How To Carve a Ham Like a Pro, Step-by-Step

Maryn Liles

Sun, April 20, 2025 at 2:47 PM UTC

3 min read

Knowing how to properly carve a ham is essential for holiday celebrations, with different techniques required for semi-boneless, boneless, and spiral hams.
Essential tools for carving a ham include a cutting board, carving set, platter, and container for leftovers, with the ham needing to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing.
When carving a semi-boneless ham, slices should be cut perpendicular to the bone and left attached for presentation, while boneless hams can be sliced like a loaf of bread for easy serving.

While you might have most things in order, it's important not to forget the star of holiday table— a big, juicy, ham ! Big celebrations, like Christmas and Easter call for impressive hams, but knowing how to slice one up just right can be tricky. You don't need any fancy tools, but when the ham is almost done in the oven, it's important to have everything prepped and ready to cut up the Easter ham like a pro.

The majority of hams sold in grocery stores are cured, smoked and usually fully cooked, but there are some variations—namely semi-boneless or boneless. How you carve a ham depends on which type you get, so read on for step-by-step instructions on how to cut a ham.

Nervous to take your very first stab at cutting your first ham? Trust us, it's easier than you think! Our tips, trick and step-by-step process will help you feel like a slicing pro in no time.

Tools You Need for Carving a Ham

Cutting board.Make sure your cutting board is large enough for the ham to fit on with room to maneuver. Bonus points if it has a groove to catch any juices—you'll want to pour over the ham later.
Carving set.While a traditional meat carving set works best, a sharp chef's knife and regular fork will do just fine should you find yourself without them. Just make sure you have a long thin knife and a regular fork in place of the carving fork. If you're feeling fancy this season, you may opt for an electric carving knife.
Platter. You're going to need a place for your ham when you're done slicing.
Container for leftovers.Pro tip: You can save the bone to make pea soup!
Ham.Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes after taking it out of the oven so the juices can settle. Don't wait too long, though, because the ham will cool significantly during the carving process.

How To Carve a Ham, a Step-by-step Guide

For a Semi-Boneless Ham:

1.Semi-boneless hams are easy to work around because they only include the center femur bone. Start by arranging your semi-boneless ham on the board with the pre-cut side facing out, so the bone is parallel to your cutting surface.

2. Pierce the top corner of the semi-boneless ham using your carving fork for stability, and cut slices perpendicular to the bone. Stop when you hit the bone and leave the ham slices attached for a prettier presentation.

3.When it's time to eat, simply make one horizontal cut along the bone and all of the sliced pieces will fall right off. Arrange the cut ham on a serving plate, if desired, or let guests cut off their own slices and serve themselves.

How To Carve a Boneless Ham

We recommend a boneless ham for those intimated by navigating a bone-in or spiral ham since they're so easy to cut—all you'll need to do is slice the ham like a loaf of bread.

1.Lay your boneless ham on a cutting board.

2.Using a sharp knife or carving set, slice the boneless ham into thin pieces like a loaf of bread. Tip: If a piece is too large, cut the ham slice in half before slicing it into thin pieces.

3.Keep slicing until the entire boneless ham has been cut, and arrange it on a serving platter.

Should You Cut Ham With the Grain or Against?

You'll want to cut up ham against the grain so that the meat is less fibrous, less stringy and it will much easier and more pleasant to eat.

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