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!
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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 cooks in about an hour and is juicy and delicious! This recipe is for an uncut, precooked ham.
- 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
- 4 Tablespoons Corn Starch
- ¼ cup Reserved Pineapple Juice
- ¼-⅓ cup Brown Sugar, divided
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Pour the cans of pineapple and their juice into the pot.
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Add the cloves and mustard. Stir well.
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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.
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Pour the honey over the ham.
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Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
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Press the Pressure Cook button (or Manual) and then the + or - button to choose the cook time in minutes.
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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 Release
6-7 pounds - 17 minutes plus 25 minutes Natural Release
8-9 pounds - 22 minutes plus 25 minutes Natural Release
(For a spiral cut ham, only cook 3 minutes with a 15 minute NPR).
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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.
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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.
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Carefully remove the ham to a baking sheet.
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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.
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Turn on the Sauté setting (Low or Less temperature).
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Mix in half of the brown sugar. Taste and adjust sugar, mustard, or cloves, if desired.
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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.
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Turn on the broiler to 425°.
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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!
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Remove ham from oven to a serving platter and serve. Serve the remaining glaze as a gravy.
*The thickness of the ham will affect cook time, as will higher altitudes (3000 feet or higher add more time).
**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.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Ham
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Lili
HELP! I bough an uncured, unsmoked, fresh, bone in picnic ham (it was on sale) but I can't find an instant pot recipe anywhere! Any ideas? I'll go for pulled pork or roast, whatever. Just don't want to screw it up.
Sandy
You can cook it as in this recipe and it will be good.
Tammy
Help please! I have a 3.5 lb frozen cured ham. How long would I need to cook it? Thank you!
Sandy
15 minutes with a 20 minute natural release.
Suzanne
Great recipe! I made an 11lb bone-in ham for Xmas open house. It barely fit but I got it in my Instant Pot. Cooked it 30 at pressure and 25 natural release... fabulous! Everyone loved it. Tender and juicy.
BECKI WILLIAMS
Can you make this with a boneless ham?
Sandy
Yes you can.
Stephanie
I did a 7 pound ham for 30 minutes and turned out very dry, it barely fit in my 6 Qt and we had to cut a piece off to make it fit. Was it dry because it was too much in the pot?
Sandy
What kind of ham was it? And yes, cutting it will reduce the overall thickness, so a shorter cook time may have been needed.
Stephanie
Smoked pork shoulder picnic
Sandy
I think it was cutting it smaller that did it.
Ron
Hi Sandy i have a guestion I have a almost 12 pound ham that I've always done my ham in the oven for years I normally baste mine every 20 min with my own glaze so how can make this year's ham in my quick pot ive made some roast and they have come out good. And how long would I cook this ham
Sandy
If a 12 pounder fits in your pot, you are lucky! I'd cook it for 35 minutes plus a 25 minute Natural Release. If it won't fit, you'll need to cut it and cook according to the weight of the largest chunk. Use my time chart in the recipe card. If it is a spiral cut, reduce the cook time to 3 to 5 minutes, depending on how big it ends up being. 15 minute NR.
April
I must say, I have tried so many versions but yours by far has been the best. I did do something different today though. My husband requested a natural and spicy tasting ham. His word's hahaha. So I took your instructions and instead of sweetness I used chicken broth, jalapeno slices and juice and garlic. He loved it. He told me to never lose that recipe ?
Sandy
That sounds great! Spicy ham, yum!
Christy Levey
Sandy, wonderful is too time to describe tonight's dinner. What a relief I had my Instant Pot to take over the hard part. An amazing, mouth watering aroma began to waft from my tiny kitchen to each room.. The occupants had all told me, "No," when iI asked if anyone was hungry. I mixed instant pototes with my no-time-to-cook add in: cream cheese, chicken stock the water, evaporated milk, half a tsp of sugar, salt and pepper to taste...ohhh, don't forget- lots of butter. Within minutes everyone was grabbing plates and forks, shoving their way directly to the ham. Thank you so much. I can't wait to try more
May God bless you with Love
Molly
Ok so my family hates sweet ham except for my grandpa. It's Father's day and he wants brown sugar pineapple ham....yuck! Tried this recipe...added 1/2 brown sugar to the pineapple juice b4 cooking ham and only used about a teaspoon of the mustard. Turned out amazing!!! We all like it and Grandpa was able to just add the glaze to it and it was perfect for all of us. Without the glaze it has very little sweet to it and still has the saltiness we all love about ham. Will be keeping this recipe!
Sandy
Hi Molly! I'm happy to know that Grandpa got what he wanted, and so did you! Thanks for your review!