How to Cook Fresh Picnic Ham

Freeze leftovers for quick meals in the future.

A picnic ham is a cut of pork taken from the shoulder of a pig. It is technically not a ham. Ham by definition is cut from the upper part of a pig's hind leg. A picnic ham also called a picnic shoulder is an inexpensive alternative for a true ham when making casseroles or soups. How much picnic ham you will need for a meal depends if the ham is bone-in or not. If it is a bone-in picnic ham, plan on at least a 3/4 of a pound of meat per serving. For a boneless ham allow 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound per serving.

Things You'll Need

• 5- to 8-pound picnic ham
• Crock pot
• 2 cups of liquid: apple or orange juice or chicken broth
• Instant-read thermometer
• Platter
• Aluminum foil

Instructions

1. Set the ham in the crock pot.

2. Pour the two cups of liquid over the ham. Place the lid on the crock pot.

3. Cook one hour on high. This will get the temperature of the crock pot high enough to thoroughly cook the ham.

4. Turn the crock pot temperature to low and cook for six to eight hours. The picnic ham is fully cooked when its internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Remove the ham from the crock pot and set it on a platter on the counter. Cover it lightly with aluminum foil. Let the ham rest for 10 minutes. It is now ready to serve.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add other spices and seasonings when you add the liquid in step 2. A 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and a 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg are nice additions when using a sweet liquid like apple juice. One envelope of onion soup mix adds more flavor to your ham when combined with a savory liquid like chicken or vegetable broth.

References

• The Cook's Thesaurus: Ham
• Usda.gov: Ham and Food Safety
• Picnic Recipes and Games: Picnic Ham Recipes
• What's Cooking America: Ham 101 -- How to Cook a Ham
• All Recipes: Slow Cooker Ham