Who does not love eating a ham steak? Placing the thick cut-size of cured pork in your mouth transports you to the dimensions of deliciousness, where you enjoy the explosion of its juicy flavor. Already drooling, eh? The good part is that you don’t need to stay confined to pan-frying as you can achieve similar results in your oven, too.
No big deal, if you don’t have any idea how to cook ham steak in the oven as the following blog will assist you in preparing oven-baked ham steak, how to choose your ham steak, the ingredients, and the step-by-step instructions that are required to make it.
Choose Your Ham Steak
Fresh or Pre-Cooked
You are free to purchase fresh or pre-cooked ham steak. The minor difference is that fresh ham steaks demand longer cooking to reach their safe internal temperature. On the other hand, pre-cooked ones just need to be heated. Therefore, pick the version that suits your preferred preparation time and level of control over the final product.
Thickness
You need to be well familiar with the thickness of the ham steaks. These vary between ½ inch to 1 ½ inches. The thicker the steak is at your disposal, the longer the cooking time it will take. Keep in mind the number of servings and cooking time when you are going for thickness.
Bone-in Vs. Boneless
Which cut do you prefer, a bone-in or boneless ham steak? Boneless ham steaks can be carved in no time and used in a few recipes. Whereas, if we talk about bone-in, then that sprinkles a pinch of flavor and helps retain the moisture while cooking the steak.
What Equipment Is Necessary?
You need to use the following equipment that answers a part of your how to cook ham steak in oven:
Baking Sheet
First on the list is the baking sheet. Take a large one that easily holds your ham steak without messing things up.
Aluminium Foil
The aluminum foil is not mandatory, but you can create a tent over the ham steak while placing it in the oven. The foil retains moisture and your steak won't give you that rubbery texture that becomes a challenge to chew.
Meat Thermometer
You would need a meat thermometer to make sure that your ham steak reaches a safe internal temperature, particularly when it is a fresh one.
Ingredients- Take one boneless or bone-in ham steak, checking its thickness.
- Then, one tablespoon of brown sugar, depending on your need
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard if you are fond of that tangy taste
- Whole cloves
- Fresh black pepper
Step-By-Step Instructions
We believe that you must be pretty interested in learning how to cook ham steak in the oven, so without waiting any further, read the instructions below:
Pre-Heat The Oven
Switch on your oven and preheat it to 375F.
Prepare The Ham Steak
Remove the ham steak from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. This allows it to come to room temperature, which helps cook it more evenly. Pat the ham steak dry with paper towels. Excess moisture on the surface can prevent proper browning.
Seasoning
Now, generously season the steak with freshly ground black pepper. Plus, if you want to add other spices, then you are more than welcome to proceed. As mentioned in the list of ingredients, you can sprinkle whole cloves, glaze the steak with brown sugar, or use mustard for a tangy kick. It depends on your taste and how you want to season your ham steak.
Take Out The Baking Sheet
Take out a large baking sheet and place the ham steak on it. Make sure the size fits. If you are cooking a pre-cooked ham steak, then you won't need to wrap the meat with aluminum foil, but for the fresh steak, read the next step.
Wrap With Aluminum Foil
If you are using fresh ham steaks and want a moister result, then wrap your ham steak with aluminum foil above the backing sheet and place it in the oven.
Let it Bake
We are sure you must be wondering how long to cook ham steak in the oven. The time largely depends on how thick is the meat and which type of steak you are using: fresh or pre-cooked.
Fresh Ham Steak
In the case of fresh ham steak, the baking time should be between 15-20 minutes per inch of thickness or when the internal temperature reaches 145F. Keep a meat thermometer handy to ensure the temperature and insert it into the thickest part of the steak. Doing this will provide you with the correct results.
Precooked Ham Steak
Unlike the fresh ham steak that needs lengthy cooking, a pre-cooked version just needs 10-15 minutes or till it is heated thoroughly.
Rest and Serve
If your meat thermometer shows that the ham steak has reached its maximum internal temperature, then kindly open the oven and remove the ham steak. Let the protein rest for 5-10 minutes before you dive into craving and serving. The resting duration allows the juices to distribute equally which will take your steak to the next level, giving you a flavoursome experience.
Let’s say you prepare a delicious ham steak for your family and maybe even call over your friends, but end up serving your delicious creations with a butter knife. This might leave the guests spending ages just trying to cut through the steak, spoiling your dinner experience.
This is why you need knives from Kyoku, which has a separate collection of Japanese Steak Knives for accurate cutting. If you explore the website, you will come across a 4PC Non-Serrated Damascus Steel Steak Knife Set made from Japanese stainless steel. These knives break the records of durability. You can also check out the 6-piece Non-Serrated Steak Knife Set, which impresses users through its precise meat-cutting with minimal resistance.
Conclusion
See, cooking ham steak in the oven is not rocket science, and now you can easily fulfill your cravings without depending on any eatery. Enjoy your ham steak!
