The variety of hams available in many large supermarkets can cause confusion for cooks unsure of how best to prepare a tender, juicy ham. For the best results, select a large, whole, precooked ham. If you cannot find a whole ham, choose a rump or butt end half ham. Either a bone-in or boneless precooked ham can give you a good result, but the bone-in varieties cook more quickly and often have more flavor. Serve with your favorite vegetables and potatoes for a hearty, filling meal.

Select a whole, fully cooked, smoked ham at your butcher or supermarket. Whole hams are not always available year-round in some areas. If this is true in your area, select a partially bone-in, large half ham. Baking a ham with the bone in it results in a more flavorful piece of meat. Leaving the bone in also helps distribute the heat throughout the ham. If desired, add visual appeal to the ham by scoring the top in a diamond pattern. Use a sharp knife to cut shallow, diagonal lines about one inch apart across the ham, then repeat the lines in the opposite direction to create diamonds. Add a touch of spice by inserting whole cloves into the cuts.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the shelves inside your oven so there is sufficient space for the ham to fit on the center shelf. Place a wire roasting rack in the bottom of a deep roasting pan large enough to contain the ham. Set the ham on the rack in the roasting pan and carefully insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center, meaty part of the ham. Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone, or you will not get an accurate reading of the meat's true temperature.

Put a little water in the bottom of the roasting pan if desired. This is not required, and some cooks choose to skip this step, since the fat in the ham typically produces sufficient juices to baste the ham. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil. Bake the ham for 16 to 20 minutes per pound. Baste the ham with the juices from the pan once or twice during baking to keep it from drying out. The ham is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 140 F. Allow the ham to rest for 10 to 15 minutes after removing it from the oven to allow the juices to become evenly distributed.

Add a glaze to the ham in the final half hour of baking, if desired. Use an apricot jam glaze for an elegant company dinner or brown sugar and melted butter for a traditional family meal.