This easy Air Fryer Ham is sure to become a family favorite! A brown sugar and pineapple glaze is spread on boneless ham, and it is then air-fried until it is warm, golden, and just right. Great for the holidays, or anytime!.
Air fryers have become one of the hottest kitchen gadgets in recent years With their ability to make fried foods with little to no oil, it’s no wonder why these small but mighty appliances have become so popular If you have an air fryer, you may be wondering what types of dishes you can make with it. Believe it or not, your air fryer is great for more than just french fries and chicken wings! One delicious treat you can make is crispy, savory country ham slices.
Country ham has a rich, salty, smoky flavor that pairs deliciously with all sorts of Southern classics. Traditionally, country ham is served baked or fried in a cast iron skillet. Frying can lead to greasy results, while baking often causes the ham to dry out. This is where the air fryer comes in! Air frying allows you to get perfect crispy edges on the ham without needing loads of oil. Follow this simple guide to learn how to cook succulent, crispy country ham slices in your air fryer.
Benefits of Cooking Country Ham in an Air Fryer
Before diving into the step-by-step instructions, let’s look at some of the biggest benefits of using an air fryer for country ham:
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Uses less oil: Regular pan frying can cause the ham slices to sit and cook in grease, making them oily and soggy. The air fryer requires little to no oil to get crispy results.
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Crispy edges The hot air circulated around the ham slices leads to an incredibly crispy, crunchy exterior without drying out the center
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Quick cooking time: With the air fryer, you can go from raw ham slices to piping hot crispy ham in just 10 minutes. It’s a quick and easy cooking method.
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Easy cleanup: Without dealing with messy oil splatters, cleanup is a breeze after air frying.
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Versatile: The cooked ham slices can be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks!
Now that you know the benefits, let’s get cooking!
Step-By-Step Guide to Cooking Country Ham in an Air Fryer
Air frying country ham slices is simple and takes minimal prep time. Here is an easy step-by-step walkthrough:
Ingredients:
- Country ham slices
- Seasonings of your choice (black pepper, garlic powder, etc.)
Directions:
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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
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Lightly season both sides of the ham slices with your chosen seasonings. Go light, as country ham has a naturally strong salty flavor.
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Place the seasoned ham slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Overcrowding prevents proper airflow.
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Cook the ham slices for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, open the air fryer and carefully flip the slices.
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Cook for another 5 minutes, adjusting time as needed based on thickness of the slices.
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Check for your desired level of crispiness after 10 minutes total cook time. For crispier results, cook for 1-2 minutes more.
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Remove the cooked country ham slices from the air fryer and let them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
And that’s it! In just 10 short minutes, you can have perfectly cooked country ham slices ready to eat. Keep reading for serving suggestions and helpful tips for getting the best results.
Serving Ideas for Air Fried Country Ham
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving crispy air fried country ham. Here are just a few tasty ideas:
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Serve on a biscuit with sawmill gravy for a quintessential Southern breakfast.
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Stuff into a breakfast sandwich with fried egg and cheese.
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Enjoy on a salad or over greens for a nice savory crunch.
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Serve as an appetizer with pickles, crackers, and a variety of mustards.
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Use in place of bacon in classics like BLTs, potato hash, etc.
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Crumble into scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, or home fries.
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Slice and add to pizza, quiche, pasta, or fried rice.
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Pair with fresh fruit like melon, berries, or citrus.
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Fold into an omelet or frittata with veggies and cheese.
The crispy salty ham pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors. It can be served as is for a quick snack or incorporated into countless dishes. Those are just a few ideas to get your creativity flowing!
Handy Tips for Best Results
To achieve tasty crispy ham slices every time, keep these air fryer tips in mind:
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Don’t overcrowd: Allow space between the slices for air circulation.
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Flip halfway: Flipping the slices guarantees even cooking on both sides.
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Pat dry: Dry the outside of the ham well so it gets extra crispy.
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Brush with oil (optional): For even more crunch, brush lightly with oil before cooking.
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Adjust cook time: The thickness of your ham slices will determine optimal cook time.
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Let rest before serving: Allowing the slices to rest seals in moisture.
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Use a meat thermometer: Cook to an internal temp of 140°F for food safety.
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Add a pan: Placing a foil-lined pan under the ham catches any drippings.
Follow these handy tips and tricks for air fryer success when cooking your country ham slices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Frying Ham
If you’re new to preparing country ham in the air fryer, chances are you have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about air frying ham.
Can you cook raw country ham in an air fryer?
Yes, absolutely! An air fryer is a great way to cook raw uncured country ham slices from start to finish. The circulating hot air cooks the meat evenly.
What temperature should I set the air fryer to?
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) before adding the ham slices. This high heat helps achieve crispy edges on the meat.
How long does it take to cook raw ham slices?
Expect the raw ham slices to take 8-10 minutes in the air fryer, flipping halfway. Check for doneness and increase cook time if needed.
Should I flip the ham while air frying?
Flipping the slices halfway through is highly recommended. This guarantees even browning and cooking on both sides.
Can I air fry cooked ham?
Yes, you can air fry pre-cooked sliced ham to reheat it and get a nice crispy exterior. Cook for just 2-4 minutes at 400°F.
Do I need to oil or season the ham before air frying?
Oiling is optional, but seasoning with even just a little salt and pepper enhances the flavor. Go easy on seasonings though, as country ham is naturally salty.
What if my ham slices are thick?
Thicker ham slices may take a couple minutes longer. Check frequently and adjust cook time as needed to reach your desired crispness.
Hopefully these FAQs have answered any questions you had about successfully cooking country ham in the air fryer. It’s truly so easy and worth trying!
Enjoy Tender and Crispy Air Fried Country Ham Slices
Your air fryer opens up a whole new world of quick and easy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and appetizer possibilities thanks to its prowess at cooking crispy country ham slices in minutes. Follow this guide for achieving the perfect balance of juicy, tender meat and incredibly crispy edges every time without the hassle of turning on your stove or deep fryer. Let your air fryer do the work so you can enjoy delicious Southern-style ham. Grab a biscuit and sawmill gravy, stuff a breakfast sandwich, or simply snack on the slices solo. However you choose to serve it, air fried country ham is sure to be a hit!
How to Bake Ham in the Air Fryer
This process is so easy, you guys. But keep in mind that you will be unfolding and folding the foil several times, as well as raising and lowering it. So you may want to double-layer the foil to avoid possible tears and spilling!.
Make the Glaze. Put the butter, brown sugar, grated ginger, crushed pineapple (with juices!), and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Mix them together to make the sweet and sticky glaze. Heat the mixture until it starts to simmer. Keep stirring it for two minutes so that it doesn’t burn. Remove the glaze from the heat, and set it aside.
Score the ham and make a foil container.
Score the Ham. Make diagonal slices into the ham, about one inch deep. Line up cuts that are one inch apart and half an inch apart across the top of the ham. Then turn the ham and make parallel cuts in the opposite direction. You should end up with diamond-shaped lines across the top of the entire ham.
Make a Foil Container for the Ham. Place the ham, cut side up, in the middle of a long sheet of foil. Fold the sides of the foil up and around the ham to make a “bowl. ” Place the whole thing in the air fryer basket.
Glaze the Ham and Seal the Foil. Brush half of the hot glaze over the ham. Make sure it gets into the diagonal slices you made. Fold the foil over the ham all the way around and crimp or double-fold the edges to seal the top.
Seal the foil and air fry the ham.
Air Fry the Ham. Set the air fryer to 300°F, and let the ham cook for 20 minutes or so. Then take out the air fryer basket carefully, and open the foil package. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham. Reseal the foil, and place back in the air fryer. Cook for an additional 20 minutes at 300°F.
Optional: Brown the Top. To get the top of the ham a little more crispy, just open the foil and fold it back, letting the heat hit the top of the ham. Air-fry at 350° for a few minutes.
Serve. Remove the ham carefully from the air fryer basket. Place it on a serving platter. If you want to put pineapple rings on top of the ham, do that first. Then, pour the rest of the sauce over them carefully before serving.
An Easy Glazed Ham Recipe
Mouth definitely watering from those photos. Hope it’s not just me. 😉
When it gets cool outside, I can’t help but think about the holidays! What about you? I know some people are very strict about not rushing into the season, but as a food lover, I start craving all the holiday favorites a long time before they even come out!
Of course, since Thanksgiving is coming up, I’m thinking about turkey recipes. But besides the bird, I love serving ham for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any other special occasion! It’s so easy! And flavorful. Thanksgiving turkey is fun and festive, and even people who don’t like turkey can enjoy it. But to be honest, ham is really good anytime. It goes with everything, and makes a nice change from chicken and beef during the week. But most of us don’t want to bring home a huge bone-in beauty and let it slowly bake on the regular. Right?.
Here is a simple recipe for air-fried ham. Yes, you read that right. Your air fryer is great for more than just making wings, egg rolls, and other crunchy snacks. It can also make a small ham just dandy, and in only about 40 minutes. But just in case you don’t have an air fryer, I also have an easy Crockpot Ham recipe!.
Want more holiday recipes you can make in your air fryer? Check out my simple Air Fryer Turkey Breast!
You only need a few simple things to make a glaze for the ham that will make it shiny and sweet. You can change the glaze by adding your own favorite things! (Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a recipe card with exact amounts and full instructions.) ).
- Butter: Two tablespoons of real butter make the sweet glaze shine and taste better.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar is fine. When you measure it, just make sure to pack it down.
- For the pineapple, I use crushed pineapple from a can with the juices. This makes the recipe very simple.
- If you grate fresh ginger into this simple dish, it tastes even better!
- To add a bit of umami saltiness, we’ll add a splash of soy sauce. Tamari is another good choice, and coconut aminos also work well!
- The most important thing to remember is to get a ham that fits in your air fryer. A 3–4-pound ham works for me.
- As a garnish, a few pineapple rings are nice, but not required.