Baked Ham in the Bag!
Couldn’t resist to title this one with “you’ve got baked ham in the bag!”…because that’s all this recipe is about!
So, how do you cook a ham in a bag?
When you find a bone in shank smoked ham at Aldi’s on sale for $8…you KNOW how you have to cook it.
You see, my mother in law was a fabulous cook and she always prepared her baked ham in a bag.
But, this bag was NOT a cooking or oven bag.
She was specific in the type and name brand of the ham that she purchased and it was usually a large one to have for a Sunday family or Easter dinner.
What type of bag did she use then?
Are you ready…wait for it!
A simple brown paper grocery bag.
That’s all.
The ham wasn’t seasoned…no liquid added…no cover needed.
She just placed that whole ham into the bag, fat side up and tucked the bottom of the bag under the ham completely enclosing it in a roasting pan.
Then, she placed the ham in a 250 degree preheated oven and baked it for 10-12 hours.
The results?
When you remove that ham from the bag, the bones will fall out and the most tender ham will be ready to serve.
Baked ham can get no easier than this recipe.
I’ve created a recipe card for you to have the next time you find a great deal on a bone in ham.
Flossie’s Baked Ham
Equipment
- 1 oven
- 1 large roasting pan
- 1 large brown paper shopping bag
Ingredients
- 1 whole, bone in shank ham
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°.
- Remove the wrapper from the ham.
- Place the ham, fat side up, inside a brown paper shopping bag, folding the open end of the bag under the ham.
- Bake for 10-12 hours, depending on the size of the ham.
- TIP: Ham bone should be easy to remove and ham tender when the ham is ready to be removed from the oven.
- Remove the bag from the ham and discard.
- Remove the bones from the ham while hot.
- NOTE: This ham will be more like a pulled ham rather than sliced like a spiral cut ham.
Notes
Just a tip: If this is a larger than needed size for your family, simply add cooked ham into freezer bags and label and add to your freezer. Great to have for future use such as quiche, soups, beans.
Isn’t that the EASIEST “cook a ham in a bag” recipe?
Perfect for your Sunday, Easter or holiday gatherings when feet are under your table.
If you are like “Flossie”…you can place the ham in the oven the night before to have it ready for lunch the next day…but, that glorious smell keeps me awake at night! Just sayin’!
Not the sweet, brown sugar flavor or precooked spiral hams that are usually the ones I gravitate to…but, a truly favorite ham.
The moment I tasted this ham, it took me back to so many great memories.
It has me a bit nostalgic for those large family gatherings at the Watkins’ home with 2 long tables connected to seat all the family who needed their feet under that table.
Here’s a few more recipes that “Flossie” would be serving with that ham:
and 16 other sides! Not to mention the desserts…Her meals were like that!
And…here are a few great recipes that I will be using this ham in:
Besides serving this as an entree, the ways to create recipes with this ham are endless.
Nothing beats a great ham sandwich with this ham either…on a bun with cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato and perhaps a touch of red onion.
YES, PLEASE!
Hope that you will give this method a try.
6 Comments
Kim
Who knew a brown paper bag could work magic?! Another wonderful recipe that I must try! That loaded potato soup sounds delish, too!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Kim! My mother in law had the BEST recipes and this one brings back so many memories of Sunday dinners with her…and that potato soup recipe was a foods lab favorite that is probably the most requested one from class days. Enjoy!
Elizabeth@pinecinesandacorns
I’ve never heard of cookin ham in a brown bag! I love this idea.
Leslie J Watkins
So easy. My mother in law was a fabulous cook and this method brings back so many memories! Hope you love it!
Martha+Wallace
I still haven’t tried this, but I intend too! It looked divine! Thank you for sharing this tried and true family heirloom recipe.
Leslie J Watkins
That ham brings back so many memories. Easy and fall apart goodness!