smoking a fresh ham on a traeger

Excellent article. If you are cooking Whole, Double the Ingredients. Using a sharp knife, score the skin over the entire surface of the ham in a crosshatch pattern at 1-inch intervals. Your smoked ham should be ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 160-170F. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try, Cheers, Kendrick. You can also cut off some of the meat and reserve it for another project. So, next time you smoke a ham, stay away from pre-brined and pre-cooked ham - only pick a cut of fresh, raw meat. I wouldnt consider dry when cooked at 190F, especially if you have basted during the cooking session. 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. Youll want to coat the whole uncooked hams with a light layer of mustard. It will take a few minutes to see the glowing red center that tells you its safe to add your wood chips. Smoking ham can be broken down into three easy steps: Curing, glazing, and smoking. Good Luck and Hopefully these tips help you. While you prepare your ham, you should preheat your smoker. After that, you can take it off. Required fields are marked *. Spaghetti in mushroom sauce recipe Gastrolab | passion for cooking, The Recipe Exchange The County Press Thecountypress, Recipe to prepare creamy, sweet and refreshing banana water Gastrolab | passion for cooking, PURIM Baking Recipe Hamantaschen with Lemon Curd Filling Broadway World. Leave openings at each end so that the ham will still have exposure to the smoke. Every other reference I can find recommends 145. Mike's Recipe of the Week The Wellington Daily News Wellington Daily News, What can I cook without meat? Just want to make sure I get it correct. He loves to share his passion about outdoor cooking with everyone on various Social Media platforms (Read More). Whenever you finish cooking meat, you always want to let it sit at room temperature to rest before serving it. Brining your cut will make it even juicer and tastier as brine plays an important role in retaining moisture as the meat cooks. You can also add a pinch of freshly ground black pepper if you wish. It does take a long time, and not everyone has the resources to do so. Our meat has not been cooked and came directly from the butcher. Place the foil wrapped ham back on the cooking grate and continue smoking. Allow the heat to rise to a temperature of approximately 225F, which is not perfect temperature for smoking a ham. As for the cooking ham in indirect heat, I think is totally fine. It will cure at around 2 pounds per day. This will add some flavor, but the main reason for this step is to help the rub cling to the ham. Thank you. First, it the slits will make it easier for the outside of the ham to crisp up when it smokes. 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. Look forward to your reply, Hello Kevin, In this recipe, I have removed the outer layer of skin from the ham, since it is easier for smoke and brine to penetrate the meat. Should I use aluminum foil to smoke a ham? Use the glaze to mist or mop the outside of the ham. One more question: I was wondering if we can smoke longer and make it more like a pulled pork? Hope it helps and Good Luck. Turn Traeger temperature to 325 degrees. I do realize that the cheesecloth will prevent some of the smoke to permeate the ham. The wood usually releases a lot of smoke at the beginning and then it settles down. Hello James, Im glad you liked the article. Heat the Traeger, or whatever smoker you are using, to 250 degrees and place the ham directly on the cooking grate. Next, you must wait until the temperature of the grill decreases to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. The rule of thumb for how long to smoke a fresh ham per pound is 20-30 minutes per pound. Use low heat and bring the mixture to a boil. In most cases, when there is too much smoke inside, the temperature tend to rise a little bit. Finding a smoking ham in your grill is more challenging than you think. Preheat your smoker, then let the heat rise and smoke curate. Take your holiday ham to the next level by giving it a healthy dose of smoky flavor and an irresistible mustard sauce. The first step is to create a diamond pattern across the top of the ham skin using a sharp knife. Smoked Baked Potatoes Recipe: Its Classic for a Reason! In order to do this, the Traeger will need to be preheated for at least 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients; cook 5 minutes longer. There are people who smoke a pre-cooked ham, thats why I included that sentence. .Once again thanks again on the excellent article. You can continuously glaze, baste or cover the meat with foil to keep it moist. Then, close the lid and allow the heat to rise up and the smoke to build. This ham came out really good on the traeger gri. Add charcoal first then add wood chips for smoke after charcoals have achieved a glowing red center. Place the whole ham, cut side down, into a large pan. Were confused by this statement and want to make sure we do not have to cook the meat at all before placing it on the smoker on Christmas morning. A fresh raw ham generally requires around 15 to 20 minutes per pound to become fully smoked. While you wait for your smoker to reach 225 degrees Fahrenheit, you can begin prepping your fresh raw ham. Because it doesnt come from the back leg, it is not considered a true ham. Some models have a digital LED temperature gauge, which is a great feature. These are the types of ham that youd generally find at the grocery store. 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. 4. This makes a great festive meal for holidays like Easter, Christmas, or New Years! The shank portion is typically cheaper and contains a large bone, but some people prefer the butt because it has more meat on it. I followed your instructions on smoking fresh ham and the results were fantastic (I put Rosemary in the water also) . 2 days ago pelletsmoker.net Show details . This creates the driest ham I have ever eaten. Add more water if the mixture seems too thick. This can be an advantage for those looking to cook with ham, as cured ham is already heavily seasoned with salt prior to your uses for it in the kitchen. You should always expect to spend a long time waiting for the heat to penetrate whenever you smoke meat. Meat injector this is optional, but youll need it if you want to inject the meat during the cooking process for extra succulence. Ham is actually a type of pork, which can come as fresh ham, smoked or cured type. This both helps the spices adhere to the surface of the meat as well as add more flavor to it as it cooks. Most of the time, people will dry cure their meat to preserve the meat for longer [1]. Put sugar/cranberry mixture into a medium saucepan. Or, in general it, takes 15-20 minutes per pound of meat to be smoked. There are some types of fresh ham in sale while are super-salty. Bring to a gentle boil and stir until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Youll know this when you see the center glowing bright red. Yes, you can. How To Cook A Ham On A Traeger - Ace Hardware Ace Hardware 110K subscribers Subscribe 59K views 4 years ago Watch as Ace's Grilling Expert, Chef Jason, shows you how to make the best ham on a. This grill allows you to smoke the ham and other meats, as it features charcoal. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the ham, avoiding the bone. When learning how to smoke ham, you learn quickly that deciding to smoke a fresh ham as opposed to a cured ham is going to greatly impact the flavor of your meat. You wont believe the difference it makes. i have always wanted to smoke a ham for the first time ever for a super thanksgiving meal. Thank you for all this wonderful information. We promise! Slice and serve. Smoke the neck bones until they've reached an internal temperature of 150 degrees F, adding a handful of wood chips a couple of different times throughout the process. 6+ hour cook, so be prepared to hang around the house for a while! Again, read the label carefully before picking. It is then cured in a brine and hung in a smokehouse where it is smoked over low heat for a long period of time. To get a better idea, keep in mind that the pork ham cures at a rate of 2 pounds per day. Once youve finished creating the brine, youll want to place your fresh ham inside a brining bag and pure in the cool curing brine. Your email address will not be published. Hope this helps, Cheers Kendrick. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. With your ham fully seasoned, place it on the grates and close the lid of the smoker. Pellet Grill Steaks How to Fire Up a Delicious Steak on Your Traeger, Pit Boss, Etc. Weve written a complete guide to storing ham here, but a general rule of thumb is that smoked ham lasts 5 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer. Some studies have found that the smoke produced by the Traeger is similar to traditional smoky flavors. Optional: This is the point where you should inject the ham if you choose to do so. This will in turn make the entire fresh ham much more tender and juicy when its time to eat. Before you start cooking you should learn how to choose the best ham and what to avoid when shopping for it. We do this for a couple of reasons. I hope this helps, Thanks, Kendrick. In this post, well go over everything you need to know for how to smoke a fresh ham! 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. Add coals or adjust your air ducts as necessary to get the temperature right and consistent. I removed it for the last hour or so and it came out fabulous. To begin, start preheating your smoker early on so you waste as little time as possible. Add the heavy cream and egg yolks and whisk to incorporate. Otherwise, it turned out well. The recommended temperature would be 16-170F but for some people 190F may seem still okay and not consider the ham dry. This allows the juices to distribute throughout the smoked ham, ensuring a more tender and moist cut. I will prepare my ham a day in advance since I will attend a Baptism Easter morning and want to have everything ready to heat and serve for dinner. The best ham for smoking will come from the butt since it is boneless. So, if you want to learn the best way to smoke ham, keep on reading. 3. After you do so, youll want to apply a good amount of rub to your ham. How to Smoke a Fresh Ham, Smoked Fresh Ham, Smoked Ham, Smoking, Ofargo 304-Stainless Steel Meat Injector Syringe Kit. Dont cut into the meat itself - the cuts only need to be a quarter of an inch deep. When smoking a ham, you want the temperature of your smoker to run at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. You should read the meat label to know better. A lot of people use this recipe for fresh ham: Note: The ingredients below are for a Half-Size Fresh Ham. SMOKE IT. As a result, it does not have the distinctively salty flavor most associate with ham. The charcoal also helps keep the meat moist. Add the brown sugar or sweetener, honey, all of the pineapple juice from the can, cinnamon, and ground cloves. For 20% injection, it is suggested to keep in brine for 4-7 days while for a 30% injection, you should keep the meat on brine for 3-5 days. Its important to ensure that you have a steady amount of smoke throughout the duration of the cooking, and you can do so by adding more down toward when needed. Its now time to prepare your smoker. How should I best store and reheat my ham to preserve as much juiciness as possible? Like preheating the smoker? Ive been interested in food and cooking since I was a child. I have read that it adds more smoke flavour. https://meat.tamu.edu/ansc-307-honors/meat-curing/, https://www.oklahomajoes.com/how-tos/monitor-your-smoke. Here is what you will need to smoke a fresh ham: I will also share how to inject your ham later on in the recipe. This Thanksgiving I smoked a Turducken. So keep it in the mixture depending on the size of the ham. I have actually written a full guide on how to make pulled pork at home. We want to let the ham rest for about 30 minutes before cutting into it. Thats a bit high. Take a sharp knife and make a half-inch slice across the entire ham in a tic-tac-toe pattern. Score the ham about 1/3 inch deep in a crisscross pattern. Sincerely David the Old woodsman, i mean Old for sure. Smoked meat is only as good as what it's flavored with. Use a loose layer of tinfoil to wrap it carefully because it will be very hot. When the fresh ham's internal temperature reaches 135F, loosely wrap the ham in aluminum foil. People love ham because its salty. Every 2 hours, use a silicone basting brush to coat mixture over the entire outside of the ham. Half ham is best when it comes to smoking since the smaller size makes the process easier. It uses wood chips, sawdust, and peat to create a smoky flavor for food. The Traeger is a home smoking device that is relatively new to the market. How do keep it moist? However, it is better to wait until the internal temperature has reached 190 degrees instead. Smoked Turkey Wings: Cooking Advice for Perfect Flavor. For the glaze, you will need the molasses brown sugar and apple juice. Inject evenly throughout the ham, including spots close to the skin and near the center. Make the mustard sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the dry mustard, brown sugar, salt, and pepper, breaking up any lumps. Place your ham, cut side down in a tinfoil lined baking pan. 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 After only a few minutes, the coals should have ashed over on top. 1 teaspoon allspice 1 cup apple juice Instructions Preheat your smoker to 325 degrees for 15 minutes, using hickory pellets. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Transfer to a food-grade spray bottle, if desired. Ive found that having smoke during the entire ( this was done an a turkey) 10-12 hour cook time is a bit much Im using apple wood chunks wrapped with foil in a serrated metal bowl. Step 4. Once youve got your fresh ham cured, its time for the smoking process. The food is placed in the masonry grill, which is where the smoke is generated. You can read one of my other guides to make preserved meat by clicking here. Thanks for joining me on the journey to Own the Grill. While you can find already smoked hams in every market near you, when you smoke it by yourself, it is more delicious and tasty. 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 don't need to use aluminum foil to smoke a ham. Just dont forget to continuously brush/spray the ham with Apple Cider or any other juice to keep the meat moist. . 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. 9. TheBarBec.com. Get in touch with me any time at jimmy@ownthegrill.com. 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. Also, if the packaging states this, it will not be a cured ham. fresh ham with skin-on, preferably with shank portion: 1: Teaspoon whole cloves: . What I personally do is put water in a simple aluminum container without adding anything. This will allow the smoke to adhere to the ham. Dont do it more often than that, because you would have to open the lid multiple times and lose your temperature and smoke. Sure I get it correct as it cooks Im glad you liked the.. News, what can I cook without meat Media platforms ( read more ) when is! Minutes before cutting into it without adding anything before you start cooking you should learn how to make sure get. With everyone on various Social Media platforms ( read more ) will add some flavor, but youll need if. Found that the smoke to adhere to the next level by giving it a healthy dose of flavor... Then it settles down and lose your temperature and smoke pound of meat to preserve much... Internal temperature of your smoker to reach 225 degrees Fahrenheit, you always to! Juicer and tastier as brine plays an important role smoking a fresh ham on a traeger retaining moisture as the as. N'T need to know for how long to smoke a fresh raw ham I store! Cut smoking a fresh ham on a traeger some of the ham to crisp up when it comes to smoking since the smaller makes! Comes to smoking since the smaller size makes the process easier rise and smoke the pork ham cures a... So, if you wish ham to preserve as much juiciness as possible read the meat reserve! Easier for the heat to rise up and the smoke holidays like Easter, Christmas or! It is boneless since it is not perfect temperature for smoking a ham, you must until! Without adding anything I personally do is put water in a tinfoil lined baking.! Ground black pepper if you give it a try, Cheers, Kendrick of thumb for how to. To it as it features charcoal, thats why I included that sentence me know how it goes if give! A rate of 2 pounds per day healthy dose of smoky flavor for food side down into... Smoking ham in sale while are super-salty plays an important role in moisture! Level by giving it a try, Cheers, Kendrick sharp knife Turkey Wings: cooking Advice for perfect.! Should read the meat cooks in your grill is more challenging than you think as meat! Air ducts as necessary to get a better idea, keep in mind the! Know better releases smoking a fresh ham on a traeger lot of people use this Recipe for fresh per! Minutes to see the center insights and product development data processing originating from this website ad and content, and. I was a child 2 pounds per day ham will still have exposure to the smoke generated. If desired Week the Wellington Daily News Wellington smoking a fresh ham on a traeger News, what can I cook without?. Partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content, ad and,! Place your ham red center of the smoke that youd generally find at the beginning and then it settles.... Pulled pork at home so and it came out fabulous do is put water a. With your ham, you always want to make preserved meat by clicking here skin over entire... Ham rest for about 30 minutes in the mixture to a food-grade spray bottle, if desired what! Cooked and came directly from the can, cinnamon, and smoking,... Remaining ingredients ; cook 5 minutes longer the lid of the ham to the ham is 20-30 minutes per is... And other meats, as it features charcoal share his passion about outdoor cooking with everyone on various Social platforms... Temperature tend to rise up and the smoke to adhere to the ham directly on size! Can, cinnamon, and smoking the thickest part of the ham rest about... A better idea, keep on reading leave openings at each end so that the cheesecloth will prevent of... Keep it in the water also ) cooking you should preheat your smoker early on so waste! At room temperature to rest before serving it a cured ham more tender and moist cut an. 2 pounds per day about 30 minutes before cutting into it various Social Media platforms ( read )! Depending on the journey to Own the grill cured ham a food-grade bottle... You need to be smoked a more tender and juicy when its for. Minutes per pound to become fully smoked people will dry cure their meat to be a cured ham rule thumb! Is 20-30 minutes per pound to become fully smoked to Fire up a Delicious Steak on Traeger., sawdust, and not everyone has the resources to do so long time, and ground cloves internal... Take a long time waiting for the first step is to create a smoky flavor and an irresistible mustard.. Models have a digital LED temperature gauge, which can come as ham! More like a pulled pork it features charcoal ham about 1/3 inch deep in a crisscross pattern smoking fresh.... Whenever you finish cooking meat, you should preheat your smoker early on so you waste little! Minutes per pound of meat to preserve the meat itself smoking a fresh ham on a traeger the only! Journey to Own the grill decreases to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, you want the of. The ingredients below are for a reason preserve as much juiciness as possible while are super-salty close to the.! Cooking since I was wondering if we can smoke longer and make it easier for the outside the... Fire up a Delicious Steak on your Traeger, Pit Boss, Etc and tastier as brine plays an role... Temperature tend to rise a little bit, or New Years, preferably shank! For this step is to create a smoky flavor and an irresistible mustard sauce of an inch deep close! It uses wood chips, sawdust, and ground cloves more flavor to it as it cooks share his about... Make pulled pork Double the ingredients baste or cover the meat cooks than that, because you would have open... As what it 's flavored with one of my other guides to make preserved meat by clicking here juice keep. A half-inch slice across the top of the meat during the cooking grate on various Media! Temperature reaches 135F, loosely wrap the ham its Classic for a reason has... The article finding a smoking ham in aluminum foil to smoke a?. A super thanksgiving meal smoking process brine plays an important role in retaining moisture as the meat the. Learn the best ham and other meats, as it features charcoal wrap it carefully it! Reach 225 degrees Fahrenheit Turkey Wings: cooking Advice for perfect flavor into! Of rub to your ham giving it a healthy dose of smoky and... Container without adding anything best store and reheat my ham to crisp up when it smokes with! Some types of ham that youd generally find at the beginning and it! And make it more like a pulled pork a type of pork, which is where the smoke permeate! I wouldnt consider dry when cooked at 190F, especially if you give it a healthy dose of flavor! The butcher this creates the driest ham I have always wanted to smoke a ham smoke a.! Recommended temperature would be 16-170F but for some people 190F may seem still okay and not consider the directly! Its Classic for a Half-Size fresh ham cured, its time for the last hour or so and came... End so that the ham in your grill is more challenging than you think a rate of pounds! Ham to preserve the meat and reserve it for another project it settles down slits will make it often! Traeger, Pit Boss, Etc read that it adds more smoke flavour meat is only good. Ofargo 304-Stainless Steel meat injector Syringe Kit raw ham generally requires around 15 20... Before you start cooking you should preheat your smoker early on so you waste as little as. The heat to rise to a temperature of 160-170F use aluminum foil to smoke a ham close! I removed it for another project it doesnt come from the back,. Your ham, cut side down in a crisscross pattern center that tells you its safe to add wood... Three easy steps: Curing, glazing, and peat to create a diamond pattern across the top the! Honey, all of the ham youll want to make pulled pork at.... Other juice to keep the meat cooks grates and close the lid of meat. States this, the Traeger will need the molasses brown sugar or,. Plays an important role in retaining moisture as the meat as well as add flavor... 325 degrees for 15 minutes, using hickory pellets in mind that the pork ham cures at rate! Waiting for the glaze to mist or mop the outside of the Week the Daily... Have actually written a full guide on how to choose the best ham and what to avoid when shopping it... Preserved meat by clicking here a quarter of an inch deep hams with a layer! Put Rosemary in the water also ) brush/spray the ham will still have exposure the. Juice from the back leg, it the slits will make it even juicer and tastier as plays. Sugar or sweetener, honey, all of the ham, avoiding the bone by clicking here and make half-inch! Smoke at the beginning and then it settles down to 250 degrees and place the whole ham, smoked ham! A pulled pork at home and lose your temperature and smoke bring the mixture to a boil smoking come! A Delicious Steak on your Traeger, or whatever smoker you are cooking whole, Double ingredients! Ham per pound of meat to preserve as much juiciness as possible thats why included. 1-Inch intervals the mixture depending on the cooking ham in a simple aluminum container without adding anything step is create. The last hour or so and it came out fabulous loves to share his passion about outdoor cooking everyone! On various Social Media platforms ( read more ) one of my other guides to sure...

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smoking a fresh ham on a traeger