Air-Fried Ham: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Cooking sliced ham in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty meal with just a few simple ingredients. It's a great option for a holiday meal or a small gathering, and you can have it ready in less than an hour. Depending on the size and wattage of your air fryer, you can cook sliced ham in an air fryer for as little as 5 minutes or as long as 45 minutes.

Air fryer ham steak recipe

Air fryer ham steaks are a quick and easy meal to make, perfect for a holiday dinner or a weeknight. They are thick ham slices cut from a whole ham roast and can be purchased at your local grocery store. They come in both boneless and bone-in cuts and are usually pre-cooked.

Ingredients:

• Ham steaks
• Butter (unsalted)
• Brown sugar
• Thyme
• Honey
• Seasoned salt
• Cinnamon

Optional ingredients:

• Maple syrup
• Fresh rosemary
• Dijon mustard
• Pineapple slices

Cooking instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the ham steak from its packaging.
• Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Mix the melted butter with the brown sugar, thyme, and any other desired seasonings in a bowl.
• Place the ham steak in the preheated air fryer and baste half of the mixture on top of the ham slice.
• Cook for 5-10 minutes, then flip the ham over and baste the remaining butter and brown sugar mixture on top.
• Continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your ham steak.
• If desired, drizzle honey on top of the ham steak after removing it from the air fryer.
• Serve with your favorite sides, such as green beans, rice, rolls, or potatoes.

Notes:

• Air fryers can vary in size and temperature, so it is important to check your ham on the early side of the recommended cook time to ensure the sugar doesn't burn.
• 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 and hitting the coils. If this happens, add a piece of bread under the basket or a tiny bit of water under the basket.
• Leftover ham slices can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

How to prep ham for the air fryer

Preparing ham for the air fryer is a simple process. Firstly, it is important to ensure that your ham is fully cooked, as some varieties of ham steak are pre-cooked. If you are cooking a large ham, you may need to cut it into two equal pieces to ensure it fits in the air fryer.

Next, you should allow the ham to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before cooking. This will ensure that the ham cooks evenly. It is recommended that ham should not sit out for longer than a couple of hours.

Now, you can begin preparing your glaze. A popular glaze for air fryer ham is a mixture of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. You can melt these ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat, or in a microwave-safe bowl. You can also add honey, thyme, or rosemary to your glaze for extra flavor.

Once your glaze is prepared, brush it over the top and sides of the ham. Be sure to reserve some glaze to baste the ham with during the cooking process.

Finally, wrap your glazed ham in foil. This will help the ham to heat through without drying out or getting too browned. Ensure that the seam of the foil is at the top so that it can be easily opened. Your ham is now ready to be placed in the air fryer and cooked according to your chosen recipe.

Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for cooking sliced ham in an air fryer depend on the type of ham and the glaze used. Here are some general guidelines:

For ham steaks, which are thick slices of ham, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature ensures that the sugar in the glaze doesn't burn too quickly. Place the ham steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Then, use tongs to flip the ham and air fry for another 7 to 8 minutes on the other side. The total cooking time for ham steaks is around 15-16 minutes.

If you are using a glaze with butter and brown sugar, you can baste the ham steaks with half of the mixture before placing them in the air fryer. After the initial 7-8 minutes, flip the ham steaks, baste with the remaining mixture, and add honey if desired. Cook for another 7-8 minutes.

For smaller ham slices, a temperature of 320 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended to avoid burning the outside before the inside is cooked. Heat the ham slices for 2-3 minutes until thoroughly heated. You can also layer the ham slices slightly if needed.

If you are cooking a larger ham, such as a 3-3.5 pound fully cooked ham, you can preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap the ham in foil and cook for 30 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to 380 degrees Fahrenheit, uncover the ham, and cook for an additional 10 minutes until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140-145 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's important to note that different air fryers may cook at different wattages and temperatures, so you may need to adjust the temperature and timing accordingly. Additionally, hams come in different shapes and sizes, which can affect the cooking time. Always use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the ham to ensure it is cooked thoroughly.

Reheating ham in the air fryer

To reheat leftover ham slices in an air fryer, simply place the slices in a preheated air fryer set to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and heat for 2-3 minutes.

If you are reheating a larger joint of ham, it is recommended to wrap the ham in foil and place it in the air fryer at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and increase the heat to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for the final 3 minutes of cooking time.

As air fryers vary in size and wattage, you may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly. It is recommended to use an instant-read thermometer to check that the ham has reached a safe temperature of 140-145 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your ham is fatty, you may experience some smoking. This is caused by fat dripping onto the heating element. To avoid this, you can place a piece of bread in the drawer below the basket to absorb the fat.

You can also reheat ham slices in a pan over medium heat or in the oven.

Air fryer ham with a glaze

Air fryer ham is a delicious and easy recipe to cook, making it a great option for a family holiday dinner. The cooking time depends on the size and shape of the ham, as well as the model of the air fryer. For a 2-3 pound ham, the cooking time is approximately 40-50 minutes. A thinner, flatter ham will cook quicker than a rounder, deeper one.

Ingredients:

• Ham (boneless or bone-in)
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon (optional)
• Honey (optional)
• Orange juice (optional)
• Mustard powder (optional)
• Thyme (optional)
• Maple syrup (optional)
• Fresh rosemary (optional)
• Dijon mustard (optional)
• Pineapple slices (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 300-380 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will depend on the model of your air fryer and the size and shape of your ham. For thinner hams, use a higher temperature.
• Place two large sheets of foil in the basket of the air fryer. You can also use parchment paper, but it's important to use a layer under the ham to prevent the glaze from sticking to the basket.
• Add the ham to the center of the basket. Make sure the ham fits comfortably and does not touch the heating element.
• Prepare the glaze by melting the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon (if using) in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. You can also add honey, orange juice, and mustard powder for a sweeter glaze. Alternatively, use maple syrup or fresh rosemary for a savory dish.
• Brush the glaze over the top and sides of the ham.
• Cover the ham with foil and place it in the preheated air fryer for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, remove the ham from the air fryer and add additional glaze.
• Seal the foil onto the ham and cook for another 20 minutes.
• Pull the foil halfway down the ham and brush with glaze again. Increase the heat to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Air fry the ham for an additional 3-8 minutes, or until the glaze is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 140-165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

You can also make ham steaks in the air fryer, which are thick ham slices cut from a whole ham roast. Simply baste the ham slices with butter, brown sugar, and honey (if using), and air fry for 5-10 minutes on each side.

Frequently asked questions