Instant Pot Ham The Soul Food Way
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There’s a special kind of magic in a soul food ham. That glossy, sweet-meets-savory shine, the tender slices pulling apart with ease, and the aromas that smell like every holiday memory wrapped into one. And now, thanks to the Instant Pot, you can bring all that Southern comfort to the table faster than ever without losing an ounce of that old-school soul food flava!
My Instant Pot ham recipe is the shortcut Black cooks and soul food enthusiasts have been waiting for: juicy, buttery-tender, warm with spices, kissed with sweetness, and cooked to perfection in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven. No fussing, no basting every five minutes, just pure, soulful goodness infused straight into the meat while the pressure cooker does all the heavy lifting.
Instant Pot ham, the soul food way, is a holiday classic from Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®, where cultural tradition meets modern Southern flavor.
Can you make a spiral ham in the Instant Pot?
The pressure cooker locks in moisture and melts the glaze deep into those spiral-cut layers, giving you that “cooked low and slow” holiday flavor in a fraction of the time. I’ve tested and perfected this method over and over (this is exactly how I make my holiday ham every year!), and it never misses. The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting while you get all that rich, sweet, Southern-flava comfort with ease. Perfectly glazed. Perfectly tender. Perfectly soul food.
It’s the modern way to honor tradition: a holiday centerpiece (or Sunday dinner favorite) that tastes like Grandma made it, but cooks like your schedule needs it, in under 30 minutes instead of nearly 2 hours! One bite, and you’ll see… this is how you bring big flavor to the table the soul food way, even on your busiest days.
Ingredients
Just like my oven-baked Black folks’ pineapple-glazed ham, this Instant Pot version uses the same soulful lineup of ingredients: sweet crushed pineapple, the warm spices, the brown sugar shine, and that signature soul food Southern flava we don’t play about!
🥄 Shaunda says: For my Instant Pot ham, I keep it simple and soulful. Canned crushed pineapple mixed with brown sugar melts right into the ham under pressure, giving you big old-school flava without all the work. Fresh pineapple works, too, but the canned kind is quick, juicy, and perfect for letting the Instant Pot do its magic. No pineapple rings to pin, no fuss. Just pure sweet Southern shine!
What size Instant Pot do you need for a ham?
For the standard 6-quart Instant Pot, it’s essential to choose a 4–6 pound ham so it fits snugly inside without crowding the pot. Add a bit of water to create the steam needed for pressure cooking, and use an Instant Pot baking sling to easily lower the ham in and lift it out like a pro. Same ingredients, same flavor, same soul — just cooked the quick, modern way!
How to make ham in the Instant Pot
Here’s what to expect when making this dish.
- Prep it: Add water to the inner pot, prep the pineapple glaze, and fit the ham snug in the Instant Pot sling.
- Glaze with love: Open the spiral slices and pour that pineapple sweetness all through.
- Let her cook: Seal and pressure cook for 2 minutes per pound, then let it chill and naturally release.
- Lift, shine, and serve: Use the sling to easily lift the ham out of the pot, add pretty garnishes if you’re feeling fancy, and serve up a juicy, soul-soaked ham!
✨ Shaunda’s Soul Food Sense: tips, truths & traditions
Tips for the perfect Instant Pot ham, and a few lessons, memories, and must-knows from my kitchen to yours.
- No sling? No problem. Fold heavy-duty foil into a sturdy hammock to lift your ham in and out like a pro.
- Cook it just right. Pressure cook for 2 minutes per pound (add 5 extra minutes if using a foil sling). That’s the secret to tender, juicy, soul-soaked slices
- Make it pretty. Garnish with holiday-bright fruits — pomegranates, figs, clementines, oranges, cranberries, or apples. A sprinkle of pearl onions, fresh rosemary sprigs, or baby arugula brings that chef’s-kiss Southern shine!
- Sizing matters. If your ham is larger than 6 pounds, reach for an Instant Pot bigger than the standard 6-quart… or slide that ham into the oven and use this same recipe the classic way.
- Don’t waste the magic. Brush, baste, or drizzle that leftover glaze and pan juice right over the ham. That’s where the deep-down Southern flava lives!
🤖 Ask AI to summarize this recipe & save it!
Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.
Equipment
- Instant Pot standard 6-quart electric pressure cooker
- Instant Pot baking sling or heavy-duty aluminum foil and the Instant Pot trivet rack
Ingredients
- 6 pound ham pre-cooked, pre-spiraled 4-6 pound ham
- 1 ½ cups water for the Instant Pot
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup crushed pineapple fresh pineapple or canned pineapple
- 3 cups light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Prep the pot: Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the water into the stainless-steel inner pot.
- Make the glaze: In a bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, crushed pineapple, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla extract, and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
- Set up the ham: Place the ham in an Instant Pot baking sling. No sling? No worries! Fold heavy-duty aluminum foil into a sturdy, hammock-like sling to cradle the ham.
- Glaze with soul: Gently separate the spiral slices and spoon the pineapple glaze over the top and between each layer so every bite gets that sweet Southern flava.
- Secure and lower the ham: Fasten the baking sling around the ham. If using foil, wrap it securely and leave long “handles” for lifting.
- Lower the ham into the Instant Pot insert using the sling handles. (If using a foil sling, place the trivet in the pot first, then lower the ham onto the trivet.)
- Pressure cook: Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to 'sealing.'
- Pressure cook on high for 2 minutes per pound of ham (example: 5-pound ham = 10 minutes). Add 5 extra minutes if using a heavy-duty foil sling.
- Natural release: When the cook time ends, allow a natural release for the same amount of time as the pressure-cooking time (example: 10 minutes for a 5-pound ham; 15 minutes for a 5-pound ham in foil).
- Then, switch the valve to 'venting' to release any remaining pressure.
- Check and adjust if needed: In the rare case the ham needs a bit more time, pressure cook for an additional 3–5 minutes.
- Remove and serve: Carefully lift the ham from the pot using the sling handles (oven mitts may help).
- Transfer to a platter, slide the sling or foil out from under the ham, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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I love the ease of making this holiday ham with a simple drop in a pot!