Instant Pot ham is simple to make and always delicious. You can make it even better with a whiskey maple glaze. It’s great for Christmas dinner or any holiday meal.
When we think of Thanksgiving we think of Turkey and when we think of Christmas we often think of ham. It’s a classic Christmas dinner with a long history.
It’s said to have roots in an ancient pagan ritual where a wild boar was sacrificed to the Norse god Freyr. When people started to convert to Christianity it became linked to the feast of St. Stephen on December 26th.
How we tend to make it has changed over the years but it’s still a very popular Christmas main dish in many parts of the world. Americans consume around 318 million pounds of ham during the holiday season.
Ham is my Christmas protein of choice. I love that it’s quite simple to make, especially since so many hams come fully cooked and just need to be glazed and warmed.
I like to keep the Christmas meal simple as I do all the cooking and want to be able to spend most of my time enjoying the day and not stuck in the kitchen. One of the best ways to do that is with an Instant Pot ham!
Ham in the Instant Pot is not only really quick but I find it makes the best ham as it never gets dried out. My family also agrees and comments on how the ham is always so good made that way.
Simple side dishes along with the ham make for a delicious but easy Christmas dinner. We are always full, have lots of leftovers and everyone is happy.
Ham can also be made in many ways. In the 1950s cloves, pineapples, and cherries became popular and it is a fun way to make and serve ham but it’s a bit outdated and can be overly sweet.
A good balance is key with ham. It does lend well to some sweetness but you want to balance it with other flavors as well. My favorite way to make it lately is with a whiskey maple glaze. Using a whiskey maple glaze for ham creates an amazing flavor and it’s simple to make.
If you are concerned about cooking with whiskey, it’s a small amount and the alcohol cooks off. It just leaves a very nice flavor, just like cooking with wine.
Something that is a bit different about this Instant Pot ham recipe is that it’s finished off in the oven for a few minutes to make the glaze even better and give it a nice finish.
This ham glaze recipe is truly delicious so you want to make sure it’s able to really shine and finishing it in the oven allows that to happen.
How Long Do You Cook a Ham in the Instant Pot?
With a fully cooked sliced ham, you want it to reach a temperature of 140°F according to FDA recommendations. I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure you reach this temperature. You put it back in for a minute or two if it’s not to that temperature.
When cooking a raw ham you will need to add more time and reach a temperature of 145°F. I would add a couple of minutes to the time and check it. You can always cook it more if that isn’t enough time.
When cooking a fully cooked ham use 2 minutes per pound on high pressure. If you are using foil add 10 minutes to account for the foil.
Now that we got all of that out of the way it’s time to make your ham. If you run into any issues leave a comment or send me an email. And don’t forget to add this to your Christmas recipe book so you can find it when you need it.
Instant Pot Ham With Whiskey Maple Glaze
Make your Christmas ham special this year with a whiskey maple glaze. It will come out perfect every time with the use of the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ham (fully cooked, sliced)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons whiskey
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves (ground)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients after the ham in a bowl until well combined.
- Set 1/4 cup of the glaze aside for once the ham is cooked. This step is only needed if you want to broil the ham once it's finished in the Instant Pot.
- Place ham in Instant Pot on a trivet.
- Cook on high for 6 minutes.
- Let naturally release and then check the temperature and make sure it's at least 140 for a fully cooked ham.
- (optional) Place ham in a baking dish and pour reserved glaze over the top and place in the oven on broil for 5 minutes. This gives the outside a nice texture and makes the glaze even better.
Notes
Remember if cooking a smaller or bigger ham be sure to adjust the time. The rule of thumb is 2 minutes per pound for a fully cooked ham. Check the post for more details on timing.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 292Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1665mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 12gProtein: 38g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
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