How to Bake a Ham in a Paper Bag

Baked ham is a popular and delicious dish--and can be prepared in a paper bag.

Ham is delicious whether cooked or not, but one old-fashioned way to prepare it is by baking the ham in a brown paper bag. This allegedly makes the ham extra tender and delicious, without giving it a sweet flavor many other recipes do. If you choose to bake a ham in a brown paper bag be sure to use a glue and ink-free one and never use a recycled bag from the grocery store as these could release harmful fumes when heated.

Things You'll Need

• Brown paper bag
• Ham
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

1. Insert the ham into a plain (ink and glue free) brown paper bag and roll up the end to keep moisture from escaping the bag during the baking process. Place the bag inside a large baking pan.

2. Bake the ham at 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound of ham. For a 3-pound ham, bake for 45 minutes, for example.

3. Remove the ham from the paper bag and score it.

4. Mix the mustard with brown sugar and slather the ham with this mixture. Bake for 30 more minutes in the baking pan without a cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Add cherries, pineapple chunks and cloves before baking the ham for the last 30 minutes for an exotic flavor.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns against using non-food-grade brown paper bags. "Do not use brown paper bags from the grocery or other stores for cooking. They are not sanitary, may cause a fire, and may emit toxic fumes." Always use brown paper bags specifically designed for cooking or storing food that are glue and ink free.

References

• Deep South Dish: How to Bake a Ham in a Paper Bag
• allrecipes.com: Prepare the Perfect Ham
• USDA: Poulty Preparation Fact Sheet

Resources

• Epicurious.com, "Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Edition"