Toaster ovens provide a quick and convenient way to cook small meals without heating up your entire full-sized oven. Their compact size makes them excellent for cooking ham slices, smaller hams, and even half hams perfectly moist and delicious.
In this guide, I’ll share tips on choosing the right size ham, calculating cook times, preventing drying out, and infusing flavor with glazes and bastes. Follow these simple steps for juicy, carvable ham cooked right in your toaster oven.
Benefits of Using a Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens have advantages over regular ovens when cooking ham
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Faster preheating Toaster ovens preheat in just minutes, letting you start cooking sooner
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Shorter cook time The smaller cavity concentrates heat around the food for quick cooking
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Moist and tender: The tight space holds in moisture better than a full oven.
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Adds flavor: Glazes caramelize onto the meat’s exterior.
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Perfect portions: Cook just what you need instead of a huge ham.
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Saves energy: Uses less electricity than a large oven.
Choosing the Right Size Ham
Selecting a ham that fits comfortably in your toaster oven ensures proper heat circulation for even cooking.
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For standard toaster ovens, opt for ham steak or slices, or a half bone-in ham (4-5 lbs).
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For larger toaster ovens, you can cook a whole bone-in ham (7-8 lbs), spiral cut ham (7-9 lbs), or boneless ham roast (3-4 lbs).
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Allow 2 inches of clearance on all sides for air flow.
Calculate Cook Time
Cooking time depends on the size, shape and state of your ham. Here are general guidelines:
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Ham slices or steak: 8-12 minutes per side
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Boneless half ham: 18-24 minutes per lb
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Bone-in half ham: 22-28 minutes per lb
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Whole bone-in ham (7-8 lbs): 11-15 minutes per lb
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Spiral cut whole ham (7-9 lbs): 9-12 minutes per lb
Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness instead of relying solely on cook times. Insert 2-3 inches into thickest part of ham and check halfway through and near end of expected cook time.
Internal Temperatures for Safe Doneness
Cook until the internal temperature in the ham’s thickest area reaches:
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Fresh ham: 160°F
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Cook-before-eating ham: 140°F
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Fully cooked ham: 130°F
Let the ham rest for 10-15 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute. The temperature will rise another 5-10°F as it rests.
Prevent Drying Out
Toaster ovens can quickly dry out ham if you aren’t careful. Follow these tips for moist, juicy meat:
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Choose a size that fits with 2 inches of clearance.
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Leave fat cap on if present to baste the meat.
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Brush with glaze, mustard, or broth during last 30 minutes.
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Tent with foil and let rest before serving.
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Slice across the grain to maximize tenderness.
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Serve with cooking juices drizzled over the top.
How to Cook a Half Bone-In Ham
Bone-in halves offer great ham flavor at a more manageable size. Here’s how to cook one in a toaster oven:
Ingredients:
- 4-5 lb bone-in half ham
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp mustard
Directions:
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Rinse ham, pat dry, and place in toaster oven pan.
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Mix glaze ingredients and brush ham.
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Cook 22-28 minutes per lb until 140°F.
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Brush glaze on every 10 minutes last half hour.
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Remove from oven, tent foil, rest 10-15 minutes before slicing.
How to Cook a Whole Bone-In Ham
With the right sized toaster oven, you can cook a whole 7-8 lb bone-in ham. Here’s a simple maple glazed recipe:
Ingredients:
- 7-8 lb bone-in cooked ham
- 1⁄2 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1⁄4 tsp cinnamon
Directions:
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Rinse, dry, and place ham cut side down in pan.
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Mix glaze ingredients and brush ham.
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Cook 11-15 minutes per lb until 130°F.
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Brush glaze every 10 mins last half hour.
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Remove, tent foil, let rest 10-15 mins before slicing.
How to Cook a Spiral Cut Ham
Spiral cut hams make carving simple. Follow this easy cherry cola glazed recipe:
Ingredients:
- 7-9 lb spiral cut cooked ham
- 12 oz can cherry cola
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1⁄2 tsp cloves
Directions:
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Place ham cut side down in pan.
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Mix glaze ingredients and brush on ham.
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Cook 9-12 minutes per lb until 140°F.
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Brush glaze on every 10 minutes last half hour.
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Remove, tent foil, let rest 10 mins before serving.
Simple Ham Glaze Recipes
Glazing adds sweetness, moisture and flavor. Use these yummy recipes:
Brown Sugar Mustard
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Orange Marmalade
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- 2 tbsp spicy brown mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of cayenne
Cherry Cola
- 12 oz can cherry cola
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1⁄2 tsp ground cloves
Maple Bourbon
- 1⁄2 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp bourbon
- 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 1⁄2 tsp onion powder
Honey Ginger
- 1⁄4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp lemon juice
FAQs About Cooking Ham in a Toaster Oven
What size ham fits in a toaster oven?
For standard sizes, opt for ham slices, steak, half hams or small (3-5 lb) boneless roasts. Larger toaster ovens can accommodate 7-9 lb hams.
How long does it take to cook pre-cooked ham?
Cook 15-20 minutes per lb for bone-in, and 18-24 minutes per lb for boneless. Check internal temperature to confirm doneness.
Should I let the ham rest before carving?
Yes, letting it rest for 10-15 minutes allows juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when sliced.
What temperature should I cook ham to?
Cook cooked hams to 140°F. Fresh hams should reach 160°F for food safety.
Can I use a cooking bag or foil to prevent drying?
Yes, foil tents or cooking bags help retain moisture. Be sure to allow steam to escape.
Should I glaze or baste the ham?
Glazing adds great flavor and moisture. Apply glaze or broth baste during the last 30 minutes.
Get Perfectly Cooked Ham with Less Effort
Toaster ovens provide an easy way to cook moist, delicious ham without heating up your full oven. With the right size ham, occasional bastings, and proper rest time, you can enjoy juicy, flavorful meat. Use the timing, temperature and glazing tips in this guide for fantastic ham off your toaster oven!
