Air-Fried Honey Glazed Ham: A Quick Holiday Treat

Air fryers are a great way to cook ham, whether it's for a holiday meal or a weeknight dinner. They free up oven space and help you avoid the hassle of different dishes requiring different temperatures. In this article, we'll take you through the steps to make a delicious honey-glazed ham in your air fryer, including preparation, cooking, and serving tips for a juicy and flavourful ham that your family will love.

Choosing the right ham

Type of Ham:

Firstly, decide if you want a boneless or bone-in ham. Boneless hams are more convenient and suitable for air fryers as bone-in hams are usually too thick to fit. However, with a bone-in ham, you can use the ham bone to make other dishes like soup.

Ham Weight:

The weight of the ham depends on the size of your air fryer. Most recipes suggest a fully cooked ham weighing between 2 to 4 pounds for a standard 6-quart air fryer. If your air fryer is smaller, opt for a 2-pound ham. For larger air fryers, you can go up to 5 pounds but may need to slice the ham to fit.

Ham Shape:

The shape of the ham is also important. Ensure the ham fits comfortably in your air fryer with some space around it. If needed, trim the bottom of the ham so it isn't too tall and doesn't touch the heating element. For basket-style air fryers, create a foil boat to hold the ham and its juices. For oven-style air fryers, use a small baking pan that fits inside the air fryer cavity.

Glaze and Seasonings:

The glaze and seasonings you use will enhance the flavour of your ham. A combination of honey, brown sugar, and spices like mustard, garlic powder, cinnamon, and cloves is a popular choice. You can also add orange juice or apple cider vinegar for a tangy twist. Adjust the glaze quantities as needed, but ensure you use at least half to prevent the ham from drying out.

Pre-cooked or Pre-sliced:

Using a fully cooked ham will reduce your cooking time. Additionally, a pre-sliced ham allows the glaze to drip into the slices, enhancing the flavour. However, if you prefer to hand-slice your ham, opt for a whole ham and make criss-cross cuts about half an inch deep to help the skin crisp up.

Remember to remove the ham from the fridge about two hours before cooking to bring it to room temperature, ensuring it cooks evenly. With the right ham and some tasty glaze, you're well on your way to a delicious honey-glazed ham!

Preparing the glaze

For a simple glaze, combine brown sugar, honey, and ground cloves in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until the ingredients are well combined. You can also add orange juice, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, or mustard to taste. Heat the mixture and whisk until the brown sugar is dissolved, then set it aside.

If you prefer a thicker glaze, you can simmer the mixture for a few minutes. For a more complex flavour, try adding Dijon mustard, orange juice, or even rum to the glaze. You can also experiment with other seasonings, such as garlic powder, dry parsley, or ground mustard.

If you're short on time, you can melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer and stir the mixture until it starts bubbling, then remove it from the heat.

For a 3-pound ham, you will need about 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of honey for the glaze. Adjust the measurements accordingly if you have a larger or smaller ham.

Glazing the ham

Preparing the Glaze:

First, gather your ingredients: a combination of brown sugar, honey, orange juice, and seasonings such as ground mustard, garlic powder, dry parsley, ground cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper. You can also add Dijon mustard or apple cider vinegar for an extra kick.

Mix all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. If you're using butter, melt it in a small saucepan over medium-low heat before adding the rest of the ingredients. Stir the mixture until it starts to bubble, then remove it from the heat.

Glazing Technique:

Now, it's time to apply the glaze to your ham. Start by brushing about a quarter of the glaze mixture onto the top of the ham. If your ham is pre-sliced, make sure the glaze drips down into the slices.

Next, wrap the ham tightly in foil, bringing it up from the sides but leaving the top open. This creates a foil bowl that will catch the juices and keep the ham moist.

Cooking and Re-glazing:

Place the glazed and foil-wrapped ham in the air fryer and cook at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. The exact time will depend on the size of your ham and the type of air fryer you're using.

Once the initial cooking time is up, open the foil and brush another quarter of the glaze onto the ham. Re-wrap the ham and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Repeat this process, adding another layer of glaze and cooking for 10-15 minutes. For the final glaze, brush on all the remaining seasoning mixture and cook uncovered for 5 minutes at a higher temperature of 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit to caramelize the glaze.

Tips:

• Ensure your ham is at room temperature before glazing and cooking.
• Don't let the foil touch the heating element of your air fryer. If necessary, trim the ham to fit snugly in the air fryer.
• If you're using a whole cooked ham, make criss-cross cuts about 1/2 inch deep to help the skin crisp up.
• For a crispy, caramelized texture, finish the ham uncovered for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• If you want to add some extra flavour, try using pineapple juice and slices of pineapple for a pineapple glaze.

Now you know the secrets to glazing a ham to perfection in your air fryer!

Cooking the ham

Take your fully cooked ham out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about two hours before cooking. This will ensure that the ham is not cold in the centre after air frying.

Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (or 340°F if you're using an oven-style air fryer).

Line your air fryer basket with two pieces of long, overlapping foil sheets. Place the ham on top of the foil and brush with some of the glaze. Close the foil over the ham and wrap it tightly. Make sure the foil isn't touching the heating element in the air fryer.

Air fry the ham for 15 minutes at 320°F.

Open the foil and brush approximately 1/4 of the glaze onto the ham. Re-cover the ham with foil and cook for a further 15 minutes at 320°F.

Repeat the previous step, but this time cook the ham at 320°F for 10 minutes.

Brush the remaining glaze onto the ham and cook, uncovered, at 350°F for 5 minutes to caramelise the glaze.

Let the ham rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Serving suggestions

Honey-glazed ham cooked in an air fryer is a juicy and flavourful dish that can be served for a small family gathering or a holiday meal. It can be served with a variety of side dishes, such as:

• Green beans
• Roasted carrots
• Creamy grape salad
• Mac & cheese
• Instant pot mashed potatoes
• Asparagus salad
• Grilled zucchini
• Pineapple raisin sauce
• Perfect mashed potatoes
• Oven-roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon
• Green beans almondine
• Pearl onions in cream sauce

Leftover ham can be used in sandwiches, soups, casseroles, or omelettes. It can also be frozen for later use.

Frequently asked questions