Arguably one of the best parts about the holiday season is the abundance of delicious, mouth-watering foods we get the chance to eat in the company of our friends and families. We’ve grown up feasting on some classic main courses, side dishes, and even a few iconic desserts around this time of year. The centerpiece for many holiday meals, however, is ham. Grocery stores across the country are stocked up on hams, and it’s up to you to prepare it in a way that all your guests will enjoy. Luckily for you, we’ve got a tasty Grilled Ham with Lemon-Orange Glaze recipe to share! Here are a few things you need to know to prepare the perfect ham on the grill.
Finding the Right Ham
Hams come in plenty of sizes, and depending on the size of the group you plan on feeding, you could end up needing multiple hams. For this recipe, we recommend a six to seven pound bone-in smoked ham. This will end up making, at a minimum, eight servings for your guests to enjoy. Because this recipe calls for indirect cooking, a ham of that size will take up to an hour and a half to cook thoroughly. If you opt for a larger ham, make sure you have plenty of room on your grill, and plenty of propane on hand, as the indirect cooking method could make the grilling process take another hour or two.
Preparing the Ham
Now that you’ve got the right ham for the occasion, it’s time to begin prepping it for the grill. The key to making your ham look like it just came off the set of your favorite cooking show is to score the top and sides of it with a knife in a crisscross pattern. Making these shallow cuts on the ham will also allow you to season it properly. For this ham recipe, you’ll want to mix together the following dry ingredients to make a tasty rub:
- 2 T brown sugar
- 1 T ground coriander
- 1 T paprika
- 1 t cumin
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- 1/4 t cloves
Once these are all mixed, take a few handfuls of the rub and gently cover the surface of the ham with it. Rubbing this mix all over the ham will give it additional flavor prior to adding the glaze.
Grilling the Ham
It’s finally time for every grill master’s favorite part! Prior to tossing your ham on the grill, make sure to preheat the grill to a medium-hot temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. Next, place a drip pan in the center of the grill, but not directly over the heat source. The drip pan will catch any of those excess juices from the ham, preventing them from hitting your grill’s burners. You can also keep the ham’s juices from escaping by wrapping it in aluminum foil. When you’re ready to grill, place the ham, score side up, in the center of the grill over the drip pan. Using the indirect cooking method, close the lid and allow your ham to cook for an hour to 90 minutes. While you wait, it’s time to make the tasty lemon-orange glaze. Start by simply combining a quarter cup of lemon marmalade with two tablespoons of orange juice in a small bowl. Mix these together until you have a spreadable consistency. After an hour or so of grilling, check your ham’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Once the ham’s internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, take your lemon-orange glaze and brush a generous amount on the ham. Once you’ve covered your ham in the delicious glaze, close your grill’s lid and let it cook for five more minutes. Finally, remove the ham from grill and let it stand 15 minutes. And there you have it! The perfect holiday ham is complete!
Firing up the grill for hours at a time requires plenty of propane, so be sure to visit our Propane Finder for the closest location carrying Blue Rhino this holiday season. And while you’re making this delicious recipe, find even more food for your festivities at our recipes page!