Air Fryer Ham: How Long To Fry?

Air fryers are a great way to cook ham, especially if you're short on oven space. The process is quick and easy, and the ham turns out tender and juicy. You can cook a 3-pound ham in under an hour, making it perfect for smaller gatherings. The key to cooking ham in an air fryer is to wrap it in foil to prevent it from drying out and ensure even cooking. You can also add a glaze to your ham for extra flavour.

How to cook a small ham in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 3-pound boneless, pre-cooked ham
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon orange juice or pineapple juice
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• 1/2 cup butter (unsalted)
• Aluminum foil

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 320°F.
• Wrap the ham in aluminum foil, ensuring the seam is at the top so it can be easily opened.
• Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer and cook for 25 minutes.
• While the ham is cooking, make the glaze by combining the brown sugar, honey, orange or pineapple juice, and dry mustard powder.
• After 25 minutes, open the foil and drizzle the glaze over the ham.
• Re-cover the ham and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 135-140°F.
• Fold down the foil and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the glaze is browned to your liking.
• Remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips:

• If your ham is too tall to fit in the air fryer, slice it into two equal pieces or slice it before cooking.
• Adjust the cooking time based on the size and shape of your ham. Thinner, flatter hams will cook faster than rounder, deeper hams.
• For a crispier texture, score the ham by making criss-cross cuts on the surface before cooking.
• If you prefer your ham less sweet, you can reduce the amount of brown sugar and honey in the glaze.
• Always ensure your ham is fully cooked before consuming.

How to reheat ham slices in an air fryer

Reheating leftover ham slices in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy your leftover ham. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Prepare the Ham Slices

Start by slicing your leftover ham into even slices. This will ensure that the ham warms through evenly and helps to avoid overcooking. Place the ham slices in a single layer in your air fryer basket. If you have a lot of ham slices, you may need to reheat them in batches to ensure even heating.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to the appropriate temperature. Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to between 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit for reheating ham slices.

Step 3: Reheat the Ham Slices

Place the air fryer basket with the ham slices into the preheated air fryer. Reheat for 2-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of your ham slices and the desired temperature. For thicker slices or if you prefer your ham to be warmed through, aim for the longer reheating time.

Step 4: Check the Temperature

Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham slices. The ideal temperature for warmed ham is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If the ham has not yet reached this temperature, return it to the air fryer for another minute or two.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once your ham slices have reached the desired temperature, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. You can enjoy them as-is or use them in sandwiches, casseroles, or other dishes.

Tips for Reheating Ham in an Air Fryer:

• Add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket before reheating to help keep the ham moist.
• If you're reheating a larger batch of ham slices, stir or flip them partway through the reheating process to ensure even warming.
• If you're reheating ham slices with a glaze, keep a close eye on them to avoid over-browning or burning.
• For best results, reheat ham slices that have been stored properly in the refrigerator and consumed within 3-4 days.

How to cook ham steak in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Ham steak
• Honey
• Brown sugar
• Butter
• Garlic powder
• Cinnamon
• Dijon mustard
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice

Method:

First, decide how many ham steaks you want to cook. If you are cooking for a smaller crowd, air fryer ham is a great option as it frees up oven space.

If your ham steak is frozen, make sure to thaw it overnight in the fridge before cooking.

Preheat your air fryer to 320-350°F.

In a small bowl, mix together your glaze ingredients. You can use a combination of honey, brown sugar, butter, garlic powder, cinnamon, Dijon mustard, pineapple juice, and/or orange juice.

Place your ham steak in the air fryer basket and brush the glaze over the top and sides.

Cook the ham steak for 20 minutes. After this initial cooking time, add more glaze and seal the top of the ham with foil. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Remove the ham steak from the air fryer and add a final layer of glaze. Increase the heat to 350-380°F and cook for a further 2-5 minutes, or until the glaze is browned to your liking.

Remove the ham steak from the air fryer and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Tips:

• If you prefer your ham steak without the glaze touching the meat, you can add a layer of parchment paper between the ham and the glaze.
• For juicy, perfectly cooked ham, wrap the steak in foil to keep it moist during cooking.
• Baste the ham steak with glaze throughout the cooking process for extra flavor.
• Different air fryers may cook at different wattages, so adjust the cooking time as needed.
• The cooking time will also depend on the thickness of your ham steak, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
• Use a meat thermometer to check that the ham steak has reached an internal temperature of 140-145°F.
• For a crispier texture, score the ham steak by making criss-cross cuts in the surface before cooking.

How to cook a precooked ham without drying it out

The key to cooking a precooked ham in an air fryer without drying it out is to wrap the ham in foil to allow it to heat through without getting too browned or drying out. You can also baste the ham with a glaze to keep it moist as it cooks.

• Preheat your air fryer to 300-325°F.
• Wrap the ham in foil, ensuring that the seam is at the top so you can open it during cooking. If you prefer the foil not to touch the meat, you can add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the ham.
• Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer basket and cook for 20-25 minutes.
• While the ham is cooking, make your glaze by melting butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. You can also add honey, orange juice, or pineapple juice to the glaze. Stir until the mixture starts bubbling, then remove from heat.
• Open the foil and brush the glaze over the ham.
• Close the foil and cook the ham for an additional 15-20 minutes.
• Fold the foil down and brush the ham with the remaining glaze.
• Increase the temperature to 350-380°F and cook the ham for another 2-5 minutes, or until the glaze is browned and the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F.
• Remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and shape of your ham, as well as the model of your air fryer. A thinner, flatter ham will cook quicker than a rounder, deeper ham. It is also important to make sure that your ham fits comfortably in the air fryer and does not touch the heating element.

How long to cook air fryer ham boneless

Air-frying a boneless ham is a great way to save oven space or to cook a small ham for a few people. It's also a good option if you want to get a crispy outside to your ham.

The time it takes to cook a boneless ham in an air fryer depends on the size of the ham and the model of the air fryer. A 3-pound boneless ham will take around 40-50 minutes to cook in an air fryer at 325°F. However, it's important to note that thinner, flatter hams will cook quicker than rounder, deeper hams.

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 320-325°F.

Step 2: Prepare the Ham

Completely wrap the ham in aluminum foil, ensuring the seam is at the top so you can open it during cooking. If you don't want the foil to touch the meat, you can add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the ham.

Step 3: Cook the Ham

Place the ham in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Make the Glaze

While the ham is cooking, make the glaze by melting butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. You can also add honey, orange juice, or pineapple juice to the glaze. Stir the ingredients until they start to bubble, then remove from the heat and set aside.

Step 5: Glaze the Ham

After 20 minutes, open the foil and brush the glaze all over the ham. Close the foil and cook the ham for another 15-20 minutes.

Step 6: Uncover and Glaze Again

Fold down the foil and brush the remaining glaze on the ham. Increase the temperature to 350-380°F and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes, or until the ham is browned and the internal temperature reaches 140-145°F.

Step 7: Rest and Serve

Remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips:

• It's important that the ham fits comfortably in the air fryer and does not touch the heating element. If necessary, slice off some parts of the ham to make it fit.
• Cooking the ham in foil will help it stay moist and prevent it from drying out.
• To ensure even cooking, let the ham sit at room temperature for a few minutes before cooking.
• Different air fryers may cook at different wattages, so you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Frequently asked questions