Emilie Meyer
Slow-cooked ham is a popular dish for holiday meals and Sunday lunches. It's easy to make and frees up oven space for other dishes. The ham is usually pre-cooked, so you're simply reheating it in the slow cooker, which takes around three to six hours. The key to a juicy ham is keeping it moist, so it's important to add liquid to the slow cooker. Popular liquids include ginger ale, root beer, and pineapple juice. You can also add a glaze, with ingredients like brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, and vinegar.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ease of cooking | Easy to make, with minimal prep time |
| Ingredients | Brown sugar, bone-in picnic ham, pineapple juice, maple syrup, soda, mustard, vinegar, honey, Coca-Cola, light beer, salt, cornstarch, water, root beer, ginger ale, spices |
| Recipe variations | Spiral-cut ham, glazed ham, crockpot spiral ham |
| Cooking time | 3-6 hours on low heat, depending on the size of the ham |
| Temperature | 140 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Benefits | Tender, juicy, flavorful, frees up oven space |
| Leftovers | Can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated in the oven |
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What You'll Learn
Crockpot ham recipe
Ingredients
- A bone-in picnic ham
- Brown sugar
- Liquid (ginger ale, soda, root beer, pineapple juice, Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola, or apple cider)
- Maple syrup
- Mustard
- Vinegar (balsamic or other)
- Honey
- Dijon
- Cornstarch
Optional Ingredients
- Cloves
- Salt
- Beer
- Light brown sugar
- Crushed pineapple
Method
- Coat a large 7-8 quart crock pot with cooking spray.
- Place the ham cut side down in the crock pot.
- Rub the brown sugar all over the ham.
- Pour maple syrup and pineapple juice over the top.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until a thermometer registers 140 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the ham.
- Transfer the ham to a serving platter.
- Pour the liquid from the bottom of the crock pot into a pan.
- Place the pan over medium heat and bring the liquid to a simmer.
- For a thicker glaze, whisk together corn starch and cold water and add it to the pan.
- Pour the sauce over the ham.
- Decorate the serving platter with fresh herbs if desired, then serve.
Tips
- If you're using a spiral-cut ham, cut the cooking time by about half as it will dry out faster.
- Baste the ham with the juices from the bottom of the crockpot occasionally while it is cooking and right before you serve it.
- If you're cooking for a large group, go for a bigger ham. If the ham is too big for your crockpot, you can trim off a piece or cover your slow cooker with foil and rest the lid on top.
- If you prefer a stronger ginger flavor, use a spicy brand of ginger beer.
- If you don't like pineapple juice, try apple cider instead.
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How long to cook
The cooking time for a ham in a crock pot depends on the weight of the ham and the desired texture. For a fall-apart tender ham, you can cook it for up to 12 hours on low. However, this extended cooking time is best for families who prefer a more casual dinner of shredded hot ham and roll sandwiches.
For a standard texture, an eight to ten-pound bone-in ham will take about four to six hours on low in a slow cooker. A smaller ham, weighing four to six pounds, may only need two to three hours when cooked on low. Spiral-cut hams cook faster, so cut the cooking time by about half.
To check if your ham is heated through, insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the ham. The thermometer should read at least 140°F.
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Glaze ideas
Ham is a crowd-pleaser and can be cooked in a crock pot in a number of ways. The glaze is a key part of the cooking process, adding flavour and texture to the meat. Here are some glaze ideas to accompany your slow-cooked ham:
Brown Sugar Glaze
A brown sugar glaze is a popular choice for a crock pot ham. You can rub the brown sugar all over the ham before cooking, creating a sweet glaze as the sugar simmers with the ham. You can also add maple syrup and pineapple juice to the brown sugar to create a sticky glaze. If you prefer a thicker glaze, you can whisk corn starch with cold water and add it to the glaze as it simmers.
Honey Glaze
A honey glaze is a great option for a sweet and sticky ham. You can add honey to your brown sugar glaze, or try glazing your ham with honey after slow cooking for a crispy finish.
Soda Glaze
Soda can be used as a glaze ingredient or as a cooking liquid to add flavour to your ham. Popular choices include ginger ale, root beer, Dr Pepper, and Coke. These sodas add a sweet and sticky glaze to your ham.
Mustard Glaze
Mustard is a great addition to a glaze, adding a tangy flavour. You can brush your ham with a glaze made from mustard and sugar, or try a glaze with mustard, vinegar, and honey.
Fruit Glaze
Fruit juices and purees can be used to create a sweet and tangy glaze for your ham. Pineapple juice is a popular choice, but you could also try apple cider for a unique flavour.
These are just a few glaze ideas to get you started. You can experiment with different ingredients and flavours to create your own unique glaze for your crock pot ham.
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What to serve with ham
Ham is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides, depending on the season and your personal preferences. Here are some ideas for what to serve with ham:
Vegetables
Roasted or sautéed vegetables are a great option to serve with ham. You can choose seasonal vegetables such as sugar snap peas in the spring or maple-bacon Brussels sprouts in the fall. Other vegetable side dishes include roasted carrots, green beans, roasted cauliflower, and spinach.
Potatoes
Potato side dishes are also a popular choice to serve with ham. Scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, and potato salad are some options to consider. If you're looking for something more indulgent, try potatoes au gratin, which combines creamy potatoes with caramelized onions and cheese.
Casseroles
Casseroles are a comforting option to serve with ham. Some ideas include mac and cheese, cornbread casserole, and sweet potato casserole with pecans.
Breads and Biscuits
Buttery dinner rolls, biscuits, and cornbread can also be served alongside ham. These can be plain or flavoured with ingredients such as cheddar or honey herb butter.
Salads
If you're looking for something lighter, a salad can be a refreshing option to pair with ham. A hearty kale salad with roasted potatoes or a green bean salad with farro and radicchio are some unique options. You can also try an asparagus salad with parmesan, walnuts, radishes, and a lemony vinaigrette.
Other Ideas
Some other side dishes that can be served with ham include deviled eggs, buttermilk biscuits, creamed corn, and coleslaw. Leftover ham can also be used to make sandwiches or added to dishes like soup or pasta.
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Storing and reheating ham
To reheat ham slices in the oven, arrange them in a single layer on a greased baking pan. Add a couple of tablespoons of broth or water and cover with foil. Bake in an oven preheated to 325ºF for about 10 minutes or until heated through, turning the slices once.
If you wish to reheat ham in a slow cooker, it is recommended to use this method to maintain the temperature of already heated ham, rather than to reheat cold ham. Reheat the ham using an oven or pressure cooker, and then transfer the slices to the slow cooker, set to at least 140°F, to keep them warm. This is because slow cookers take a long time to reach the proper reheat temperature of 165°F, and there is a risk of the ham drying out.
To store leftover ham, it can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. For best results, store in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic. To freeze leftover ham, wrap it in plastic or aluminium foil before placing it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.
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Frequently asked questions
An 8-10 pound precooked ham will take about 4 to 6 hours on low in a slow cooker. A smaller ham that's 4-6 pounds may only need 2-3 hours on low.
You will need brown sugar, a bone-in picnic ham, and a liquid of your choice. Popular liquids include pineapple juice, soda, root beer, ginger ale, and apple cider.
You can check to make sure your ham is heated through by inserting a thermometer into the thickest part of the ham. The thermometer should read at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
