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Instant Pot Bone-in Ham turns out juicy and flavorful in a fraction of the time it takes to cook it in the oven! Making a ham in the Instant Pot is my favorite way to cook this Holiday staple. Adding some delicious seasonings and flavorings to this pressure cooker ham recipe makes it really special! Once you make an Instant Pot Ham, you will love it!
Originally published 10/25/17 [updated 11/2019]
Instant Pot Bone-In Ham
I think it’s funny how ham and turkey became once or twice a year foods for most of us in America. We might have lunch meats and ground versions, but to make a ham or turkey is not a frequent happening in most of our kitchens!
Every year I cook 2 hams, one for Easter, and one for Christmas. Always in the oven, and it always takes up the oven space so I can’t make the sides conveniently.
After I got my Instant Pot I decided to give it a try. It turned out really moist and delicious! Now I only make ham in the Instant Pot, and have my oven freed up for everything else! The Instant Pot ham actually cooks faster than some of the casseroles!
What I have noticed is that using my Instant Pot has allowed me to cook those time intensive meats and dishes more often because it just doesn’t take as long! I’m crazy about the variety we eat since the IP came to live with us!
This Instant Pot Bone-in Ham is done in about an hour. It takes about 13 minutes to heat up the pot and get it to pressure, 15 to 25 minutes of cook time, depending on how thick/large the ham is, and 25 minutes of natural pressure release!
Allow yourself some extra time in case you need to add a few minutes to the cook time. It’s good to have the ham done first, then the rest of the meal shortly after.
I prefer to use a bone-in, UNCUT ham. I find that these retain more moisture. If you use a spiral cut ham, drastically reduce the cook time (see recipe card).
Cooked in pineapple juice, along with a little spice gives the pressure cooker ham that Holiday flavor, and the drippings make an excellent glaze and gravy!
I pour some honey over the Instant Pot ham right before I close the lid.
The meat is juicy and delicious. Ready for carving. Enjoy your pressure cooker ham!
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Potato Dinner
Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake
Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Stuffing
Instant Pot Creamy Bacon Brussels Sprouts
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If you make this tasty pressure cooker ham recipe, please leave a comment with a star rating below. I’d love to know how it turned out!
Instant Pot Bone-in Ham
Ingredients
- 1 (3-8 lb) Bone-in Ham* (Uncut, Cooked shank or butt "portion")
- 2 (20 oz) cans Pineapple Chunks (with juice. Reserve ¼ cup for sauce)
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cloves, or 1 teaspoon whole (optional)
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Dry Mustard (or 1 Tablespoon prepared Dijon)
- ½ cup Honey
To Thicken
- 4 Tablespoons Corn Starch
- ¼ cup Reserved Pineapple Juice
To Finish
- ¼-⅓ cup Brown Sugar, divided
Instructions
- Pour the cans of pineapple and their juice into the pot.
- Add the cloves and mustard. Stir well.
- Place the ham on a trivet (I like to use a silicone steamer with handles) in the pot with the fat side up. If it doesn't fit well, cut off a piece and fit it into the pot along side the larger piece (you may need to reduce the cook time from the original weight as the ham will be smaller after cutting off a piece.).Make sure the ham is below the level of the pot so the lid goes on without obstruction. I can fit a 8-9 lb ham in my 8 quart Instant Pot, and a 6-7 lb ham in my 6 qt.
- Pour the honey over the ham.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook button (or Manual) and then the + or - button to choose the cook time in minutes.
- Your ham's cook time will depend on the weight/thickness. Use High pressure. This is for a bone-in UNCUT ham.3-5 pounds - 12 minutes plus 25 minutes Natural Release6-7 pounds - 17 minutes plus 25 minutes Natural Release8-9 pounds - 22 minutes plus 25 minutes Natural Release(For a spiral cut ham, only cook 3 minutes with a 15 minute NPR).
- When cooking cycle has ended, let the pot naturally release pressure for 25 minutes. Then manually release the remaining pressure by turning the steam release knob to Venting.
- When the pin in the lid drops, open the lid and take the temperature of the ham. It should read 100°-115° F which is fine for a fully cooked ham. Remember, you are just reheating it.If the ham is below 85° F, place the lid back on and pressure cook it for another 3 minutes and 10 minutes Natural Release.
- Carefully remove the ham to a baking sheet.
- Ladle the liquid from the pot to a fat separator (straining out the pineapple chunks) and discard the extra fat. Then add the defatted liquid and pineapple chunks back into the pot.
- Turn on the Sauté setting (Low or Less temperature).
- Mix in half of the brown sugar. Taste and adjust sugar, mustard, or cloves, if desired.
- Mix the corn starch and reserved pineapple juice together to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the simmering liquid and stir until it is thickened. Then turn off the pot.
If You Want To Glaze/Caramelize the Outside of the Ham
- Turn on the broiler to 425°.
- Pour some of the glaze over the ham and place the ham under the broiler to caramelize for a few minutes. Check it often to make sure it doesn't burn!
- Remove ham from oven to a serving platter and serve. Serve the remaining glaze as a gravy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Ham
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Made this tonight for a pre-Christmas family dinner, since all my kids head different directions to spend time with their in-laws. Everyone loved it. The ham was the moistest I have made in years. Between the ham juices and the orange/pineapple juices, it was almost too much. Great recipe though. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Would a 10lb ham fit in a 8 quart IP? Thanks!
Possibly. It depends on the shape.
If I am making a ham for a church party and they gave me one that has a brown sugar glaze packet with it already, do I place that on before I cook the ham or after? You said you put the honey on before cooking the ham. Also thank your for making your recipe so simple to follow! We are new to the instant pot that this really helped!
I would put the glaze on after, then broil it in the oven for a few minutes to caramelize it.
I am making this for my Christmas dinner I don’t have a Instant Pot I would like to make it in my crockpot can I do it that way and do I have to change anything
Yes, just cook 6-7 hours on Low or 3-4 on high.
Need Thanksgiving help! Have you tried a frozen ham before? I saw you just commented on a frozen ham and may have tried it by now. I am worried it will be tough. I will have alot of side dishes and a big turkey in my refrigerator, so I’m trying to go straight from the freezer with the ham. Do you think it would be better if I thawed it first? I am cooking for 20 people and five of them are Army guys that can’t go home to their families. :(. Army guys that eat so I need alot of meat! lol. My ham is a bone in 7 pound shank. Thanks in advance. 🙂
Try 27 minutes with a 25 minute natural release.
Can you do this with a frozen ham or does it have to be thawed.
You can use frozen, though it will take longer to come to pressure. You might need to add some time, but I would cook it per recipe, then use a meat thermometer to check. If it needs more time, just give it a few minutes.
My broiler is out. How can I do glaze in oven?
I would put the oven to 425° and let it kind of caramelize that way. Maybe wrap the bottom in foil first.
Hi Sandy!
Thank you for this recipe. What do you mean by precooked ham? I have a fresh bone in ham that’s about 5lbs, so I was thinking about 25 minutes in the instant pot?
Thank you!
Hi Michelle. Most hams we get in the grocery store are precooked. Check the label and it will tell you. I think starting with 13 minutes sounds good.
hi I just bought an instapot I cook all the time but for some reason I cant seem to start using mine im sure after I do ill c how easy it is but for now it seems complicated I would just like to put everything in the pot set it and forget it but it seems I have to go on line to try and figure out how long to cook for and how to pls can u help me to c how easy it could be thanks a bunch
Hi Brenda, it can take a while to understand that this is a pressure cooker and not a crock pot. There are recipes that are “Dump and push start” and many are not. One of the cool things about this appliance is that you can brown your meat, veggies, or whatever in the same pot that you will be pressure cooking in. Just remember that pressure cooking requires water. The water heats up and creates steam. The steam builds up and creates pressure, and is hotter than boiling water. The pressure cooks the food. WAY different than a crock pot. I have a friend who has an amazing guide for getting started: Getting Started – Paint the Kitchen Red. Good Luck!
I made this yesterday and it turned out awesome. My ham was 9 lbs and I did 45 minutes but I did have to cook to for an additional 10 minutes. I think 5 minutes would have been enough. Delicious!
That’s great Sharlene! Every ham is different, and I try to go by the thickness. Trust that meat thermometer! Thank you for your review!
10.5 lbs cook time?
About 27 minutes with a 25 minute natural release.