Air-Fryer Ham: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can cook ham in an air fryer! It's an easy and quick way to cook a delicious ham, perfect for any occasion, especially during the holidays. The air fryer method cuts down the cooking time by half compared to traditional oven baking, resulting in a juicy ham with slightly crispy edges.

Air fryer ham recipes

Yes, you can put ham in an air fryer! Here are some delicious air fryer ham recipes to try:

Air Fryer Ham with Honey Glaze

This recipe is perfect for a small celebration or a holiday meal. It is easy to prep, make, and clean up. The ham has a brown sugar glaze, with a hint of tanginess to balance out the flavours.

Ingredients:

• Fully cooked boneless ham (3-3.5 lbs)
• 2 tbsp butter or any cooking oil
• 3 tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

• Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F.
• Wrap the ham in aluminium foil, ensuring the seam is at the top.
• Place the ham in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 minutes.
• While the ham cooks, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until bubbling.
• Open the foil and brush the glaze over the ham.
• Close the foil and cook the ham for another 20 minutes.
• Fold the foil down and brush the remaining glaze on the ham. Cook for 10 more minutes, uncovered, until the ham is browned and caramelized.
• Rest for 10 minutes, then serve.

Air Fryer Ham with Butter Brown Sugar Glaze

This recipe is perfect for a holiday meal and can be served with sides like green bean casserole and cranberry brie bites.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3-pound spiral ham

Instructions:

• Melt the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Set aside.
• Place two large sheets of foil in the basket of the air fryer.
• Add the ham to the centre of the basket and brush the glaze over it.
• Cover with foil and place in the preheated air fryer at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
• Remove the ham, add additional glaze, and seal the foil onto the ham. Cook for another 20 minutes.
• Pull the foil halfway down the ham and brush with the glaze.
• Increase the heat to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for 3 more minutes.
• Remove the ham from the basket and slice to serve.

Air Fryer Ham with Pineapple and Brown Sugar Glaze

This recipe is perfect for the holidays or any special occasion. The ham is basted with a savoury-sweet brown sugar and pineapple glaze.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup crushed pineapple with juices
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 3-4 lbs ham
• 2 pineapple rings (optional)

Instructions:

• Combine the butter, brown sugar, crushed pineapple with juices, ginger, and soy sauce in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring.
• Make diagonal slices in the ham, about one inch deep, to form diamond-shaped lines.
• Make a foil container for the ham by placing it in the middle of a long sheet of foil and folding the sides up.
• Brush half of the glaze over the ham, making sure it gets into the slices.
• Fold the foil all the way over the ham and seal it.
• Air fry the ham at 300°F for 20 minutes.
• Open the foil, brush the remaining glaze over the ham, and reseal. Air fry for another 20 minutes.
• Optional: Open the foil and fold it back, then air fry at 350°F to crisp the top of the ham.
• Remove the ham from the basket, place on a platter, and pour the remaining glaze over it before serving.

Air fryer ham cooking times

Yes, you can cook ham in an air fryer! It's a great way to speed up the cooking process without drying out the meat. Here are some tips and guidelines for air fryer ham cooking times:

• Firstly, it's important to note that air fryer models vary, and cooking times may need to be adjusted accordingly. Different air fryers cook at different wattages, and ham sizes and shapes can also affect cooking time.
• As a general rule, for a fully cooked, boneless ham, allow around 8-10 minutes of cooking time per pound of ham at 300°F (149°C). So, for a 3-pound ham, you'd air fry for approximately 24-30 minutes.
• If you're cooking a larger ham that doesn't fit in your air fryer, you can cut the ham off the bone to make it fit.
• For a 3-3.5 pound fully cooked, boneless ham, one source recommends preheating the air fryer to 320°F and cooking for a total of 50 minutes.
• Another source suggests cooking a 3-4 pound ham at 300°F for 20 minutes, then glazing and cooking for an additional 20 minutes. You can then optionally brown the top of the ham at 350°F for a few minutes.
• To reheat leftover ham slices in the air fryer, place them in a preheated air fryer at 320°F for 2-3 minutes.
• For a unique twist, try a drunken ham recipe with whiskey, honey, and mustard. For a 750g joint of ham, this recipe recommends cooking the ham at 160°C for 15 minutes, then adding another shot of whiskey and cooking for an additional 25 minutes.

Tips for Cooking Ham in an Air Fryer:

• Let the ham sit at room temperature for a few minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
• If you're making a glaze, brush it onto the ham before and during cooking for added flavor.
• Use aluminum foil to wrap the ham or line the air fryer basket to make cleanup easier.
• For a crispy top, expose the ham to the heat by opening the foil or removing it for the last few minutes of cooking.
• Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham. Ham is fully cooked at an internal temperature of 140-145°F.
• Let the ham rest for about 10 minutes after cooking for more tender and juicy meat.

Air fryer ham cooking temperatures

Yes, you can cook ham in an air fryer! Here are some tips and guidelines for air-frying ham, with a focus on cooking temperatures.

The cooking temperature for ham in an air fryer will depend on the stage of cooking and the recipe you are following. Here is a step-by-step guide with temperature guidelines:

• Preheat the air fryer: Many recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to 300–400°F (150–200°C) before adding the ham.
• Cook the ham: The ham is typically cooked at a lower temperature than the preheat setting. Common temperatures include 300–375°F (150–190°C).
• Baste and glaze: During cooking, you may want to baste the ham with butter, oil, or a glaze. This can be done multiple times throughout the cooking process.
• Increase temperature for browning: Towards the end of the cooking process, you can increase the temperature to around 350–380°F (180–190°C) to brown the ham and caramelize the glaze.
• Check the internal temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the ham has reached an internal temperature of 140–145°F (60–63°C). This is the temperature at which ham is considered fully cooked.
• Rest the ham: Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Adjusting Cooking Times and Temperatures

It's important to note that air fryer models vary, and you may need to adjust cooking times and temperatures accordingly. Here are some additional tips:

• Ham size: Larger hams may require longer cooking times and different temperature settings. If your ham is too large to fit in the air fryer, you may need to cut it into smaller pieces.
• Wattage: Different air fryers have different wattages, which can affect cooking times and temperatures. You may need to adjust the settings based on your specific air fryer model.
• Shape and distance from the heating element: The shape of the ham and its distance from the heating element can impact how evenly it cooks and browns. Keep an eye on the ham during cooking to ensure even cooking and browning.

Tips for Delicious Air Fryer Ham

• Use pre-cooked ham: Most air fryer ham recipes are designed for pre-cooked hams. Look for hams that are labelled fully cooked or pre-cooked.
• Thaw frozen ham: If you're using frozen ham, be sure to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
• Room temperature ham: For more even cooking, let the ham sit at room temperature for a few minutes to half an hour before cooking.
• Wrap in foil: Wrapping the ham in foil helps retain moisture and makes cleanup easier. You can also add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the ham if desired.
• Glaze options: You can experiment with different glazes and basting liquids, such as butter, oil, honey, brown sugar, mustard, pineapple, and spices.
• Reheating: To reheat leftover ham in the air fryer, place the slices in the preheated air fryer at 300–320°F (150–160°C) for 2–5 minutes.

Air fryer ham leftovers

Air fryers are a great way to cook ham, whether it's a full joint or a steak, and they also make reheating your leftovers easy.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover ham should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 3-4 days, or up to 4-5 days according to some sources.

Reheating in an Air Fryer

Reheating ham in an air fryer can be tricky as you don't want it to dry out. One way to do it is to add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket and reheat the ham at 250°F for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through. Another option is to preheat the air fryer to 320°F and cook the ham slices for 2-3 minutes.

Recipes with Leftover Ham

You can use leftover ham in a variety of recipes, including:

• Ham and Potato Soup
• Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
• Ham Casserole
• Ham and Cheese Sliders
• Ham and Pea Pasta Salad
• Sandwiches
• Salads
• Fried Eggs
• Baked Mustard Ham and Cheese Sliders
• Rosemary Ham and Bean Soup
• Creamy Ham Casserole
• Breakfast Casserole with Ham

Air fryer ham vs. oven-baked ham

Cooking Methods

Air-frying and oven-baking are two different cooking methods that can be used to cook ham. An air fryer is a small kitchen appliance that cooks and crisps food by circulating hot air above and around it. It is a convenient option when you need to free up oven space or cook multiple dishes at different temperatures. On the other hand, oven-baking is a traditional method that uses radiant heat to cook food.

Temperature Settings

When cooking ham in an air fryer, the temperature settings can vary depending on the model and desired level of doneness. Most recipes recommend cooking the ham at temperatures between 300°F to 325°F for 20 minutes, and then increasing the temperature to 350°F to 380°F for 2-3 minutes to brown the top of the ham. In contrast, oven-baked ham recipes usually suggest baking the ham at 375°F to 400°F for 30-45 minutes.

Glazing

Both air fryer and oven-baked ham recipes often include a glazing step to add flavor and moisture to the meat. For air fryer hams, the glaze is typically made by combining butter, brown sugar, and other ingredients such as honey, pineapple juice, or spices in a small saucepan over medium heat. The ham is then glazed multiple times during the cooking process. For oven-baked hams, the glazing process may be similar, but the ham is typically glazed only once before being placed in the oven.

Size and Type of Ham

The size and type of ham used can also vary between air fryer and oven-baked recipes. Air fryer hams are usually smaller, fully cooked, and boneless, with a weight of around 3 pounds. This is because the ham needs to fit into the air fryer basket and the smaller size ensures even cooking. In contrast, oven-baked hams can be larger, bone-in, or pre-cooked, as there are no size restrictions with an oven.

Clean-up

Clean-up is another factor to consider when choosing between air fryer and oven-baked ham. Air fryer hams are often wrapped in foil and placed on a pan lined with foil for easy clean-up. The glaze is also cooked in a separate saucepan, reducing the number of dishes to be washed. With oven-baked hams, there may be more dishes to clean, depending on the recipe and cooking method used.

Taste and Texture

Both air fryer and oven-baked hams can result in delicious, juicy, and flavorful meat when prepared correctly. Air fryer hams are known for their moisture and crispy, caramelized outside edge. The even circulation of hot air in the air fryer helps create a sweet and sticky glaze on the ham. Oven-baked hams can also have a delicious glaze and a tender, juicy texture when properly baked.

Frequently asked questions