Example methods and apparatus to read barcodes on reflective surfaces are disclosed herein. An example method for handling a reflective surface in an imaging reader includes capturing one or more images of a surface of an item; detecting whether a specular reflection is present in the one or more images; when a specular reflection is detected, processing one or more additional images of the surface using a predetermined pattern of first processing suitable to identify a barcode on a reflective surface and second processing suitable to identify a barcode on a non-reflective surface; and when a specular reflection is not detected, processing one or more additional images of the surface using the second processing suitable to identify a barcode on a non-reflective surface.