How Long to Cook Sliced Ham in an Air Fryer for Perfect Results

Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years for their ability to make fried foods like french fries and chicken wings with little to no oil. But air fryers aren’t just for frying – they can also be used to cook juicy meats like ham.

Cooking ham in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare flavorful ham slices for sandwiches, appetizers or just as a tasty main course. The circulating hot air evenly cooks the ham while keeping it moist and tender.

If you’re wondering exactly how long to cook sliced ham in an air fryer, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll provide timing guidelines, tips, and recipes to help you make perfect air fryer ham every time.

Factors That Affect Air Fryer Ham Cook Times

Several factors impact how long ham needs to cook in an air fryer including

• Thickness of the slices – Thinner slices will cook faster while thicker cuts will take longer Slices less than 1/2 inch thick may only need 7-8 minutes while 1 inch thick steaks may need 12-14 minutes

• Precooking – Fully cooked ham, like deli ham, will take less time than uncooked cured ham. Precooked ham may only need 5-6 minutes just to heat through.

• Bone-in or boneless – Bone-in ham steaks can cook slightly faster since the bone conducts heat. Boneless ham slices will likely take a bit longer.

• Quantity – The more ham you add to the air fryer basket, the longer the cook time since it’s harder for the air to properly circulate. Cook ham in batches for best results.

• Doneness preference – Cook ham longer for a crisper texture or shorter for softer and more tender ham.

• Air fryer wattage – More powerful air fryers will cook food faster than lower wattage models. Refer to your manual.

Air Fryer Ham Cooking Chart

Use these general air fryer ham cooking times as a starting point for your preferred doneness, adjusting up or down as needed:

Ham Type	Thickness	Cook Time
Fully Cooked Deli Ham Slices	1/4 inch	5-6 minutes at 320°F
Fully Cooked Ham Steak	3/4 inch	8-10 minutes at 360°F
Fresh Uncooked Ham Slice	1/2 inch	10-12 minutes at 360°F
Fresh Uncooked Ham Steak	1 inch	12-14 minutes at 360°F
Bone-In Spiral Ham Slice	1 inch	10-12 minutes at 360°F

The ham is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Use a meat thermometer to accurately determine doneness.

Tips for Cooking Ham in an Air Fryer

Follow these tips and tricks for the best air fried ham:

• Pat ham dry before air frying to help it get crispy.

• Brush sliced ham lightly with oil or melted butter to boost browning.

• Flip ham slices halfway through cooking for even browning.

• Layer slices instead of overcrowding for the fastest cook time.

• Let ham rest 3-5 minutes after cooking before eating.

• Make a glaze with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to coat ham while air frying or after.

• Add a touch of smoked paprika, brown sugar, or pineapple juice to complement the ham.

• Air fry fully cooked ham below 350°F to simply reheat without drying out.

• Use foil or parchment paper to prevent overly browned edges or drying.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Frying Ham

Follow this simple process for cooking ham in an air fryer:

Ingredients

• Ham slices or steaks, about 1/2 inch thick
• Oil, butter, or glaze (optional)
• Seasonings like smoked paprika, brown sugar, or pineapple juice (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat air fryer to 360°F.
2. Pat ham dry with paper towels. Brush lightly with oil or melted butter if desired.
3. Season ham with spices, brown sugar, or other flavors as preferred.
4. Place ham slices in single layer in air fryer basket, avoiding overlap.
5. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping ham halfway through.
6. Check temperature using a meat thermometer, cooking 1-2 minutes more if needed until 140°F.
7. Let ham rest 3 minutes before serving.
8. Optionally, brush with glaze during last 2 minutes of cooking.

And that’s it! Perfectly cooked, tender and juicy air fryer ham ready to enjoy. The air fryer makes it so easy to get crispy, flavorful ham without needing to pan fry or turn on the oven.

Air Fryer Ham Recipes

Beyond basic ham slices, there are lots of tasty ways to prepare air fryer ham. Try out these recipes:

Maple Glazed Ham Steaks

• 1 pound ham steak, 1/2 inch thick
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Combine maple syrup, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
2. Brush half the mixture on both sides of ham steaks.
3. Air fry at 360°F for 9-11 minutes, flipping halfway.
4. Brush again with glaze and cook 1-2 minutes more.

Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

• Ham slices
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon pineapple juice

1. Combine brown sugar and juice.
2. Brush mixture on both sides of ham slices.
3. Air fry at 360°F for 8-10 minutes flipping halfway.

Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders

• Deli ham
• Sliced cheese
• Slider buns or rolls

1. Layer ham and cheese slices on bun bottoms.
2. Air fry at 320°F for 6-7 minutes until cheese melts.
3. Add bun tops and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you flip ham when air frying?

Yes, it’s important to flip ham slices at least once during air frying to promote even cooking on both sides.

Can you put foil in the air fryer for ham?

Yes, you can lightly wrap ham in foil to prevent overbrowning and drying out. Avoid tightly sealing so steam can escape.

What temperature should you reheat ham in an air fryer?

Reheat fully cooked deli ham at around 300-320°F just until warmed through, about 5-6 minutes. Higher heat can dry it out.

The Takeaway

Cooking ham in an air fryer makes it so quick and easy to enjoy deliciously juicy and flavorful ham any night of the week. Follow the timing guidelines based on thickness and cook ham slices or steaks in a single layer, flipping halfway through. Brush ham with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup glazes for added flavor. In no time at all, you can be enjoying tender, crispy air fried ham!