Air Fryer Ham: The Perfect Holiday Centerpiece

Cooking ham in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal for any occasion. Whether you're feeding a smaller group for a holiday gathering or simply enjoying a weeknight dinner, air fryer ham is a tasty and convenient option. The air fryer method cuts down on cooking time compared to traditional oven baking, resulting in a juicy ham with a crispy, golden crust. With a simple glaze and a few basic ingredients, you can create a mouth-watering dish that your family and friends will love.

Choosing the right ham

Type of Ham:

The two main types of ham you can cook in an air fryer are city hams and country hams. City hams are the classic holiday hams that are moist, tender, and typically sold ready-to-eat in supermarkets. They are also usually boneless, which is ideal for air frying. Country hams, on the other hand, are dry-cured and aged, and less commonly found in grocery stores. If you opt for a country ham, look for a small, boneless variety that has been pre-soaked and cooked.

Ham Size:

The size of your ham will depend on the capacity of your air fryer. Most recipes recommend using a 3-pound ham, which fits well in a 5.8-quart air fryer. If you have a larger air fryer, you may be able to fit a bigger ham, but keep in mind that the cooking time may need to be adjusted accordingly. If your ham is too large, you might need to cut it into smaller pieces to fit in the air fryer.

Bone-in or Boneless:

Boneless hams are typically recommended for air frying as they are less likely to dry out and are easier to fit into the air fryer. However, you can also use a bone-in ham if you have a large enough air fryer and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Pre-cooked or Uncooked:

Most air fryer ham recipes call for using a fully cooked ham. This is because the air fryer is primarily used to heat the ham thoroughly, add a crispy, golden crust, and enhance its flavor with a glaze. If you opt for an uncooked ham, ensure you cook it to the appropriate internal temperature before serving.

Glazed or Unglazed:

You can choose to buy a ham that comes with a glaze packet or opt for an unglazed ham. If you want to customize your glaze, it is best to buy an unglazed ham. Most recipes include making a simple glaze with ingredients like brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, and other seasonings.

Storage and Shelf Life:

If you are not planning to cook your ham right away, consider the storage and shelf life. A cooked ham can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 6 months. Leftover ham can also be enjoyed cold in salads, sandwiches, or added to soups and stews.

By considering these factors, you can choose the right ham for your air fryer and ensure a delicious and successful cooking experience.

Preparing the glaze

The glaze is a key component of this recipe, giving the ham a sweet and sticky coating. The glaze is made by combining several simple ingredients in a small saucepan.

Firstly, take butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and melt them together over medium heat until simmering. You can adjust the measurements of these ingredients to your taste, but a good starting point is half a cup of butter, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, and three-quarters of a cup of brown sugar. You can also add other spices like ground cloves or nutmeg to enhance the flavour.

Next, add some pineapple to the saucepan. Crushed pineapple with its juices works well, but you could also use pineapple rings as a garnish. If you want to experiment with other fruits, you could try apricot or honey. You could also add some ginger to give the glaze a little kick.

For a touch of saltiness, add a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. You could also try using coconut aminos for a similar effect.

Finally, stir everything together and simmer the glaze for a couple of minutes, making sure to keep stirring so that it doesn't burn. Then, remove the glaze from the heat and set it aside until you're ready to glaze the ham.

If you want to get creative, you can tweak the glaze recipe by adding your own favourite ingredients. For an extra festive touch, try adding some ground cinnamon or inserting whole cloves into the ham.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for air fryer ham depend on the size of the ham and the model of your air fryer. A good rule of thumb is to cook the ham for around 10 minutes per pound at 300°F. For example, a 3-pound ham will likely take around 30 minutes to cook at this temperature. However, it's important to note that different air fryers cook at different wattages, so you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Most recipes recommend cooking the ham in two or three stages, with the initial cooking stage being around 20 minutes. After this, you can add the glaze and cook for another 20 minutes. Finally, you can increase the temperature to 350°F or higher to brown the top of the ham for a few minutes.

It's important to ensure that the ham is fully cooked before serving. The internal temperature of the ham should reach 140°F to 145°F. You can use an instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer to check this.

If you are reheating leftover ham in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 320°F and heat the ham slices for 2 to 3 minutes.

Resting and serving

Once your ham has reached an internal temperature of 140-145°F, it's time to take it out of the air fryer and let it rest. Most recipes recommend letting the ham rest for 10 minutes before serving. This will give you time to prepare any side dishes and make sure your ham is nice and juicy.

While the ham is resting, you can prepare a sauce to pour over it. Simply pour the juices from the ham into a small saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat until they thicken into a syrup. This will take about 10 minutes.

After the ham has rested, use a sharp knife to slice it into thin slices. You can then transfer the sliced ham to a serving platter and pour the sauce over it.

Your air-fried ham is now ready to be served! It's perfect for a holiday meal or any special occasion. Enjoy the delicious sweet and salty flavours of the ham with your favourite side dishes.

Storing and reheating leftovers

Storing and reheating leftover ham properly is key to a great meal, even after the feast.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover ham can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you're not going to eat it within that time, it's best to dispose of it.

Reheating in an Air Fryer

Reheating ham in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get perfectly cooked ham. It's healthier than an oven, as it uses hot air to cook food, rather than oil, and it's faster, too. Plus, it gives ham a crispy texture.

To reheat ham slices in the air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 350-360°F. Place the ham slices in a single layer in the basket or tray and cook for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through.

For a whole ham, preheat your air fryer to 325°F. Place the ham in the basket, cut-side down, and cook for 10 minutes. Flip the ham and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the ham and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

It's important to note that you should add a little liquid to the bottom of the air fryer pan when reheating ham to prevent it from drying out. Use about two tablespoons of water, broth, or another liquid of your choice.

Other Reheating Methods

You can also reheat ham in the oven, microwave, stove-top, or slow cooker.

To reheat in the oven, preheat to 325°F. Arrange slices in a single layer on a greased baking pan, add a couple of tablespoons of broth or water, cover with foil, and bake for about 10 minutes, turning slices once.

For the microwave, arrange slices in a single layer on a plate. If your dish is deep enough, add a tablespoon of broth or water, cover the slices with a damp paper towel, and microwave for 30-60 seconds, or until heated through.

Reheating ham on the stove-top is easy. Simply add a few slices at a time to a skillet over medium-high heat and add chicken broth, butter, or oil to keep the meat moist.

While the USDA doesn't recommend reheating leftovers in a slow cooker, you can warm up pre-cooked ham in one by setting it to a minimum temperature of 140°F and adding enough liquid to cover the bottom of the liner.

Frequently asked questions