10 Easy Ways To Cook Purefoods Fiesta Ham Without An Oven

As someone who loves to cook, I often find myself wanting to make dishes with ham but don’t always have access to an oven. This used to be frustrating until I discovered there are so many great ways to cook ham without using an oven at all!

In this article I’ll share 10 of my favorite oven-free cooking methods for preparing delicious Purefoods Fiesta ham. Keep reading to learn how you can easily incorporate this tasty meat into meals using just your stovetop slow cooker, air fryer or other handy kitchen tools.

Stovetop Skillet

One of the easiest ways to cook ham without an oven is to simply use a skillet on your stovetop. Just cut the ham into slices or chunks, then cook it in a lightly oiled skillet over medium-high heat until browned and warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.

I like to add a bit of honey, brown sugar or maple syrup to glaze the ham while it cooks. The sugars will caramelize and make the outside beautifully crisp. For extra flavor, you can also sauté some diced onions or bell peppers along with the ham.

Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is perfect for cooking ham slowly and keeping it incredibly moist. Place a 2-3 pound piece of ham in your slow cooker and add enough liquid (like broth, juice, soda or water) to come about 1 inch up the sides.

Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours until the ham is very tender. The meat will become fall-apart tender and infused with flavor. For a sweet glaze make a mixture of brown sugar, honey and mustard and spoon it over the ham during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Poaching

Poaching ham in liquid over low heat is an easy stovetop method that keeps the meat super moist and juicy.Cover the ham with water, broth, juice or even ginger ale in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add spices like bay leaves, peppercorns or cloves.

Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat and poach for 45-60 minutes, until ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. The ham can then be enjoyed hot, or chilled in the poaching liquid which creates a tasty broth that can be used later.

Simmer in Sauce

For the ultimate flavor infusion, simmer or braise the ham in sauce on the stovetop. I love cooking ham chunks in tomato sauce, pineapple juice, Dr. Pepper or even teriyaki or sweet chili sauce.

Cook over medium-low heat for 30-60 minutes until the sauce reduces down and the ham is glazed and tender. Serve the saucy ham over rice, pasta or mashed potatoes.

Griddle

If you have an electric griddle, you can easily cook ham just like you would pancakes! Heat the griddle to 375°F and coat with a little oil or butter. Cut ham into 1/4 inch slices and cook on each side for 2-4 minutes until browned and heated through.

I like to drizzle the ham with maple syrup or honey while it cooks on the griddle – the sugars bubble up nicely. You can make delicious ham sandwiches or ham and egg breakfasts using this method.

Air Fryer

Air fryers have become one of my favorite kitchen tools for cooking just about anything without oil or the need to turn on my oven. To cook ham in an air fryer, cut it into chunks or slices, coat with a bit of oil and seasoning and air fry at 380°F for 8-12 minutes until browned.

You can also brush ham with jam, marmalade or maple syrup before air frying to caramelize the outside. Air fried ham comes out crispy on the outside while staying nice and moist inside.

Microwave

For a quick ham dish, the microwave can work great. Place ham slices between paper towels and microwave on high power for 30-60 seconds until warmed through. I like to top microwaved ham with a slice of pineapple or peach to add a touch of sweetness.

You can also brush ham slices with brown sugar, maple syrup or honey before microwaving to infuse flavor and create a glazed texture. Just watch closely so the sugars don’t burn.

Grilled

During the warmer months when my grill is fired up for dinner, I’ll often throw on some ham steaks or chops for an easy addition. The smoky char flavor ham gets from the grill is out of this world!

I rub the ham all over with a mixture of brown sugar, chili powder, cumin and paprika before grilling for best flavor. Place over direct medium heat and grill for 3-5 minutes per side. Glazing the ham with apricot jam or pineapple slices in the last few minutes keeps it incredibly moist.

Fried Rice

Stir-frying diced ham with rice is an easy way to stretch a little bit of ham into a whole meal. Simply cook diced ham in a skillet until starting to brown, then add cooked rice, frozen mixed veggies, soy sauce, sesame oil and eggs.

Continue stir-frying everything together until heated through and slightly crispy in parts. The salty, smoky ham pairs so well with the rice and veggies.

Omelets

Chopped ham makes the perfect addition to omelets and frittatas. Simply cook your eggs like normal, but fold in some diced ham before cooking or sprinkle it on top of the finished omelet along with cheese, salsa, avocado or other toppings.

You can even cook chopped ham right in with the eggs while making scrambled eggs or a crustless quiche in a pie dish – so easy and delicious!

The Takeaway

As you can see, it’s super easy to find ways to cook Purefoods Fiesta ham without turning on your oven at all. A simple stovetop skillet can work wonders, but don’t be afraid to experiment with your slow cooker, air fryer, microwave, grill or other handy kitchen tools.

With so many oven-free cooking methods, you can enjoy the signature sweet and salty flavor of this Filipino-style ham any night of the week. Try out some of these recipes when oven space is limited or when you want a quick and easy ham dish without a lot of fuss.