The Best Way To Cook Costco Spiral Sliced Ham
The Kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham at Costco
One of my favorite Costco seasonal items is the Kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham. The spiral-sliced ham is the ultimate special occasion treat, as it is absolutely delicious and extremely convenient to cook and serve. The ham shows up only two times a year, once at Thanksgiving and Christmas and again at Easter.
I have included the cooking directions for the Costco spiral sliced ham in this article, so please follow them carefully. This will keep the ham succulent and moist and make for some very happy party guests.
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What's so special about Costco spiral-sliced ham?
Ham meat can be purchased at any supermarket across the country, but the spiral sliced from Costco has a few things that help it stand out from the crowd.
First, the price is nearly unbeatable for the quality. I do a deep dive in the cost comparison section below, and the value is absolutely amazing.
In addition to the fantastic price, the ham is exceptionally tender, flavorful, and easy to cook and serve. The spiral sliced ham is hickory smoked, fully cooked, includes a glaze packet and is already pre-sliced for easy and convenient serving. It’s even gluten-free!
All you need is a simple oven reheat for a delicious easter sunday or thanksgiving day meal.
Pro Tip: Buy an extra spiral sliced ham for yourself, you won’t regret it, and there are plenty of leftover options (listed below).
Costco Cost Comparison
How Much Is Costco's Spiral Sliced Ham?
As of March 2023, Costco sells the spiral sliced ham for $2.29 a pound, in an approximately 10-pound package. The total price for the hams varied between $21 and $25 at my specific Costco location.
$22 for an easy and delicious smoked spiral sliced ham is going to be tough to beat.
Costco Vs. The Competition
The most famous spiral sliced hams come from Honey Baked Hams, but they are in a completely different ballpark when it comes to price. According to the Honey Baked Ham’s Website, an 8-pound spiral sliced ham will run about $80 or $10 a pound. This is nearly 5 times the cost of Costco’s hickory smoked spiral sliced ham!
Most other grocery stores near me, including my local Walmart, sell spiral sliced hams for anywhere between $2.49 and $2.99 a pound. Costco comes out ahead in price, and, I’m sure, in quality as well.
Kirkland Signature Spiral Ham Taste Test
I tried the ham all three ways; cold, warmed and warmed with glaze. My favorite was the warmed-up ham with glaze, but all 3 options are tasty and delicious in their own right.
The spiral-sliced ham did live up to its name and was extremely easy to separate from the bone. The thickness of the ham slices were spot on and made the ham very convenient to serve.
The ham slices are lean with just the right amount of fat. There is plenty of ham flavor in each bite and just a subtle hint of the hickory smoke. The meat was tender with a nice bite through, and the skin and outer edges did get crispy which added some enjoyable texture.
The glaze was a great addition to the spiral-sliced ham. It has a powerful cinnamon scent, and it brings the sweetness of the ham up to an 11. The salty-sweet combo makes for a delicious meal.
My one complaint about the ham slices is that it can sometimes be too salty. When combined with other foods as part of a meal, it’s not too bad of a problem, but I was just picking at random pieces here or there, and at times way too salty. The ham definitely is best with some side dishes.
How to Cook Costco's Spiral Ham
Why it's so important to carefully follow the cooking instructions for spiral-sliced ham?
The ham is already fully cooked but can optionally be reheated. The ham slices can be eaten cold, but most people prefer to eat them warmed up.
The best way to heat the ham will be in the oven, but you do have to be cautious about overheating it. The spiral-sliced ham is relatively large and will heat from outside to in, meaning you have to pull the ham at just the right time to prevent the outer edges from drying out.
This isn’t hard to do but will require some attention to detail, and unfortunately, the heating instructions provided by Costco are somewhat ambiguous.
Kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham Cooking Instructions with Photos
Warming The Ham Without Glaze
- Heat Oven to 275°F
- Remove all packaging materials, including the clear “button: on the bone of the ham.
- Place ham in a shallow roasting pan. Ham should be cooked Flat/Face Side Down. Cover ham tightly with aluminum foil to help retain moisture.
- Bake at 275°F until ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Check temperature regularly after the first 90 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK! (Note cooking times above)
- Remove ham from oven; let stand, covered, for about 15 minutes before serving.
Warming The Ham With Glaze
- Heat oven to 275°F.
- Remove all packaging materials, including the clear “button” on the bone of ham.
- Place ham in a shallow roasting pan. Ham should be cooked Flat/Face Side Down. Cover ham tightly with aluminum foil to help retain moisture.
- Bake at 275°F until ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Check temperature regularly after the first 90 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK!
- Remove ham from the oven and increase the temperature to 425°F.
- Prepare glaze. See included glaze packet for detailed instructions.
- Brush or spoon prepared glaze over ham and between slices.
- Bake uncovered at 425°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove ham from the oven; let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Making The Spiral Sliced Ham Glaze
- Blend ham glaze content with 3 tablespoons water in small saucepan.
- Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.
- To prepare in microwave oven, combine glaze and 3 tablespoons water in a 1.5quart bowl. Microwave on High (100%) power about 1 minute or until glaze comes to a boil, stirring every 30 seconds.
- Glaze ham as instructed in the packaging materials.
How to Slice and Serve the Ham
The ham does come pre-sliced so its very easy to slice and serve. I just needed a few simple cuts of the knife to separate the ham from the bone.
The Kirkland Signature ham can be sliced by the hosts for guests to just grab the portion they need, but the ham is also easy enough to slice that the guests can do it by themselves.
What to Serve with The Spiral Ham
Costco’s spiral sliced ham is fantastic and can be served in a multitude of ways. It’s good enough to be served alone as an appetizer or as the protein for a special occasion meal. My favorite side dishes to go with the spiral sliced ham are:
- Mac and Cheese
- Mashed Potatoes
- Baked Potatoes
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Asparagus
- Pasta
- Potato Salad
- Glazed Carrots
- Oven Roasted Vegetables
How to Store the Kirkland Signature Spiral Ham
These are solid sized hams at about 10 pounds each, and if you are like me, you may not need a festive party or large gathering to purchase one. Thankfully, there are a few options for storing and keeping the ham fresh.
The ham does need to be refrigerated at all times. Once opened, the ham must be fully consumed within 3-5 days.
If you have any leftovers, they can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you haven’t opened the spiral sliced ham, it can be frozen directly in its store bought packaging. Place it in the freezer as soon as you are ready to freeze and as soon as possible before the “Use By” date. The Kirkland Signature Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Pro Tip: Costco may discount any extra hams they have after the Christmas or Easter holiday seasons. Keep an eye out for some nice savings!
How to use Leftover Costco Sliced Ham
Costco’s ham is great for parties and special occasions but is equally great as leftovers. I love the ham in some simple ham and eggs as well as for breakfast sandwiches. Here are 5 ideas to utilize the leftover spiral-sliced ham
- Ham Omelette
- Ham and Cheese Croissants
- Ham Pizza Toppings
- Ham Quiche
- Ham and Potato Soup
Spiral Sliced Ham & Glaze Nutrition and Calories
Calories in the Kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham
Costco’s spiral sliced ham can be eaten with or without the included glaze, and Costco provides the nutritional label for both options. Here is the individual calorie information for the ham and the glaze.
Calories: 150
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 55mg
Sodium: 800mg
Total Carbohydrates: 4g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 2g
Protein: 14g
The sliced ham has a fairly standard nutritional profile of 150 calories per 3 ounces. Ham is a fatty meat, so 9 grams of fat is expected. The 4 grams of carbohydrates and 14 grams of protein are standard.
If you pass on the glaze, I consider the ham to be fairly healthy. The fat and protein count are right where they should be for a pork product. My primary concern is the 800 mg of sodium per serving. 3 ounces of this Kirkland Signature ham is 33% of the daily recommended sodium intake.
The glaze, on the other hand, is essentially just sugar. There are 14 grams of carbohydrates per serving, all coming from 14 grams of added sugar.
Final Thoughts
Costco’s spiral-sliced ham is an absolute winner. The price is more than fair, the ham is easy to cook and serve, and most of all, it is delicious.
I really enjoyed the spiral sliced ham, and it’s the perfect seasonal item for special occasion holidays and gatherings.
Costco Food Database User Reviews
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Costco Spiral Sliced Ham - Super Flavorful
Ingredients
- 1 Costco Spiral Sliced Ham
- 1 Packet Ham Glaze
Instructions
- Heat oven to 275°F
- Remove all packaging materials, including the clear “button: on the bone of the ham.
- Place ham in a shallow roasting pan. Ham should be cooked Flat/Face Side Down. Cover ham tightly with aluminum foil to help retain moisture.
- Bake at 275°F until ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Check temperature regularly after the first 90 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK!
- Remove ham from the oven and increase the temperature to 425°F.
- Prepare glaze. Blend ham glaze content with 3 tablespoons water in small saucepan. Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.To prepare in microwave oven, combine glaze and 3 tablespoons water in a 1.5quart bowl. Microwave on High (100%) power about 1 minute or until glaze comes to a boil, stirring every 30 seconds.
- Brush or spoon prepared glaze over ham and between slices.
- Bake uncovered at 425°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove ham from the oven; let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Greg Larkin is the founder and managing editor of Costco Food Database, the premiere site for honest takes on all things Costco food. A self-proclaimed Costco super-fan since childhood, Greg turned his obsession in a mission to properly rate and review all of Costco’s delicious buys. When he’s not busy navigating Costco aisles, you can find Greg smoking Kirkland Signature meats, meal prepping, or perfecting his homemade jerky recipes.