How to Cook a Ham

Preheat the oven to 325°. Place the ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham with 1/4-inch-deep cuts in a diamond pattern.

Cover the ham. Bake until a thermometer reads 130°, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and enough vinegar to make a thick paste.

Remove the ham from the oven. Spread the glaze over the ham. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 140°, 15 to 30 minutes longer. Editor's Tip: You might be wondering why the ham is glazed so late in the cooking process. It's to prevent the sugar in the glaze from burning and ruining the ham's flavor. These final 15 to 30 minutes are all you need to let the flavor permeate the meat and form a nice crust on top.