How To Carve A Spiral Ham - Oh Sweet Basil

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How to Carve a Spiral Ham

By Carrian Cheney

Updated Jul 27, 2025

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Spiral sliced ham can be tricky to remove from the bone and serve without tearing the spiral-cut slices into tiny bits. Below, I have broken it down into four easy steps, so now you will know what to do after the glaze has set and the ham has been removed from the oven.

A bone-in ham with some scalloped potatoes is the perfect dish for Christmas or Easter. When you place ham in the center of your dining table, you want the slices to be quick and easy for your guests to grab, not fight to tear it off the bone. Keep reading below so that you can host the perfect dinner party.

a photo taken from the side view of a spiral ham on the bone sitting in a glass baking dish.

How to Carve a Spiral Ham
What Side of The Ham Do You Put Down When Carving?
What Are The Best Spiral Cut Ham Recipes?
What Are The Best Dipping Sauces for Spiral Cut Ham?
What Should I Do with Leftover Ham?

The first time I made a spiral ham I thought, “Well that was easy!” until I started to carve it. I needed to know how to carve a spiral ham. That darn bone in the center and all of the layers, with incredible smoky flavor, falling forward was creating a problem for me. Sure the ham was easy to make, put it in a pan, tent with foil and bake, but now how was I to serve it? And boy did I wish that I had those delicious dipping sauces that I posted last week. Pina Colada dipping sauce and sweet honey mustard? Booyah!

Carving a spiral ham is quite easy. I’ve never had a bone so perfectly in the center of the ham like this one, but it was fine by me.

A photo taken of a spiral cut ham on its backside with the bone cut out.

How to Carve a Spiral Ham

Turn the ham on its bottom, as shown in the picture.
Find the bone, and using a large knife and fork, cut around the entire bone.
There are natural breaks in the ham, generally where a line of fat is, cut through those breaks as shown in the picture.
Lay the slices of ham out on a platter for serving.

What Side of The Ham Do You Put Down When Carving?

The fat side of the ham, which is typically the smaller side. You know you have it right when you are looking down on the first, big slice of ham, that is full of that irresistible flavor.

What Are The Best Spiral Cut Ham Recipes?

World’s Best Brown Sugar Ham
Honey Baked Ham Copycat
How to Make Ham in a Slow Cooker or Crockpot
Garlic Honey Mustard Ham

Pieces of ham on a dinner plate with a spiral ham in the background

What Are The Best Dipping Sauces for Spiral Cut Ham?

Whether your ham is baked with a brown sugar glaze, an apple juice baste, or pure maple syrup, you will find the perfect pairing for the flavor profile here: Ham Dipping Sauces.

What Should I Do with Leftover Ham?

Secret to the Best Ham Fried Rice
Spring Ham and Asparagus Lemon Cream Sauce
Cheesy Ham and Potato Bacon Casserole
Ham Lemon Orzo with Parmesan and Peas
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Hawaiian Ham and Pineapple Casserole
Ham and Cheese Breakfast Stromboli
Hash Browns Ham Frittata
Ham Hock Soup
Easy Ham and Cheese Scones
Ham and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

If you know what you are doing, carving a spiral cut ham is super simple! Just a few simple steps and you and your family will be enjoying juicy slices of ham for your next holiday feast!

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About The Author

Carrian Cheney

Carrian Cheney is the creative force behind ‘Oh, Sweet Basil,’ a food blog she co-authors with her husband, Cade. She creates fresh, family-friendly recipes that encourage togetherness in the kitchen.

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27 Comments

Are we slicing before or after cooking the ham?
Reply
1. Hi KeiLani! Slice after cooking it.
  Reply
Can I just carve the spiral ham while at room temperature and reheat /cook the ham portions minuse the bone so I’m not trying to carve when it’s hot out of the oven before serving ?
Reply
1. Hi Mick! Yes, but just be sure to cover the sliced ham when you reheat it and add some liquid so it doesn’t dry out.
  Reply
Needed a recipe on how to glaze a spiral ham that has not been cut with brown sugar and honey mustard and I did not see a video showing me how to glaze a ham
Reply
1. There’s not a video with this post, but we have a video on our brown sugar ham post: https://ohsweetbasil.com/worlds-best-brown-sugar-ham-recipe/
  Reply
Hi, Thanks for this. I just scored a free 12 pound bone in half ham from Honey Baked Ham yesterday. I have never cut one of these before. I think your instructions are pretty solid. I wish the pictures showed how to cut the individual portions a little more clearly. Anyway, I think I have it from here. Thanks.
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