This Air Fryer Ham is quick and easy to make. It’s tender, juicy, and delicious. Slathered with a flavorful orange maple glaze that creates a glorious Festive Ham. It’s perfect for any family gathering, Thanksgiving, or Holiday dinner!
This air fryer ham recipe is made of bone-in fully cooked ham. So all you need to do is to reheat to a safe internal temperature before serving. But of course, we need to elevate the flavor by glazing the ham to enhance the smokey flavor and make it visually delicious😋
If you have a small air fryer, then bone-in ham might be too big. You may use boneless fully cooked ham and the cooking time or reheating in the air fryer may vary. However, the method of cooking and reheating will be the same.
Tips for buying ham and quantity to buy
With the current high inflation, we are all trying to save money as much as we can on groceries. If you are planning to serve ham on the Holidays and need to save money, your best bet is to buy it after Thanksgiving day (depending on where you live). I bought this 3 kgs. ham for $11 ($3.24/kg) after Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Vacuum-packed ham freezes well and can freeze for up to 2 months at the best quality. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely.
Typically, bone-in ham is always cheaper to buy compared to boneless ham. Usually, bone-in ham has more fat which gives more flavor and moisture that prevents it from drying out while cooking and reheating.
When buying ham, the estimated servings should yield 1/3 to 1/2 lb. per serving of bone-in ham and 1/4 to 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham.
How to make Air Fryer Ham
Step 1. Remove the ham from the fridge for about 1 to 2 hours before cooking to bring it to room temperature. If short of time, you may cook or reheat the cold ham and add about an extra 5 to 10 minutes of cooking time in the air fryer and about 15 to 20 minutes in the conventional oven. It may also vary in weight, always check the safe cooking internal temperature.
Step 2. Place the ham in heavy aluminum foil with the baking pan. Add the orange juice with the orange zest to the bottom of the ham. You may use water or the flavourful pineapple juice mixture I used to make the Pineapple Maple Glazed Ham, and make this glaze instead if desired. Make sure to wrap the ham tightly with aluminum foil to cook or reheat it quickly and prevent it from drying out.
Step 3. Cooking or Reheating (fully cooked ham)
Air Fryer Method
The goal of cooking or reheating the ham in the air fryer is to save you time. Cooking in the air fryer will save you about 25% to 50% of the time compared to the oven method.
To air fry the ham, because we are cooking and reheating this at a lower temperature, you don’t need to preheat the air-fryer. The air fryer heat quickly compared to the oven. Set the air fryer at 325°F for about 35 to 45 minutes for 5 to 8 lbs. bone-in fully cooked ham, and about 25 to 35 minutes for 5 to 8 lbs. boneless fully cooked ham. Or Until the inserted thermometer reaches between 130°F to 135°F.
Oven Method
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Bake the ham in the roasting pan, tightly covered with aluminum foil for about 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours for 5 to 8 lbs. bone-in fully cooked ham, and about 1 hour to 2 hours for 5 to 8 lbs. boneless ham. Or Until the inserted thermometer reaches between 130°F to 135°F.
Step 4. Make the glaze
Add all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low simmer until thickened enough to glaze the ham. Feel free to add Dijon mustard if desired.
Step 5. Scoring and basting
Remove the ham from the air fryer or oven. Carefully open the foil and fold it up to the side, or remove it from the pan. Score the ham diagonally 2 inches apart about a quarter to an inch deep or however you like. By doing this, the glaze can penetrate the ham to elevate the flavor. Baste the ham with the juice from the bottom of the ham, then glaze it. Put it back in the air fryer or oven. Roast at 375°F in the air fryer for 5 minutes and 400°F in the oven for 10 minutes.
Step 6. Glazing the ham
Glaze the ham with the thickened glaze and add slices of oranges or pineapple if desired. This is for flavour and visual presentation. Also to cover some of the imperfection spot of the bone-in ham.
Continue roasting uncovered for about 5 to 10 minutes until it is caramelized and golden brown. Remove the pan juices and add to the rest of the glaze, if desired. Bring to a simmer until thick enough to glaze the ham.
Minimum (fully cooked ham) internal temperature and rest time. Roast until the thermometer inserted into the center reads 140°F to 145°F. Depending on your cooking preference, you may choose to cook at a higher temperature.
There are many kinds of ham. Cooking and reheating may vary. For more information about the cooking guide of hams and food safety in U.S. Department of Agriculture, check the link here.
Step 7. Serving the ham
Allow the ham to rest for 3 to 5 minutes before carving. Add maraschino cherries and more glaze to the ham before serving or serve it on the side.
What to serve with the ham
Air fryer Brussels Sprouts and Carrots
Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
More main dishes recipes and ideas to serve for Thanksgiving or Holidays
Air fryer Whole Chicken Barbecue
Honey Lemon Glazed Turkey Breast
Air fryer Ham (Tender and Juicy) with orange maple glaze
Watch How to Make It
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 3 kg Bone-in ham
- ½ cup orange juice sub with water or pineapple juice
- ½ tsp orange zest or zest of one orange
For the Orange Maple Glaze
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- ½ tsp orange zest or zest of one orange
- 1 pc cinnamon stick
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- dijon mustard optional or add-to taste
For Garnish
- 1 orange Round sliced
- 6 maraschino cherries
- spinach or parsley optional
Instructions
- Remove the ham from the fridge for about 1 to 2 hours before cooking to bring it to room temperature.
- Place the ham in heavy aluminum foil with the roasting pan or baking tray. Add the orange juice with the orange zest to the bottom of the ham. Wrap or cover the ham tightly in a roasting pan or baking tray.
- Set the air fryer at 325°F for about 35 to 45 minutes for 5 to 8 lbs. bone-in fully cooked ham, and about 25 to 35 minutes for 5 to 8 lbs. boneless fully cooked ham. Or Until the inserted thermometer reaches between 130°F to 135°F.
- Make the glaze while air-frying the ham. Add all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low simmer until thickened enough to glaze the ham.
- Remove the ham from the air fryer. Carefully open the foil and fold it up to the side, or remove it from the pan. Score the ham diagonally 2 inches apart about a quarter to an inch deep or however you like. By doing this, the glaze can penetrate the ham to elevate the flavor. Baste the ham with the juice from the bottom of the ham, then glaze it. Put it back in the air fryer or oven. Roast at 375°F in the air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Glaze the ham with the thickened glaze and add slices of oranges or pineapple, if desired. continue roasting uncovered for about 5 minutes until it is caramelized and golden brown. Roast until the thermometer inserted into the center reads 140°F to 145°F.
- Remove the pan juices and add to the rest of the glaze, if desired. Bring to a simmer until thick enough to glaze the ham.
- Allow the ham to rest for 3 to 5 minutes before carving. Add maraschino cherries and more glaze to the ham before serving or serve it on the side.
