What Is a Spiral Sliced Ham?

A spiral sliced ham is a bone-in ham that has been pre-cut in a continuous spiral pattern around the bone, producing uniform, even slices that fan out when served. The spiral cut makes it easy to serve without any real carving; the slices come apart naturally once the ham is warmed through.

What sets a Padow's spiral ham apart is the starting point. Our hams are country hams, salt-cured the traditional way with no smoking involved. That curing process gives the meat a firmer texture and a deeper, saltier flavor than a wet-cured city ham. It's a different eating experience, and it's the reason our hams have been shipped out of Richmond, Virginia since 1954.

How to Bake a Spiral Ham in the Oven

Because Padow's spiral ham arrives fully cooked, you're not cooking it from raw; you're heating it through gently so it's warm, juicy, and ready to eat. Low heat and a covered pan are the two things that matter most.

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Set your oven to 325°F. This is the right temperature for a slow, even warm-through. Higher heat will dry the edges before the center is ready.

Step 2: Prepare the Ham

Place your spiral ham cut-side down in a roasting pan. Add about ¼ inch of water to the bottom of the pan; this creates steam and keeps the meat moist during heating. Cover the pan tightly with foil.

Step 3: Cover and Heat Low and Slow

Place the covered ham in the oven and let it heat gradually. The goal is an internal temperature of 140°F. Use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham, away from the bone, to check. Don't rush it.

Step 4: Add a Glaze (Optional)

If you want a glaze, apply it in the final 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the foil, brush your glaze over the surface, and return the ham to the oven uncovered. Padow's jams, apple butter, or stoneground mustard all work well as finishes. That said, glazing is entirely optional; see the section below.

Step 5: Rest Before Serving

Pull the ham from the oven and let it rest, loosely tented with foil, for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Resting lets the juices redistribute through the meat.

Spiral Ham Cooking Time Chart

Spiral ham warming time depends on the weight of the ham. Use this as your guide at 325°F:

Always use a meat thermometer rather than relying on time alone. Aim for 140°F internal temperature for a fully cooked ham, or 165°F if reheating a ham that was previously frozen. Every oven runs a little differently, and a thermometer removes the guesswork.

Do You Need to Glaze a Spiral Ham?

With most hams, a glaze adds flavor. With a Padow's country ham, it's genuinely optional, and plenty of people skip it entirely.

Country ham is salt-cured, which means the flavor is already bold and complex before it ever sees the oven. A sweet glaze can complement that saltiness, but it can also mask it. If you're serving guests who love the taste of a proper country ham, let the ham speak for itself.

If you do want a spiral ham recipe with a glaze, a simple brown sugar and mustard combination works well. Mix equal parts brown sugar and Padow's stoneground mustard with a splash of apple cider vinegar, brush it on in the last 20 minutes, and let it set. Keep it restrained; the ham is the star, not the glaze.

How to Cut and Serve a Spiral Ham

One of the main advantages of a spiral sliced ham is that the hard work is already done. The slices are pre-cut and fan out easily once the ham is warm. Here's how to finish the job cleanly when slicing a spiral ham:

1. Place the ham on a stable cutting board with the flat cut-side facing up or at an angle.
2. Run a sharp knife along the bone to release the slices; they'll come away in clean sections.
3. For larger serving pieces, cut through the natural groupings of slices rather than separating each one individually.
4. When you reach the bone, run your knife close along it to recover the smaller pieces of meat that cling to it. Don't leave those behind; they're some of the most flavorful parts.
5. Save the bone. It's one of the best things in your kitchen for the next few days.

For plated meals, fan the slices out on a platter around the bone for presentation. For a buffet spread, cut through the groupings so guests can serve themselves easily.

Leftover Spiral Ham Recipes

A Padow's spiral ham feeds a crowd and then keeps giving. The leftovers are just as useful as the main event, and the bone is worth holding onto for everything that comes after.

Start with the bone. Drop it into a stockpot with onions, carrots, celery, and a bay leaf, cover with water, and simmer for two to three hours. Add split peas, white beans, or lentils and cook until tender for a hearty soup that costs almost nothing and feeds your family for days.

A few more leftover spiral ham recipes worth having on hand:

• Ham and biscuit sandwiches on warm biscuits from Padow's buttermilk biscuit mix
• Ham and cheese pinwheels wrapped in crescent dough and baked golden, like our country ham and cheese pinwheels recipe
• Ham and grits with a fried egg on top, using Padow's stoneground white grits
• Cold ham sandwiches with sharp cheddar, pickles, and stoneground mustard
• Diced ham folded into scrambled eggs for an easy weekday breakfast upgrade
• Braised greens or white beans cooked with the ham bone for a full pot of flavor

Side Dishes to Serve with Your Country Ham Slices

Country ham slices are rich and salty, so the best sides lean starchy, creamy, or lightly sweet to balance the flavors on the plate. Classic Virginia pairings work beautifully:

• Buttermilk Biscuits: Use Padow's buttermilk biscuit mix for tender, flaky biscuits that pair perfectly with a few thin slices of country ham.
• Stoneground Grits: Creamy white grits cut the saltiness of the ham and round out a Southern plate.
• Sweet Cornbread: A wedge of golden cornbread is a classic alongside any ham-centered meal.
• Braised Greens: Collards or green beans cooked low and slow — ideally with the ham bone — pull in flavor from the centerpiece itself.
• Deviled Eggs: A classic crowd-pleaser for any ham-centered spread.

Order Your Padow's Spiral Ham Online

You don't have to be in Richmond to get a Padow's ham. We ship nationwide, delivering the same salt-cured country ham that's been a Virginia tradition since 1954 directly to your door. Every spiral sliced ham reflects the same craftsmanship that has defined our family's business for generations.

Whether you're planning a holiday dinner, a weekend gathering, or just want a ham worth looking forward to, you can order online at padows.com.We ship whole spiral sliced hams ready to heat and serve, no deli run required.