Effortless Instant Pot Ham: Holiday Helper, Weeknight Wonder

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Prepare to impress your family and friends with the most tender, succulent ham, complete with a rich brown sugar glaze, all effortlessly cooked in your Instant Pot. This easy Instant Pot ham recipe is a game-changer for holiday feasts, meal prep, or simply elevating your Sunday dinner. Say goodbye to dry, flavorless ham and embrace perfectly cooked, juicy meat every time.

This simple pressure cooker ham recipe is designed to streamline your holiday cooking and reclaim precious oven space. Following the success of our Instant Pot Turkey Breast, we were inspired to create an equally phenomenal ham recipe for Christmas in the Instant Pot. We adapted our beloved Honey Glazed Ham recipe, a proven hit for Easter, and the results were absolutely fantastic!

For those of us not blessed with multiple ovens, the holiday season often involves a complicated dance of juggling bake times and oven temperatures. The constant worry of everything being ready and hot at the same moment can be quite stressful. This is precisely where your Instant Pot shines as an invaluable kitchen ally.

The Instant Pot offers an effortless solution, allowing you to cook a beautifully seasoned, consistently juicy ham without occupying your conventional oven until the very last stage of cooking. This means you gain valuable oven real estate, freeing it up for essential holiday side dishes like chocolate chess pie, delightful pecan pie brownies, or a batch of warm homemade rolls. Beyond the convenience, pressure cooking ensures that moisture and flavor are locked into the ham, guaranteeing a remarkably tender result every time, eliminating the common fear of drying out this centerpiece dish.

Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Ham

The Instant Pot is truly a fantastic appliance for cooking ham to perfection. For this recipe, we typically use a 6-quart Instant Pot, which comfortably accommodates a 4 to 6-pound ham. If you’re planning to cook a larger ham, specifically in the 6 to 8-pound range, you will need to size up to an 8-quart Instant Pot to ensure it fits properly.

Should your chosen ham prove too large for your Instant Pot, there’s no need to worry. You can simply trim it down to fit, wrapping any excess portions in a freezer-safe container for future use. This strategy allows you to enjoy perfectly cooked ham even if you can only find larger cuts.

To create this incredibly delicious Instant Pot ham, gather these key ingredients:

• Ham: We opted for a boneless ham, as it was readily available in our preferred 4-6 pound size. However, this recipe is equally suitable for a bone-in ham, provided it fits snugly into your pressure cooker. For the best flavor and texture, we strongly recommend choosing a fresh ham and advise against using canned hams, as they tend to lack the desired depth of flavor.
• Sweeteners: The secret to our irresistible glaze lies in the harmonious blend of honey and brown sugar. These provide the perfect balance of sweetness. For those who enjoy a hint of maple, feel free to substitute half of the honey with pure maple syrup for a delightful twist.
• Flavoring: A trio of warm and aromatic spices—ground ginger, ground cinnamon, and fresh orange zest—is all you need to infuse your ham with an incredible depth of flavor that beautifully complements the sweetness of the glaze.
• Water: A small amount of water is crucial for the Instant Pot to properly come to pressure, ensuring even cooking and moisture retention.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Pressure Cooker Ham

Creating this delicious ham in your Instant Pot is straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfectly cooked and glazed holiday centerpiece.

Step 1 – Prepare the Glaze. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine the honey, firmly packed brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and orange zest. Place the bowl in your microwave and heat for 15 to 30 seconds. The exact time will depend on the wattage of your microwave. You’ll know the honey glaze is ready when it reaches a smooth, pourable consistency, making it easy to apply evenly.

Step 2 – Prep the Ham. Lay out a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil on your countertop, ensuring it’s generously sized to fully enclose the ham. Place your ham onto the foil. Using a basting brush, evenly coat the ham with half of the prepared glaze. Set the remaining glaze aside; you’ll use it later to create that beautiful caramelized crust. Carefully wrap the heavy-duty foil tightly around the ham, ensuring it’s sealed well to prevent any precious juices from escaping during the cooking process. This foil barrier is key to locking in all the flavors and moisture.

Step 3 – Set up the Instant Pot. Place a trivet or trivet sling into the Instant Pot’s inner pot. We highly recommend using a trivet with handles or a sling; these accessories make it incredibly easy and safe to remove your cooked ham from the hot pot, preventing accidental burns or dropping your delicious meal! Pour 1.5 cups of water into the bottom of the inner pot, then carefully place your foil-wrapped ham on top of the trivet.

Step 4 – Pressure Cook. Securely close and lock the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the sealing valve is set to the SEALING position. Set the Instant Pot to cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 10 minutes. Please refer to our detailed time table listed below for precise cooking times based on the weight of your ham. Once the cooking cycle is complete and the timer goes off, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 15 minutes. After this natural release, carefully turn the valve to VENTING to quick-release any remaining steam. Once the float valve drops, you can safely remove the lid. Use a reliable meat thermometer to verify that the internal temperature of the ham has reached a safe 145 degrees F. If it hasn’t quite reached this temperature, simply relock the lid, set the valve back to SEALING, and cook on HIGH PRESSURE for an additional 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 5 – Broil and Serve. Once your ham is perfectly cooked, carefully lift it from the Instant Pot using the trivet handles and transfer it to a large platter. Unwrap it from the aluminum foil and discard any accumulated liquid. To achieve that irresistible caramelized crust, preheat your oven to the broil setting. Brush the reserved glaze generously over the entire ham. If the glaze has solidified, a quick 15-second rewarm in the microwave will restore its pourable consistency. Place the ham under the broiler for approximately 5 minutes, ensuring it’s at least 5 inches away from the heating element to prevent burning. Watch closely as the glaze bubbles and caramelizes, forming a beautiful, slightly crispy shell.

Serve your magnificent Instant Pot ham immediately, alongside all your favorite holiday side dishes. For an array of inspiring ideas on what to pair with your ham, consult our comprehensive guide for hosting Easter dinner for 6-8 people, which offers excellent suggestions for any festive gathering.

Crafting the Perfect Ham Glaze

A superior ham glaze is absolutely essential for transforming a good ham into an unforgettable centerpiece. It’s not just about adding sweetness; a well-crafted glaze contributes depth of flavor, a beautiful aroma, and that desirable caramelized exterior that truly makes a holiday meal special. This recipe calls for a two-part glazing process: half is applied before pressure cooking to infuse flavor, and the other half is reserved for a final broil, creating that perfect crispy, sweet crust.

After your ham has finished its pressure cooking cycle and has been carefully removed from the Instant Pot, it’s time for the grand finale. Brush the ham generously with the remaining sweet glaze. Remember, if your reserved glaze has thickened, a few seconds in the microwave will bring it back to a pourable consistency. Now, place the glazed ham in your oven, positioned under the broiler. This step requires vigilance: ensure the ham is at least 5 inches away from the heating element to prevent scorching. Broil the ham for approximately 5 minutes, or until the glaze begins to bubble, caramelize, and develop a rich, golden-brown crust. Keep a very close eye on it, as the transformation from perfectly caramelized to burnt can happen in a flash!

How Long Should I Cook a Ham in the Instant Pot?

Just like cooking in a traditional oven, the cooking time for ham in an Instant Pot can vary slightly depending on its size and weight. It’s important to remember that most hams you purchase are fully cooked, meaning the goal of using the Instant Pot is primarily to reheat it thoroughly and evenly, while infusing it with flavor and moisture, rather than cooking it from raw.

Based on our experience, a good rule of thumb is approximately 2 minutes per pound, followed by a mandatory 15-minute natural pressure release. This method ensures the ham is heated through and becomes incredibly tender. Don’t forget that the ham also begins to warm up as the Instant Pot builds pressure, contributing to the overall cooking process. The natural release is crucial for allowing the meat to reabsorb its juices, resulting in a more succulent ham.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of cooking times based on ham weight:

• 3-pound ham: 6 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE + 15-minute natural release
• 4-pound ham: 8 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE + 15-minute natural release
• 5-pound ham: 10 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE + 15-minute natural release
• 6-pound ham: 12 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE + 15-minute natural release
• 7-pound ham: 14 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE + 15-minute natural release
• 8-pound ham: 16 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE + 15-minute natural release

Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches a safe 145 degrees F before serving.

What if My Ham is Too Big for the Instant Pot?

If your ham is a bit too large for your Instant Pot, don’t fret – it’s an easy fix! You don’t have to cook the entire ham at once. Simply cut the ham into smaller, manageable pieces that fit comfortably inside your Instant Pot’s inner pot. Any extra portions that don’t fit can be wrapped tightly in a freezer-safe container or bag and stored for later use. This allows you to still enjoy the convenience of Instant Pot cooking without having to buy a smaller ham.

How to Store Leftover Ham

Proper storage is key to enjoying your delicious ham leftovers for days to come.

Refrigerator: To keep your ham fresh, wrap leftovers tightly in an airtight container, plastic wrap, or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Stored correctly, the ham will remain delicious in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Freezer: For longer storage, first wrap your ham portions tightly in plastic wrap, then place them into a freezer bag, or wrap the plastic-wrapped ham in heavy-duty aluminum foil. This double-layer protection helps prevent freezer burn. Your ham can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months, ready to be thawed and enjoyed whenever you crave it.

Perfect Pairings: What to Serve With Ham

Ham is incredibly versatile and pairs wonderfully with a wide array of side dishes. Here are some of our personal favorites that complement its sweet and savory flavors beautifully:

• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: Creamy, fluffy, and incredibly easy to make in your pressure cooker.
• Not Your Mom’s Mashed Potatoes (stove top): A classic stove-top recipe for perfectly smooth and buttery mashed potatoes.
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows: A comforting and sweet dish with a delightful marshmallow topping.
• Bacon Wrapped Green Beans: A simple yet elegant side that combines fresh green beans with savory bacon.
• Creamed Corn (stove top): Rich, creamy, and wonderfully sweet corn cooked to perfection on the stove.
• Creamed Corn Casserole: A hearty and comforting baked dish featuring creamy corn.
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes: Quick and easy sweet potatoes cooked in your Instant Pot, perfect for mashing or serving whole.
• Cranberry Jello Salad: A festive, light, and tangy salad that adds a burst of color and flavor.
• Cranberry Fluff: A sweet, fluffy, and refreshing side dish or dessert, especially popular during holidays.
• Apple Pecan Stuffing: A flavorful and aromatic stuffing, combining the sweetness of apples with the crunch of pecans.
• Green Bean Casserole: A classic comfort food, made with fresh green beans in a creamy sauce.

Creative Ways to Use Leftover Ham

Leftover ham is a culinary treasure, much like leftover turkey, offering a plethora of delicious possibilities. Your decision on what to create next simply depends on your current cravings!

If you’re hosting a large gathering of family or friends, your leftover ham can be transformed into a hearty breakfast for a hungry crowd. Consider whipping up our Low Carb Ham and Cheese Crustless Quiche, ideal for those seeking a lighter option. Alternatively, the incredibly popular Ham Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sliders are always a hit, or try this easy-to-prepare Ham and Cheese Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole, perfect for busy mornings.

Furthermore, if you opted for a bone-in ham, absolutely do not discard that ham bone! It’s the secret ingredient for a rich and flavorful pot of Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup. You can easily wrap the bone, leaving any clinging meat intact, and store it in a freezer bag in your freezer for up to six months. It’s an excellent way to prepare an incredibly satisfying and easy weeknight dinner during the colder winter months.

And of course, for a quick and satisfying meal, you can always slice up the ham to make gourmet ham sandwiches. These will be ten times more flavorful and delicious than any pre-packaged deli ham, making them perfect to pack for lunches or to fuel up during post-holiday shopping excursions. Enjoy every last bite!

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