Ham is a tasty meat that can be cooked and eaten in many different ways. A crock pot is a popular way to cook the ham. It’s easy to make ham in a slow cooker, and the meat is juicy and tender, making it great for sandwiches, salads, and other dishes. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make a delicious ham in a crockpot that will make you want more.
The best slow cooker ham recipe is this incredible Crockpot Ham! It’s cooked in pineapple juice and glazed with brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and balsamic vinegar for an incredibly simple holiday meal that practically prepares itself!
What is Crockpot Ham?
Ham cooked slowly in a crockpot or slow cooker is known as crockpot ham. It is a simple and hassle-free method for cooking ham without having to watch it closely all the time. For several hours on low heat, crockpot ham is prepared, resulting in juicy, tender meat.
Choosing the Right Ham for Crockpot Cooking
To make the best crockpot ham, you need to choose the right ham. There are two main kinds of ham you can use: ham with the bone in it and ham without bone.
The best kind of ham to cook in a crockpot is ham with the bone still in it because it keeps more moisture and flavor. The bone adds more flavor to the meat and makes it taste better. Another advantage of bone-in hams is that they are typically less expensive than boneless hams.
When buying ham with the bone still in it, look for one that is fully cooked and has a lot of fat. The fat will help the meat stay juicy and moist as it cooks.
To make Crockpot Ham, You’ll need :
Another great thing about this slow cooker ham is that you only need a few simple ingredients.
Ham: What do you say we start by talking about the main ingredient?!
Start with a ham that has already been cooked. This recipe will only heat it up to a safe temperature and glaze it.
Most of the time, the most common ham at the grocery store will be cured but not smoked. But you can choose cured or uncured, plain or smoked. It really comes down to what you like best.
The ham in these pictures wasn’t cured, which is why it’s not as dark pink as cured ham.
If your ham comes with a flavor/glaze packet or a plastic cap on the end of the bone, throw them away before cooking.
Scroll down for more frequently asked questions about the ham you use in this recipe.
Aside from the ham itself, you only need a few other things to slow cook and glaze this Crockpot Ham.
Pineapple juice: Only a few times a year do I buy pineapple juice, and it’s always for this recipe. Ha. Still, pineapple juice gives this slow cooker ham a flavor that can’t be beaten. Even so, if you don’t like pineapple juice or don’t have any on hand, you can use apple juice instead and the ham will still taste great. I think you could even use a different kind of juice as long as you like the taste of it and don’t mind it in a glaze. For example, a combination of pineapple and orange juice would be delicious.
Brown sugar: This is the most important part of the paste that will become the glaze. Either dark brown sugar or light brown sugar will work, but the color of the glaze will depend on which you use.
Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard is recommended, but you can use another kind of mustard if you want. Commenters have said that spicy brown mustard, honey mustard, or even plain yellow mustard worked for them.
Balsamic vinegar: I think the balsamic vinegar is a key part of this recipe’s flavor, so I wouldn’t change it. But if I wanted to make this recipe but didn’t have any balsamic, I’d use red wine vinegar because it’s the next best thing.
Honey: Maple syrup would also do.
Cornstarch and cold water: When you mix these two ingredients together with a fork, they make a slurry that is used to make the glaze thicker.
All of these things melt together to make the most delicious glaze. Once it has thickened, it is served with the ham or poured over it.
Check This Recipe also: GARLIC BUTTER STEAK BITES AND POTATOES RECIPE
How To Use a Crockpot to Cook a Ham
We now have all of the ingredients. You won’t believe how easy it is to cook ham in a crockpot for your holiday meal!
Slow cook The Ham
Take the ham out of the package and throw away any plastic caps, glaze packets, or flavoring packets.
Pour the pineapple juice into the bottom of a big slow cooker.
Mix the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and honey together in a medium bowl until the paste forms.
Cover the ham with the brown sugar mixture. Put the flat side of the ham down in the slow cooker.
Cover the slow cooker and turn it to low. Your ham needs to be cooked for 4 to 6 hours, or until the meat is soft and the temperature inside reaches 140°F.
If you want, you can turn your ham over and baste it halfway through cooking and again about an hour before it’s done. But you don’t have to do this step.
When the ham is done, put it on a serving platter and cover it with foil to keep it warm.
Then you should…
Make The glaze
Skim off any fat, and then pour the juices from the slow cooker into a saucepan through a strainer. Put the pot on the stove over medium heat and bring the juices to a simmer.
With a fork, mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth. Pour this slurry slowly into the pot of ham juices that are simmering while whisking. Let the mixture bubble and thicken for a minute or two while you stir it every now and then. (If you want a thicker sauce, make more cornstarch slurry and stir it in.)
After about 15 minutes, cut your slow cooker ham into slices and serve it hot. You can put the glaze on top or serve it on the side.
FAQs :
Can I use frozen ham for crockpot cooking?
Yes, frozen ham can be cooked in a crockpot. But you will have to change the cooking time to match. Before cooking the ham in the crockpot, it is best to let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
Can I add vegetables to the crockpot ham?
Yes, you can put onions, carrots, and potatoes in with the ham in the crockpot. This will not only make the meat taste better, but it will also make it a full meal.
Can I cook the crockpot ham on high heat?
High heat is not a good way to cook the ham in a crockpot because it can make the meat tough and dry. The best way to make the ham tender and juicy is to cook it on low heat for several hours.
Hi, I’m Clara Magnet
Hi there! As an author, I’m actually a professional chef and food blogger. I’ve been cooking for over 10 years and absolutely love creating recipes that bring people together around the table.
I take a lot of pride in making sure all of my recipes are accurate and delicious. I do a ton of research and testing to make sure everything turns out just right. I get inspiration from all sorts of sources, and I try to use ingredients that are in season, organic, and locally sourced whenever I can.
One of the most important things to me is making sure my recipes are easy to follow and producing great results every time. If you ever have any questions or need some extra guidance, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m always happy to help out. Thanks for checking out my recipes, and happy cooking!
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