You’ll love this easy slow cooker ham recipe that requires only four ingredients and minimal prep. It’s a great dish to make for a crowd or a special family meal.
This ham roast recipe has a brown sugar maple syrup glaze that elevates humble ham to a whole new level of deliciousness. Cooking the ham in the slow cooker keeps it moist and flavorful without fear of drying out, and the glaze makes a fantastic sauce to serve with it.
Brining
Brined meats are a lot moister and flavorful than unbrined ones. This is especially true of ham, which is a leaner cut of pork.
Brining is an old method of treating meats to boost the moisture level and improve their taste. The process involves soaking meat in salt water and flavoring it with sugars or other ingredients. It’s a great way to add extra tenderness and flavor to ham and other cuts of meat, including poultry breasts, chops, and even shrimp.
A good brine solution contains a combination of salt and a flavoring, such as sugar, corn syrup, or molasses. The combination of these ingredients can help the meat absorb the brine more easily and retain its moisture during the long curing process.
Some brine solutions also contain cures, which are used to prevent the growth of bacteria on meat during the curing process. These cures can be purchased from specialty stores or made at home with a basic recipe.
Depending on the size of the meat, it can take up to a day or two for brining to complete. Temperature plays a role in how long it takes to brine, as raw meat should be kept refrigerated. However, if you’re in a hurry, brining at room temperature can speed up the process considerably.
In a large pot or pan, bring water to a boil and mix in all of the brine ingredients. Stir until the sugars have dissolved and then allow the mixture to cool. Once the salt and sugar have dissolved, place the ham in a brining bag or bucket and pour in the brine solution. If the ham is not completely submerged, add more cold water to the brine.
Once the ham has soaked in the brine for a few hours, remove it from the brining bag and drain off the excess liquid. Rinse the meat well under cold water to ensure that there are no crystals of salt left on it.
After rinsing, pat the ham dry and transfer it to a cooking grate or baking sheet. If you’re using a baking sheet, make sure to leave the ham fat side up for smoking.
Seasoning
Hams are a perfect choice for a slow cooker dinner because they keep their moisture and flavor well. But you have to make sure that you buy the right kind of ham and follow all the instructions carefully. You can use a variety of ham types – bone-in or boneless, whole or spiral cut, cured or uncured, smoked or not, and even shanks and butts.
This is a very simple recipe that will result in a tender and delicious ham. It only needs a few ingredients and a few hours of cooking time in your slow cooker.
Season the ham roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder (if you have it). You can also add a pinch of dried thyme for extra flavor.
You may also add a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs for a festive touch! It is an easy recipe and one that will be loved by anyone.
Place the ham in a large 6 quart slow cooker. Trim the bottom of the ham if it is too tall so that it fits into the pot better.
Combine sauce ingredients including honey, apple cider vinegar, dijon and spices. Shake until combined and pour over the ham.
Cook ham on low for 4-5 hours, basting every hour with the sauce.
Spoon the glaze over the ham, and broil if you like for about 5 minutes to give it a golden brown crust.
If you find that your ham is dry and tough, you can try adding a bit of pineapple juice to the slow cooker. This will help to keep the ham moist and prevent it from drying out.
You can serve your ham warm, or let it cool before serving. You can also store leftovers in the refrigerator tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or an airtight container for up to a day.
Be sure that you read the ham roast recipe slow cooker directions thoroughly and use a thermometer to ensure the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F before serving. Overcooking a ham can result in a dry and overly-cooked mess that is difficult to chew.
Cooking
Cooking a ham in the slow cooker is one of my favorite ways to make ham. It is a hands-off method, so you can focus on more important things (like eating and spending time with friends). The result is an incredibly tender and flavorful ham.
Before cooking the ham, make sure that it is fully thawed out. This will help it to cook more evenly and quickly. You can also use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you are ready to put the ham in the slow cooker, cut open the packaging and remove the plastic circle that typically covers the bone on the bottom side of the ham. Place the ham in the slow cooker, cut-side down, and slather it with a generous amount of brown sugar on the bottom.
You can slather a little more if you want to add a more intense sweet flavor, but be careful to keep the layer of brown sugar on the ham as thin as possible to prevent it from burning and scorching. The resulting brown sugar coating is not only delicious, but it helps keep the ham moist and tender as well!
While this recipe is primarily made with a spiral ham, you can easily adjust the directions to accommodate other types of ham. Just make sure that you buy the proper type of ham for the particular recipe you are making and follow the exact instructions that the recipe calls for.
This easy-to-make crock pot recipe is so simple, and it works perfectly with a spiral ham as well as a boneless ham or a ham shank with the bone in. Just be sure that you don’t use a recipe for a ham that is meant for a bone-in butt, as this could cause the ham to overcook and become dry and tough.
You can serve this ham in slices or chunks, and it is excellent served cold or warm. It is also great in sandwiches, salads, or stirred into soups! Leftovers are great for reheating later in the day, or you can freeze it for up to a week.
Glazing
Glazing your ham is an important part of the cooking process. The glaze not only adds flavor but helps to seal in moisture and keep your ham moist. It is best to make the glaze at least an hour before you plan on serving your ham.
To get a beautiful and tasty glaze for your ham, start by trimming off the excess fat and skin. This will ensure the ham cooks properly and allows the glaze to drip in.
Then place the ham in the slow cooker and pour the glaze over it. Be sure to move the ham around so the glaze can easily penetrate the ham’s skin.
It is also recommended to baste the ham with the cooking juices every few hours. This will help to keep the ham moist and delicious throughout the entire cooking process.
Once the ham is cooked and tender, transfer it to a platter and cover with foil. It is then ready to be sliced up and served!
A few simple ingredients and a ham is all you need to make this incredible Orange Honey Glazed Slow Cooker Ham. It’s perfect for the holidays and a great way to save time in the kitchen!
If you want to make this recipe even more delicious, use a spiral-cut ham. It cooks much faster than a whole ham, and it will be much more tender!
After removing the ham from the slow cooker, allow it to rest on a platter for about 15 minutes. Then, slice it up and serve with extra glaze on the side.
You can store leftover glazed ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 5 weeks. You can reheat it in the microwave, or by placing it on the stove top and heating until warmed through.
You can cook a cured ham in the slow cooker as well, which is another way to reduce the amount of time it takes to prepare a ham roast. These cured hams are usually brined, which makes them taste sweeter and more flavorful than regular fresh hams.