Emilie Meyer
Cooking ham in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal. It's perfect for a holiday feast or a simple weeknight dinner. While many recipes include a glaze, you can also cook ham in an air fryer without one. The key to cooking ham in an air fryer is to wrap it in foil to prevent it from drying out and to ensure it cooks evenly. You can also line the air fryer basket with foil to make cleaning up easier. Depending on the size of your ham and your air fryer, the cooking time will vary, but on average, it takes about 10 minutes per pound of ham to cook it thoroughly.
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What You'll Learn
Wrapping the ham in foil
To wrap the ham in foil, start by placing two large sheets of foil in the basket of the air fryer. You can also line a pan with foil and place it in the basket if you want to catch the drips of glaze for easier cleanup. Place the ham in the centre of the basket or on the pan, with the seam of the ham facing up. If you prefer the foil not to touch the meat, you can add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the ham.
Once the ham is in the air fryer, pull the foil up and over the ham, wrapping it tightly to ensure it is fully covered. Depending on the size of your ham, you may need to use additional sheets of foil to achieve this.
After the ham has been cooking for a while, you will need to remove it from the air fryer and unwrap it to add the glaze. Pull the foil back to expose the ham, being careful not to drip glaze onto the air fryer, and brush the ham with the glaze. Then, re-cover the ham with the foil, pulling it tightly closed again, and return the ham to the air fryer to continue cooking.
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Preparing the glaze
The glaze is an important component of cooking ham in an air fryer, as it adds colour, flavour, and texture to the meat. While brown sugar is a popular choice for a glaze, you can use any sweetener you have on hand, such as honey or even melted jelly. You can also add other ingredients like cinnamon, butter, cloves, mustard, garlic powder, or soy sauce to enhance the flavour. For a fruity twist, consider using mango, peaches, or raisins in your glaze.
To make the glaze, simply combine your chosen ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until well combined and simmering. You can also melt butter and add other ingredients to make a glaze, whisking them together while the ham cooks. If your glaze has been in the fridge, you may need to warm it up before applying it to the ham.
The glaze should be added during the last few minutes of cooking. This allows it to caramelize on top of the ham, creating a delicious, sticky and sweet crust. You can also reserve some of the glaze to drizzle over individual slices of ham before serving.
- Combine 1 cup of brown sugar with 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of ground cloves in a small saucepan.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the ingredients are well combined and simmering.
- Brush the glaze onto the ham during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking.
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Air-frying the ham
Air-frying ham is a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal. It is perfect for a holiday feast or a simple weeknight dinner. Here is a step-by-step guide to air-frying a juicy and tender ham without a glaze:
Preparing the Ham:
Firstly, ensure you have a fully cooked, pre-sliced ham that fits in your air fryer. The size of the ham will depend on your air fryer model. For a 3-pound ham, a 6-quart air fryer should be sufficient. You can use a bone-in or boneless ham, but make sure it is not glazed or spiral-cut.
Wrapping the Ham:
Line the air fryer basket with two large sheets of aluminum foil, allowing for easy removal. Place the ham in the centre of the foil and wrap it completely, ensuring the seam is at the top. You can add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the meat if desired.
Cooking the Ham:
Preheat your air fryer to 300-320 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer and cook for 20-25 minutes. While the ham is cooking, prepare your glaze or simply melt butter or your preferred cooking oil.
Glazing the Ham:
After the initial cooking time, carefully open the foil and brush the ham with the glaze or butter. Close the foil and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
Final Steps:
Pull the foil halfway down the ham and brush with glaze once more. Increase the temperature to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for a final 3-5 minutes to achieve a browned and caramelized finish.
Resting and Serving:
Remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your juicy and tender air-fried ham!
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Applying the glaze
The glaze is what gives your ham that extra burst of flavour and colour, so it's important to get this step right. First, you'll want to make your glaze. You can use a variety of ingredients to make a glaze, including honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and mustard. Simply melt your chosen sweetener in a saucepan over medium heat and add any spices you like. You can also add some butter or oil for a richer glaze.
Once you have your glaze ready, it's time to apply it to the ham. If you're using foil to cook your ham, you'll want to unwrap the ham and brush the glaze all over the meat. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies, and don't be shy with the glaze—the more, the better!
After glazing, re-cover the ham with foil and place it back in the air fryer. You'll want to cook it for another 20 minutes or so, depending on the size of your ham. For a 3-pound ham, 20 minutes should be enough, but for larger hams, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Finally, pull the foil down to expose the top of the ham. Brush on some more glaze and air fry for an additional 3-10 minutes, until the glaze is nicely browned and caramelized. The internal temperature of the ham should reach 140-145°F for food safety.
Let the ham rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This will give the juices a chance to redistribute and ensure that your ham is nice and moist. Enjoy your delicious, juicy, and perfectly glazed air-fried ham!
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Resting and serving the ham
Once the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F on a meat thermometer, remove it from the air fryer. Rest the ham for 10 minutes before serving. While the ham is resting, you can prepare some side dishes like roasted vegetables, salads, or casseroles.
After the ham has rested, use a sharp knife and a cutting board to slice the ham. If you glazed the ham, you may want to reserve some of the glaze to drizzle over the individual slices. Transfer the sliced ham onto a serving platter and serve.
If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat the ham, place the slices in your preheated air fryer and heat for 2-3 minutes.
If you want to freeze the leftover ham, wrap it tightly in foil and place it in a freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw the ham, place it in the refrigerator overnight, and then reheat it in the air fryer as mentioned above.
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Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the weight of the ham. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes per pound of ham. For example, a 3-pound ham will take 30 minutes to cook.
The temperature depends on the type of air fryer you have. Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to 300-320 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some recipes suggest increasing the temperature to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit after the ham has been glazed.
It is recommended to let the ham sit at room temperature for a few minutes. You can then wrap the ham in aluminum foil, making sure the seam is at the top. 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.
You can make a glaze by melting butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. You can also add other ingredients like honey, ground cloves, or mustard to taste.
The ham is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer. It should also be browned and caramelized on the outside.
