Air Fryer Ham: The Ultimate Guide To Perfection

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook a ham, with many recipes available online. They are an excellent option for those who want to save oven space and time in the kitchen. Air fryers are also versatile, allowing you to cook a whole ham or just slices, and they can be used to reheat leftover ham. You can also make a delicious glaze for your ham with ingredients like brown sugar, honey, butter, cinnamon, cloves, mustard, and soy sauce.

Glazing the ham

First, place the ham in the centre of the air fryer basket, surrounded by foil. Brush the butter and brown sugar glaze over the top and sides of the ham. Make sure the glaze gets into any slices or scores you've made in the ham. Then, seal the ham inside the foil and place it into the preheated air fryer.

After the initial cooking time, remove the ham from the air fryer and open the foil package. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham, then reseal the foil. Place the ham back into the air fryer and continue cooking.

For a crispy finish, you can expose the top of the ham to the heat by folding back the foil for the final few minutes of cooking. This will give the ham a browned and caramelized appearance.

It's important to note that cooking times and temperatures may vary depending on the size and type of your air fryer, as well as the size of your ham. Be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly and use a meat thermometer to ensure your ham is cooked to your desired level of doneness.

Wrapping the ham in foil

To wrap the ham in foil, start by placing the ham in the centre of the foil. Pull and fold the sides of the foil up and around the ham to create a "bowl" or a "foil container". Make sure the seam is at the top of the ham. If you prefer the foil not to touch the meat, you can add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the ham.

Once the ham is wrapped in foil, place it in the air fryer basket. For a 3-pound ham, cook it in the air fryer at 300°F for 20 minutes. If you are using a larger ham, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

After 20 minutes, carefully remove the air fryer basket and open the foil package. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham, making sure it gets into the slices and diagonal slices you made. Reseal the foil and place the basket back into the air fryer.

Cook the ham for an additional 20 minutes at 300°F. For a crispier top, you can open the foil and fold it back to expose the top of the ham to the heat. Increase the temperature to 350°F and air fry for a few more minutes until the ham is browned to your liking.

Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for cooking ham in an air fryer depend on the type of ham and the glaze you are using. For example, a 3-3.5 pound fully cooked ham will take around 50 minutes to cook in an air fryer at 320 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, a ham steak will only take 10-12 minutes in the air fryer, flipping and basting the steak halfway through.

If you are cooking a fully-cooked ham, you will only need to air fry it until it is warmed all the way through and the glaze has had a chance to flavor the meat. A good rule of thumb is about 8-10 minutes per pound at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the size of your ham and the wattage of your air fryer. Larger hams may be closer to the heating element and may brown on top when you remove the foil for the last few minutes of cooking.

To make a brown sugar glaze, melt butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Brush the glaze over the top and sides of the ham, then cover with foil and place in the preheated air fryer at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the ham from the air fryer and add additional glaze. Seal the foil and cook for another 20 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. For the last few minutes of cooking, increase the temperature to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 minutes.

If your ham is a little fatty, you may notice some smoke coming from your air fryer. This is due to the fat dripping off the food and hitting the coils near the fan on top. If this happens, stop the air fryer and add a piece of bread or a tiny bit of water under the basket. Keep the heat much lower than the original cook time to avoid the ham from burning on the outside.

Reheating ham in an air fryer

Reheating leftover ham in an air fryer is a great way to get juicy and tender results without drying out the meat. It's also quicker than using a traditional oven.

First, preheat your air fryer to 325°F or 350°F-360°F if you prefer crispy ham. If you're reheating a large piece of ham, you can skip the preheating step and set your air fryer to 320°F or 325°F when you put the ham in.

Next, arrange your ham slices in a single layer on the tray or basket of your air fryer. If you're reheating a bigger piece of ham, place it cut-side down. For every pound of ham, add 1/3 cup of water or broth to the bottom of the air fryer to prevent the ham from drying out.

Now, it's time to reheat your ham. If you're reheating ham slices, cook them for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you're reheating a larger piece of ham, cook it for 10 minutes on each side. For ham slices wrapped in foil, heat for about 5-8 minutes.

Finally, remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious, juicy ham!

Serving suggestions

Ham cooked in an air fryer can be served with a variety of side dishes. You can serve it with vegetables and starches like rice, rolls, potatoes, or mashed potatoes. For a sweeter dish, you can serve the ham with pineapple slices.

If you're making ham steaks, you can serve them with a side of green beans. You can also make an Asian-inspired green bean recipe or cook them with olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

For a more savory dish, serve the ham with some Dijon mustard. You can also try a warm Bavarian potato salad featuring crispy bacon, fresh herbs, sautéed onion, and a vinegar-based dressing. It goes well with coleslaw, roasted asparagus, and Brussels sprouts.

You can also slice the ham and make sandwiches, or dice it up and add it to soups or salads.

Frequently asked questions