What Does Ginger Ale Do to Ham?

Ginger ale is a popular soda that adds wonderful flavor and moisture when used to cook ham The sweet, gingery taste complements the saltiness of ham perfectly. While the soda itself doesn’t chemically alter the ham, it does impact the final product in several ways

Infuses Flavor

One of the main benefits of cooking ham in ginger ale is that it infuses the meat with bright, aromatic ginger flavor. The ginger ale permeates the ham, giving it a subtle gingery sweetness. This adds complexity and makes the ham more interesting.

The ginger flavor pairs exceptionally well with the salty, umami notes of the ham. It provides contrast that makes the ham taste more vibrant. The sweetness from the ginger ale also balances the saltiness. This gives the ham a more rounded, nuanced flavor profile.

Keeps Ham Moist

Another reason cooks use ginger ale when cooking ham is that it helps keep the meat very moist As the ham roasts or simmers in the liquid, it absorbs moisture from the soda. This ensures it turns out juicy and tender

Without the moisture from the ginger ale, baked ham would end up dry. The natural sugars and moisture in the ginger ale prevent this, giving you tender, juicy meat.

Forms a Glaze

Pouring ginger ale over ham during cooking allows a lovely glaze to form. As the soda reduces down, a syrupy ginger glaze develops. This glaze provides another layer of flavor and gives the ham an attractive shine.

Brushing the ham with the glaze periodically gives the best glossy coating. The glaze also includes delicious browned bits and caramelized sugars for great flavor.

Tenderizes the Meat

The acidity in ginger ale can help tenderize and soften the ham as it cooks. Though it contains less acid than many other sodas, it still has a mild tenderizing effect. This gives you more succulent, easy to cut and chew slices of ham.

Adds Sweetness

Ginger ale contains a good amount of natural sugar that also seasons the ham. The sweetness balances and complements the saltiness perfectly. It gives great flavor contrast that makes the ham taste even better.

Many ginger ale ham recipes also include added brown sugar or honey for extra sweetness. The ginger ale provides sweetness on its own, though.

Reduces Sodium

Interestingly, ginger ale can also help reduce the sodium content of ham slightly. Ham is quite salty, but the sugar and ginger flavor help mask and balance some of that saltiness.

This allows you to use less additional salt in the recipe or rinse some natural salt off the ham. The end result will taste properly seasoned with less sodium overall.

Enhances Other Flavors

In addition to ginger ale, ham glazes and marinades often contain other ingredients like brown sugar, mustard, cloves, garlic, and citrus. Ginger ale helps these flavors permeate the meat more effectively.

The liquid allows seasonings to thoroughly coat and infuse into the ham. It also helps distribute flavors evenly throughout. This gives you ham bursting with taste in every bite.

Easy to Use

Cooking ham in ginger ale is easy since it requires minimal ingredients and steps. Simply pouring ginger ale over ham in a baking dish provides tons of extra flavor with little effort.

You can also boil ginger ale and spices into a syrupy glaze, blend it into a marinade, or simmer ham in a slow cooker with ginger ale. No matter the method, it adds flavor with ease.

Marinade Method

• Combine 2 liter ginger ale, sliced ginger, peppercorns, cloves, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and cool.
• Place cooled marinade and 6 lb ham in a sealed plastic bag or container.
• Refrigerate 8-24 hours, flipping occasionally.

Baking Method

• Place ham in a baking dish and score the top in a diamond pattern 1/8” deep.
• Pour one 12 oz can ginger ale over the ham.
• Spread 1⁄2 cup brown sugar over the ham, pressing lightly so it adheres.
• Bake according to ham package instructions, basting occasionally with pan juices.

Adds Moisture for Leftovers

The moistness ginger ale provides is also beneficial when storing leftover ham. Leftover ham dries out quickly in the fridge but packing it in ginger ale as it cools helps keep it juicy for longer.

Potential Drawbacks

While ginger ale has many benefits for ham, there are a couple potential drawbacks:

• Slightly Diluted Flavor – Since ginger ale contains water, it can dilute the ham’s flavor slightly compared to an equal amount of pure ginger.

• High Sugar – The large amount of sugar adds sweetness but is unhealthy in high amounts. Moderation is key.

• Overpowers Ham – If overused, ginger ale’s flavor may overpower the subtle smoky ham notes. Use just enough to complement the ham.

The Perfect Ginger Ale for Ham

When choosing a ginger ale to cook ham in, opt for a full flavored traditional ginger ale, not a diet one. The more ginger flavor, the better it will infuse into the ham.

Spicy ginger ales are also a good choice to give the ham a bite. Avoid very sweet ginger ales, as these will make the ham candy-like.

The ideal ginger ale for ham has these characteristics:

• Real sugar – not artificial sweeteners which won’t caramelize
• Strong ginger flavor – for best flavor infusion
• Moderate sweetness – not overly sugary
• Good carbonation – helps the glaze bubble and thicken

Tips for Cooking Ham in Ginger Ale

Follow these tips to get the best results when cooking ham with ginger ale:

• Choose a bone-in smoked ham for the best flavor. The bone adds even more moisture.

• Simmer ham in ginger ale in a slow cooker or on the stovetop before baking for maximum moisture.

• Add aromatics like sliced ginger, peppercorns, cloves, garlic, and bay leaves to the ginger ale.

• Use about 1 can (12 oz) ginger ale per 1 lb of ham. Adjust to preference.

• Brush ham with the pan juices periodically as it bakes to give an evenly glazed exterior.

• Let the glazed ham rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing for juicy results.

• Mix mustard, honey, or orange juice into the ginger ale glaze for more flavor.

• For leftovers, shred and mix into fried rice, eggs, pasta, or sandwiches. The ginger ale keeps it from drying out.

A Simple Method to Moist, Flavorful Ham

Cooking ham in ginger ale is an easy way to infuse bright flavor and juicy moisture into the meat. The ginger provides a tasty contrast to the ham’s saltiness while the sweetness balances it. For your next ham dinner, give this simple, effective technique a try. It takes basic ham to a new level with little effort required. Your guests will be impressed with the glistening, tender ginger ale ham you serve.