Scoring the Holiday Ham - Tip of the Day

by Sarah LeTrent, Posted Nov 23rd 2009 @ 9:00AM

Your turkey may not be centerpiece of the Thanksgiving spread, if you follow our simple tips on scoring that holiday ham.

Photo: lpettinati, Flickr

Scoring the holiday ham isn't just for aesthetics. The process allows the brushed-on glaze to reach the ham's interior and crisp up the outer skin during baking.

To score, you will need a sharp paring knife or small chef's knife. The goal here is to create a diamond pattern all over the outer portion of the ham. There should be an inch or so between each spiral cut, and the cuts should only go no deeper than just beyond the layer of fat. For an added tinge of festive decoration, push a whole clove into the point of each scored diamond.

Now with the meat scored, learn how to cook a ham with these easy tips and recipes.

Filed Under: Tip of the Day
Tags: baked ham, christmas, holiday ham, honey baked ham, how to score a ham, pork, thanksgiving, thanksgiving tips, tip of the day