Transform your holiday meals with the ultimate **Instant Pot Ham**, featuring a vibrant orange cranberry glaze that comes together in under an hour. This effortless pressure cooker method ensures a perfectly tender, succulent spiral-cut ham, making it the ideal centerpiece for your festive gatherings.

The Easiest Way to Cook Holiday Ham: Instant Pot Perfection

For many, holiday dinners mean a beautifully glazed ham taking center stage. While traditional slow cooker or oven methods certainly yield delicious results, the Instant Pot offers an unparalleled combination of speed, convenience, and flavor. If you’ve been searching for a way to achieve that perfectly juicy ham without tying up your oven or waiting for hours, look no further than this Instant Pot Ham recipe with its delightful cranberry orange sauce.

I typically rely on my favorite Crock-Pot cranberry orange ham for Christmas celebrations. However, after successfully converting many of my slow cooker recipes to the Instant Pot, I discovered that pressure cooking ham elevates it to a whole new level of deliciousness. The Instant Pot doesn’t just cook faster; it truly infuses the ham with incredible flavor and ensures every slice is exceptionally tender and juicy.

Why Choose the Instant Pot for Your Holiday Ham?

The Instant Pot isn’t just a kitchen gadget; it’s a game-changer, especially for holiday cooking when time and oven space are at a premium. Here’s why it’s the superior choice for your spiral-cut ham:

Unbeatable Speed and Efficiency

One of the most compelling reasons to use your Instant Pot for ham is its incredible speed. While a traditional oven can take several hours to reheat and glaze a ham, and a slow cooker requires a full day, the Instant Pot cooks a pre-cooked spiral ham in just 10 minutes of active pressure cooking time. Factor in the time for the pot to come to pressure and for a natural release, and you’re still looking at less than an hour from start to finish. This efficiency is invaluable during busy holidays, allowing you more time to spend with loved ones or to prepare other dishes.

Exceptional Tenderness and Juiciness

Pressure cooking creates a moist, steamy environment that locks in moisture, resulting in a ham that is unbelievably tender and juicy. Unlike oven baking, which can sometimes dry out the edges of a ham, the Instant Pot ensures uniform moisture distribution, making every bite succulent. The high-pressure cooking also helps to break down the fibers in the ham, contributing to its melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Deep Flavor Infusion

The sealed environment of the Instant Pot allows the savory ham juices and the sweet-tart cranberry orange glaze to permeate every layer of the spiral cut. The pressure forces the flavors deep into the meat, creating a rich, aromatic experience that’s simply unmatched by other cooking methods. The combination of jellied cranberry sauce and zesty orange marmalade isn’t just a coating; it becomes an integral part of the ham’s flavor profile.

Frees Up Oven Space

During holiday meals, oven space is often hotly contested. By cooking your ham in the Instant Pot, you free up your oven for other critical dishes like roasted vegetables, casseroles, or baked desserts. This streamlined approach helps reduce stress and makes multi-course meal preparation much more manageable.

This delightful flavor combination of cranberry and orange isn’t just perfect for ham; it’s a holiday favorite in our kitchen, inspiring other festive dishes like Crock-Pot cranberry orange meatballs and Instant Pot cranberry orange meatballs.

Choosing and Preparing Your Spiral Cut Ham for the Instant Pot

For this recipe, we specifically focus on pre-cooked, spiral-cut ham. This type of ham is ideal for the Instant Pot because it’s already fully cooked, meaning we’re primarily focused on heating it through, enhancing its flavor, and achieving that perfect tender texture. The spiral cuts also allow the delicious glaze to seep into every crevice.

I used a 10-pound spiral cut ham for this recipe, which fit perfectly into my 8-quart Instant Pot. If you have a larger ham, you might need to adjust the cooking time slightly, or consider whether it will fit in your specific Instant Pot model. For smaller hams or 6-quart Instant Pots, you might need to trim the ham to ensure it fits comfortably within the pot, without exceeding the max fill line.

Setting Up Your Instant Pot for Ham

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. You don’t even need the trivet! Simply place the entire spiral-cut ham directly into the Instant Pot, with the cut side facing upwards. This positioning helps the glaze to drip down into the layers of ham, maximizing flavor. Next, pour a cup of orange juice into the pressure cooker. This liquid is crucial for bringing the Instant Pot to pressure and contributes a wonderful citrus note to the ham. Keep in mind that ham naturally releases a lot of its own liquid during cooking, so you don’t need the typical 2 cups of liquid often used in Instant Pot recipes. If you’re using a 6-quart Instant Pot, half a cup or even slightly less will suffice.

Crafting the Cranberry Orange Glaze

The star of this ham is undoubtedly its vibrant glaze. To create it, generously top the ham with a layer of jellied cranberry sauce, followed by dollops of orange marmalade. Don’t just leave it on top – use a spoon or spatula to gently push some of the sauce between the individual slices of the spiral ham. This ensures that every piece of ham is coated in the sweet, tangy, and aromatic glaze.

Instant Pot Ham Cooking Time: Quick and Easy

One of the most common questions is: “How long do you cook ham in an Instant Pot?” The answer might surprise you with its brevity!

Pressure Cooking Duration

For a pre-cooked, spiral-cut ham, you only need to pressure cook it for 10 minutes. Yes, that’s it – 10 minutes of active cooking time! This short duration is possible because the ham is already cooked; we’re essentially warming it through and infusing it with flavor under pressure.

Understanding the Total Time

While the pressure cooking time is brief, it’s important to remember that the Instant Pot takes time to build pressure before the countdown begins. For a ham of this size, it can take at least 10 minutes, or even more, for the pot to reach the required pressure. After the 10-minute cooking cycle is complete, I recommend allowing a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). This slow release helps to keep the ham moist and tender. After 10 minutes of NPR, you can then perform a quick release (QR) for any remaining pressure. So, while the active cooking is 10 minutes, the total time from placing the lid to opening it will be over 30 minutes, but still significantly faster than traditional methods.

Finishing Touches and Serving Your Instant Pot Ham

Once the pressure has fully released and the lid is safely removed, the hardest part begins: carefully lifting the heavy ham out of the Instant Pot. I find using two large sturdy spoons or serving forks to be the easiest method. Transfer the cooked ham to a large serving platter, allowing it to rest while you prepare the glorious sauce.

Thickening the Glaze

The liquid remaining in the Instant Pot is a flavorful medley of ham juices, orange juice, cranberry sauce, and orange marmalade. To transform this into a luscious, pourable glaze, simply select the “Saute” function on your Instant Pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer, stirring occasionally. If you prefer an even thicker glaze, you can add an extra spoonful or two of orange marmalade, or a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) and let it cook until it reaches your desired consistency. This rich, sweet-tart sauce is what truly elevates the ham.

Generously spoon the warm cranberry orange sauce over the slices of ham just before serving. The vibrant glaze will make your holiday table shine! And trust me, while hot ham is undeniably delicious, don’t underestimate the joy of snacking on cold leftover ham – it’s often even better!

Essential Tools for Instant Pot Ham Success

Having the right equipment can make your cooking experience even smoother:

• Instant Pot pressure cooker (an 8-quart is recommended for larger hams, but a 6-quart can work with smaller or trimmed hams).
• OXO liquid measuring cup for precise liquid measurements.
• Large serving platter for presenting your magnificent ham.
• Meat thermometer to ensure the ham reaches at least 140°F (60°C).

Instant Pot Ham Recipe with Cranberry Orange Sauce

Tips for the Perfect Instant Pot Ham

• Don’t Overcrowd Your Pot: Ensure your ham fits comfortably within the Instant Pot without exceeding the maximum fill line. If it’s too large, you might need to trim it.
• Internal Temperature: Always use a meat thermometer to confirm your ham has reached an internal temperature of at least 140°F (60°C). Since most hams are pre-cooked, this is about reheating to a safe and delicious temperature.
• Rest Your Ham: Allowing the ham to rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful product.
• Customizable Glaze: Feel free to experiment with your glaze! Add a pinch of ground cloves, cinnamon, or even a splash of bourbon for a more complex flavor profile.
• Leftovers Are a Treat: Instant Pot ham makes fantastic leftovers. Use them for ham sandwiches, diced in omelets, added to split pea soup, or for a quick ham and cheese quesadilla. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Ham

Can I use a bone-in ham?

Yes, you can use a bone-in spiral-cut ham. The bone adds even more flavor to the cooking liquid. Just ensure it fits well within your Instant Pot.

What if my ham is not spiral-cut?

If you have a whole, pre-cooked ham that isn’t spiral-cut, you can still cook it in the Instant Pot. You might want to score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern before adding the glaze to help the flavors penetrate deeper.

Can I use frozen ham?

It’s generally recommended to thaw your ham completely before cooking in the Instant Pot for best results and even cooking. Cooking from frozen can significantly increase the pressure cooking time and may result in an unevenly heated ham.

What if I don’t have orange marmalade?

You can substitute orange marmalade with apricot preserves, peach preserves, or even apple jelly, adding a splash of orange zest or a bit of orange juice concentrate to boost the citrus flavor. A little brown sugar can also be added for sweetness.

Can I make this Instant Pot ham ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can cook the ham a day or two in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently in the oven at a low temperature (around 275°F/135°C), covered, until warmed through, or in slices in the microwave. Reheat the glaze separately on the stovetop.

I genuinely hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot ham recipe as much as we do, bringing deliciousness and ease to your next holiday meal or family gathering!