Can You Cook a Frozen Ham Without Thawing It First?

 

Question: Can I bake a frozen ham without thawing it first? Will it be safe?

Answer: Yes — as the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, you can cook frozen meat, including ham, in the oven without defrosting it first.

You’ll need to allow for some extra cooking time, though. It generally takes about 50 percent longer to cook a frozen ham than the time it takes for a fully thawed ham. So, for instance, a ham that would normally take 4 hours to bake if was fully thawed would take 6 hours if it was put into the oven frozen. 

You can find a detailed cooking chart for ham here  — add 50% to the time shown if you’re baking a frozen ham.

See Also:
How Long Does a Thawed Ham Last in the Fridge?
How Long Does Cooked Ham Last in the Fridge?
How to Defrost a Ham Safely

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