Ella Walter
Cooking a gammon joint in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, succulent ham. It's a versatile dish that can be served as a Sunday roast, in a sandwich, or as part of a pasta dish or salad. Air fryers are smaller than ovens, so you're heating up a smaller appliance, which saves energy and money. They also cook food quicker, making them ideal for busy families. To make air-fried gammon, you'll need a gammon joint, foil, and a few ingredients for a glaze. The cooking time will depend on the weight of your joint, but generally, it will take around 40 minutes to an hour to cook a gammon joint in an air fryer.
Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Gammon Joint in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ease of Cooking | Easy, simple, fast, quick, versatile |
| Taste | Tasty, delicious, succulent, yummy |
| Cost | Cost-effective, cheaper to run than an oven |
| Energy Use | Energy-saving |
| Space Use | Smaller than an oven, frees up oven space |
| Cleanliness | Easier to clean than an oven |
| Cooking Time | Faster than a standard oven |
| Temperature | 160°C-180°C (340°F-356°F) |
| Cooking Time (by weight) | 35 mins for 500g, 50 mins for 750g, 1 hr for 1kg, 1 hr 20 mins for 1.5kg |
| Glaze | Honey, mustard, maple syrup, redcurrant jelly, orange juice, jam, marmalade, brown sugar |
| Foil | Use foil to prevent burning, stop drying out |
| Joint Size | Depends on the size of the air fryer |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right gammon joint
Firstly, decide on the size of the gammon joint you need. A small gammon joint typically ranges from 750g to 1.1kg, while larger joints can go up to 1.5kg or more. The size you choose will depend on the number of people you're serving and the size of your air fryer. It's important to ensure that the joint fits comfortably in your air fryer with some space around it for the air to circulate, so the gammon cooks evenly.
Next, consider the type of gammon joint you prefer. You can choose between a smoked or unsmoked joint, depending on your taste. Smoked joints have a distinct flavour that some people enjoy, while others prefer the milder taste of unsmoked gammon. It's a matter of personal preference, so feel free to select the option that appeals to you most.
When choosing your gammon joint, look for one with a good layer of fat. While many gammon joints these days have a small amount of fat or none at all, a layer of fat can help protect the meat during cooking and adds flavour. You can choose to cut most of it off, leaving a thin layer to crisp up during the final stages of cooking for a tasty, appetising presentation.
Additionally, pay attention to the pork content of the gammon joint. While any gammon joint will work well in an air fryer, you may have a preference for joints with a higher pork content. Check the packaging or ask your butcher about the pork content if this is important to you.
Lastly, be mindful of whether your gammon joint has been pre-cooked or not. In some countries, it is common to find pre-cooked gammon joints, while in others, such as the UK, uncooked gammon joints are more standard. Using a pre-cooked joint in an air fryer recipe designed for uncooked gammon is a common mistake that can lead to undercooked meat. Always check the packaging and recipe requirements to ensure you're using the correct type of gammon joint.
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Glaze ingredients
There are a variety of glaze ingredients you can use for your gammon joint in the air fryer. Here are some options:
- Honey and mustard: Mix honey with an equal blend of dijon mustard and wholegrain mustard. You can also add dark brown sugar to this mixture for an extra depth of flavour.
- Honey and syrup: Combine honey with syrup or maple syrup and season with salt and pepper.
- Redcurrant jelly, mustard, and orange juice: Mix redcurrant jelly with wholegrain mustard and a splash of orange juice.
- Honey and marmalade: Mix two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of dijon mustard and marmalade.
The glaze should be brushed onto the gammon joint during cooking, every 20 minutes or towards the end of the cooking time. For a festive touch, you can stick cloves into the rind before adding the glaze.
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Preparing the gammon joint
Next, remove the gammon joint from its packaging, including any string, and allow it to come to room temperature before cooking. This usually takes around 30-45 minutes. While the gammon is coming to room temperature, you can make the glaze. A classic honey and mustard glaze can be made by mixing honey, mustard, and dark brown sugar. You can also experiment with other ingredients like maple syrup, redcurrant jelly, orange juice, or even cloves for a festive touch.
Once the gammon is at room temperature, use a sharp knife to remove the skin and leave a thin layer of fat. Score the fat in a diamond or cross-hatch pattern, which will help it crisp up during cooking. Place a large piece of foil in the air fryer basket and position the gammon joint in the middle. Pour the glaze over the joint, turning it to ensure it is completely coated. Wrap the gammon tightly in the foil to create a parcel.
If your air fryer requires preheating, set it to 170-180°C (340-356°F) for 5 minutes. Carefully place the foil-wrapped gammon joint into the preheated air fryer basket, ensuring it doesn't touch the sides. The cooking time will depend on the weight of your joint, but a good rule of thumb is 25 minutes per 500g of raw meat, plus an extra 20 minutes. For example, a 750g joint should cook for 50 minutes, while a 1kg joint will take around an hour.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for gammon joints in an air fryer vary depending on the weight of the joint and the model of the air fryer. It is recommended to check that the gammon joint fits in the air fryer basket before cooking.
For a 500g gammon joint, air fry for 35 minutes at 180°C (356°F) in the foil, then for 10 minutes uncovered. For a 750g gammon joint, air fry for 50 minutes at 180°C (356°F) in the foil, and then for 10 minutes uncovered. For a 1kg gammon joint, air fry for 1 hour at 180°C (356°F) in the foil, and then for 10 minutes uncovered. For a 1.5kg gammon joint, air fry for 1 hour and 20 minutes at 180°C (356°F) in the foil, and then for 10 minutes uncovered.
The general rule is to cook for 25 minutes per 500g (raw) meat, plus an extra 20 minutes. The gammon is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 70°C (160°F). It is recommended to use a food thermometer to check the temperature of the gammon.
Some recipes suggest preheating the air fryer for 5 minutes at 170°C (340°F) and cooking the gammon for 35 minutes. Then, remove the rind and score the fat cap with a knife. Finally, cook for another 15-20 minutes at 180°C (356°F) until golden and crispy.
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Serving suggestions
Gammon cooked in an air fryer is a versatile dish that can be served hot or cold. It can be sliced and used in sandwiches, pasta dishes, salads, or soups. It can also be used as a roast dinner, served with gravy, or as a centrepiece for a special occasion.
For a simple sandwich, try serving your air-fried gammon with buttered bread, pineapple salsa, and mustard. You could also add maple syrup or chilli jam for extra flavour. If you're after something more substantial, dice up your leftover gammon and add it to a chicken and ham hock filo pie or a leek and potato soup.
Gammon cooked in an air fryer can also be served as part of a full English breakfast or a fry-up. It can be sliced and fried alongside eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast.
For a more sophisticated meal, serve your air-fried gammon with creamy orzo and rosemary browned butter. Or, for a real treat, try it with garlic bread, diced air fryer potatoes, and crispy smashed broccoli.
If you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, air-fried gammon is a great option that can be paired with chicken or turkey. It's also budget-friendly, as gammon is one of the cheaper joints of meat.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking a gammon joint in an air fryer is easy and makes for a wonderfully tasty ham. First, take the gammon out of the fridge 30 to 45 minutes before you want to cook it. Then, make a glaze by mixing honey or syrup with mustard and seasoning with salt and pepper. Brush the glaze all over the gammon and wrap it in foil. Place the gammon in the air fryer basket and cook for around 40 minutes at 170°C (340°F) or 180°C (356°F). The gammon is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 62°C (145°F) to 70°C (160°F).
It takes around 50 minutes to cook a 750g gammon joint in an air fryer at 180°C (356°F). This includes 10 minutes at the end to crisp up the fat. The general rule is to cook for 25 minutes per 500g of raw meat, plus an extra 20 minutes.
No, the gammon joint does not need to be pre-soaked. However, it is important to note that the gammon joint should be uncooked before air frying.
You can use a variety of glazes for your gammon joint, such as honey and mustard, maple syrup and mustard, redcurrant jelly and mustard, or marmalade.
