Tiffany Haney
Cooking a whole ham in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal for your family and friends. With a variety of glaze options, including honey, pineapple, and brown sugar, you can have a mouth-watering ham ready in less than an hour. The air fryer method is a game-changer, resulting in juicy ham with slightly crispy edges in half the time of traditional oven cooking. This guide will teach you how to cook a whole ham in an air fryer, including preparation, cooking, and serving tips, so you can impress your loved ones with a tasty treat during the holidays or any time of year!
Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Whole Ham in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of ham | Boneless, pre-cooked |
| Weight | 3-3.5 pounds |
| Temperature | 300-380°F |
| Cook time | 40-50 minutes |
| Glaze | Honey, brown sugar, pineapple, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, butter |
| Rest time | 10-15 minutes |
| Internal temperature | 140-145°F |
| Leftovers | Refrigerate for up to 4-5 days or freeze for up to 6 months |
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What You'll Learn
Glazing the ham
Once the glaze is prepared, remove the ham from the air fryer and carefully open the foil. Brush half of the glaze onto the ham, making sure to get it into any slices or crevices. Then, reseal the foil and place the ham back into the air fryer for an additional 15-20 minutes.
After the ham has finished cooking, remove it from the air fryer and carefully open the foil again. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham, then reseal the foil. Increase the heat in the air fryer and cook the ham for another 3-5 minutes to brown the top and give it a crispy, golden crust.
Finally, remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious, juicy and flavorful glazed ham!
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Preparing the ham for the air fryer
Next, score the ham by making diagonal slices across the top. You can also insert whole cloves into each diamond you've scored. This will give your ham an extra burst of flavour. Once you've scored the ham, it's time to make the glaze. Combine butter, brown sugar, crushed pineapple (with juice), grated ginger, and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly for 2 minutes, then set it aside.
Finally, place the foil-wrapped ham in the centre of the air fryer basket and brush the glaze over the top and sides of the ham.
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Cooking the ham
First, remove the ham from its packaging and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. If your ham is frozen, make sure to thaw it overnight in the fridge before cooking. It is important to use a pre-cooked, boneless ham for this recipe, as a bone-in ham is unlikely to fit in the air fryer. You will also want to use a ham that is small enough to fit in your air fryer, so for larger hams, you may need to cut it into two equal pieces.
Next, wrap the ham in foil, with the seam at the top. You can add a layer of parchment paper between the foil and the meat if you prefer. Place the wrapped ham in the air fryer basket and cook at a temperature between 300 and 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes. While the ham is cooking, make your glaze by melting butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. You can also add other ingredients like pineapple juice, crushed pineapple, grated ginger, soy sauce, nutmeg, and salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring continuously, then remove from the heat and set aside.
After the initial cooking time, carefully open the foil and brush the glaze onto the ham, covering the top and sides. You can also brush the glaze in between slices if your ham is sliced. Close the foil back up and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes. Finally, pull the foil down to expose the top of the ham and brush with the remaining glaze. Increase the heat to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, until the ham is browned and caramelized. The ham is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the ham from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your juicy, flavorful air fryer ham!
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Resting the ham
Firstly, remove the cooked ham from the air fryer basket. Place it on a cutting board or a serving platter. It is important to note that the ham will continue to cook for a brief period after being removed from the air fryer due to residual heat. This is called "carry-over cooking." The resting period allows the juices to redistribute within the meat, making the ham moist and flavorful.
For a 3-pound ham, let it rest for about 10 minutes. If your ham is larger, you may need to increase the resting time. As a rule of thumb, allow the ham to rest for approximately 5-10% of the total cooking time. For example, if your ham cooked for 40 minutes, let it rest for 2-4 minutes.
During the resting period, the ham's internal temperature will continue to rise slightly. This is normal and contributes to the cooking process. The ham is ready to be sliced and served once the temperature has stabilized.
While the ham rests, you can prepare any side dishes or finish setting the table. If you have made a glaze for the ham, you can also use this time to brush on any remaining glaze. This will ensure that the ham stays moist and flavorful.
Finally, use a sharp knife to slice the ham thinly and evenly. Arrange the slices on a serving platter, and your delicious air-fried ham is ready to be enjoyed!
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Storing and reheating leftovers
When you're ready to enjoy your leftover ham, simply reheat it in your air fryer at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes. You can also reheat the ham in the microwave or oven.
Leftover ham is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. You can slice it and add it to sandwiches, salads, soups, or stews. If you're feeling creative, you can even fry the ham slices in a skillet and serve them on a biscuit.
Reheating ham in the air fryer is a quick and convenient way to enjoy delicious, juicy ham slices. It's a great option for a quick weeknight dinner or a tasty addition to your lunch.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes less than an hour to cook a whole ham in an air fryer. For example, a 3-3.5 pound ham will take around 50 minutes to cook at 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature will vary depending on the recipe and the size of your ham. Most recipes recommend cooking at 300-320 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can use a variety of glazes for your ham, including honey, brown sugar, pineapple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your ham. The ham is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140-145 degrees Fahrenheit.
