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Air Fried Ham with a cranberry glaze of a serving platter with oranges and fresh cranberries.
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5 from 9 votes

Air Fryer Ham with Cranberry Glaze

Just 5 simple ingredients, tender with an irresistible golden sweet cranberry crust.
For this recipe we used a TOASTER OVEN style 32-quart air fryer. We used a 7.5-pound bone in fully cooked spiral ham. Please see our recipe notes for adjusting the sizes and types of ham for all different types and smaller air fryers.
FYI: For small cylindrical basket air fryers (around 5 quarts) use a 2 to 3 pound BONELESS fully cooked ham. Check to make sure that your ham is not touching any of the sides or top of air fryer as this can cause burning of the ham. Trim down ham to fit in air fryer or cook in the oven instead.
TOP TIPS:
Purchase a fully cooked ham.
Use boneless hams for cylindrical basket air fryers models.
Can use boneless, semi-boneless or bone-in hams for large toaster oven style air fryers
Purchase a ham that fits inside the air fryer without touching the sides or the heating elements. Every air fryer has a different capacity.
Cook time in air fryer is 10 to 15 minutes per pound.
No Air fryer? No Problem! Oven Baking directions in the recipe notes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Rest Time3 minutes
Total Time2 hours 8 minutes
Course: Mains
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 342kcal
Author: HWC Magazine

Equipment

  • Air fryer (Ours is a toaster oven style model (32-quart capacity) Please read full recipe for accommodating smaller air fryer units, cooking times and other specifics for choosing ingredients.
  • aluminum foil

Ingredients

  • 7 to 8 pounds Cooked ham
    (3.1to 3.6 kg) fully cooked bone-in spiral ham for extra-large toaster oven style air fryer models (For example a smaller 5-to-6-quart cylindrical basket air fryers models, use a BONELESS fully cooked 2-to-3-pound.) Every air fryer capacity is different. The goal is to choose a ham that fits easily into your air fryer without touching the sides or the heating elements. 
  • spray oil to prevent sticking

Cranberry Glaze

  • 12 oz Cranberries
    fresh or frozen
  • ½ cup honey (or maple syrup, brown sugar, or sugar alternative of choice)
  • 2 tablespoons Orange zest
  • ½ cup orange juice or juice from 2 oranges
  • 1 teaspoon allspice dried ground (see recipe notes for substitution options)

Garnishes

  • reserved ham juices strained
  • cranberry glaze ⅓ of the remaining
  • fresh oranges, cranberries and greens to decorate optional

Instructions

Prepare the Ham

  • Allow the ham to come to room temperature.  We usually let it sit on the counter for 30-60minutes at room temperature.  This ensures more even cooking.
  • First things first! Line your basket or oven toaster tray with aluminum foil. You can thank us later but makes it for easy clean up. (Double check with your air fryer manufacturer instructions but most types can use aluminum foil.) Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C)
  • We used a fully COOKED spiral ham. If it is NOT spiral cut, take a moment to hand score the skin of the ham both vertically and horizontally to make a diamond shape. This helps crisp up the skin later in the cooking process.
  • Spray a little oil on the bottom of the aluminum foil to prevent sticking. Place the ham flat side down on the aluminum foil. (If your ham has a little plastic device over the bone, this can be removed and thrown away.) Wrap your ham with heavy duty aluminum foil with the open end up at the top so you can add the cranberry glaze later in the cooking process. Place wrapped ham in air fryer.
  • Air Fry for 20-25 minutes for 2- 3-pound smaller hams and 30 - 40 minutes for larger 7 to 8-pound ones. (Use this time to make your cranberry glaze.)

Make Spiced Orange Cranberry Glaze

  • Place fresh cranberries into a medium skillet and place heat on medium high.
  • Add in honey or sweetener of choice.
  • Zest in one orange and the juice of 2 oranges.
  • Add in allspice and stir until well incorporated.
  • The cranberry glaze will thicken as it sits. That is important as the glaze sticks to the sides of the ham instead of dripping to the bottom of the pan.

Glazing the Ham

  • Take the ham out of the air fryer and carefully open the aluminum foil wrap and brush ⅓ of the cranberry glaze all over the top of the ham and sides.
  • Wrap the ham back up in aluminum foil to seal and place back in the oven for another 20 minutes
  • Carefully unwrap the aluminum foil back and check the temperature in the thickest part of the ham away from bone. If the temperature is below 135degrees F (57 degrees C) seal the aluminum foil wrap back around and continue cooking until the temperature reaches 135 degrees F. (Boneless hams take about 10 minutes per pound. Bone-in ones take about 15 minutes per pound to fully reheat)
  • Once the internal temperature has reached 135 degrees F, pull back the aluminum foil back down off the ham so the top and sides of ham are exposed.
  • Brush another ⅓ of the cranberry glaze all over the ham well. (Save the remaining⅓ of orange cranberry glaze for serving) Place back into the air fryer to cook for another 10 - 15 minutes or is golden ruby red and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (62 degrees C).
  • FYI: If you are using a ham from a Non-USDA certified plant, the USDA recommends heating to an internal temperature to 165 °F.
  • Remove the ham from the air fryer and leave rest for 3 minutes. DO NOT THROW AWAY THE PAN DRIPPINGS! That is LIQUID GOLD! Strain ham juice and set aside.
  • Move ham to a serving platter. Tent lightly with foil and let rest 3 minutes.
  • Optional: Garnish your platter with fresh oranges, cranberries, and greens, if desired.
  • Slice and serve with a drizzle of the ham juice and a dollop of remaining Cranberry Glaze. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Tips for Success!
  • Purchase a fully cooked ham.
  • Use boneless hams for cylindrical basket air fryers models.
  • Can use boneless, semi-boneless or bone-in hams for large toaster oven style air fryers
  • Purchase a ham that fits inside the air fryer without touching the sides or the heating elements. Every air fryer has a different capacity.
  • Cook time in air fryer is 10 to 15 minutes per pound.
  • No Air fryer? No Problem! Oven Baking directions in the recipe notes.
  • Before putting in the air fryer, allow the ham to come to room temperature. We usually let it sit on the counter for 30-60 minutes at room temperature.  This ensures more even cooking.
  • Choose boneless small hams around 2 to 3 pounds for 5 to 6-quart basket style air fryers. Can choose larger bone-in spiral hams for toaster oven style air fryers up to about 8 pounds.
  • Use aluminum foil for easy cleanup .
  • Spiral boneless pre-cooked hams take about 10 minutes per pound to reach at least 140 to 145 degrees F. Bone in or semi boneless ones can take 10 to 15 minutes per pound.
  • Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature. Put in the largest meatiest portion of the ham away from the bone.
  • Reserve a little of the cranberry glaze to serve and the strained ham "liquid gold" juice.
  • Allow to rest 3 minutes before serving.
  • Leftovers can be stored in a covered container for 3 to 5 days or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Substitution for Allspice 
If you do not have allspice, mix the following spices together for the best substitution.
  • ½ teaspoon dried ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon dried ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon dried ground nutmeg.
Alternative Oven Baking Directions
  • As you are baking in a large standard oven, you can choose any sized fully cooked bone-in or boneless ham. 
  • Preheat standard oven to 325 degrees F (162 degrees C)
  • We like to line a roasting pan with foil for easy cleanup.
  • Spray oil on foiled line pan to prevent sticking.
  • Place ham flat side down in the roasting pan. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the oven to roast.
  • Make the cranberry glaze as directed above in the recipe card and set aside.
  • Roast ham for approximately 12 to 15 minutes per pound. At the halfway point, check carefully pull off the aluminum foil, check the internal temperature and glaze ham with ⅓ of the glaze. Place the aluminum foil back on and put back in the oven continue roasting.
  • With approximately 15 to 20 minutes left in the cooking process, carefully remove the ham from the oven. Turn the oven temperature up to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Brush with another ⅓ of the orange cranberry glaze (reserving the last ⅓ for serving)
  • Place the ham UNCOVERED in the oven and bake until the glaze is ruby red and golden, and temperature has reached 145 degrees F (62 degrees C).
  • Remove from the air fryer and leave rest for 3 minutes. DO NOT THROW AWAY THE PAN DRIPPINGS! That is LIQUID GOLD! Strain juice and set aside.
  • Move to a serving platter. Tent lightly with foil and let rest 3 minutes.
  • Optional: Garnish your platter with fresh oranges, cranberries, and greens, if desired.
  • Slice and serve with a drizzle of the pan drippings and a dollop of remaining Cranberry Glaze.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2293mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 2mg