Easy Slow Cooker Ham

In the NutriGuide test kitchen, Chief Culinary Specialist Stewart Lucas refined this classic Easy Slow Cooker Ham to celebrate vibrant, wholesome ingredients. By prioritizing aromatic layering and precise thermal control, this recipe achieves remarkable culinary depth while preserving natural micronutrients and wholesome texture.

At NutriGuide, our mission is to ensure that home cooking is both accessible and culinary-grade. When executing Easy Slow Cooker Ham, focus on fresh aromatics, dry surface contact for proper searing, and allowing the food to rest before serving.

• 1 (6 pound) bone-in country ham
• 30 whole cloves
• 3 cups apple cider, or as needed
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• (optional)
• 1 orange's peel

Chef's Sourcing & Quality Tips:

• Produce & Aromatics: Always use fresh whole aromatics and seasonal herbs rather than dehydrated powders when possible.
• Cooking Oils: Utilize cold-pressed oils with appropriate smoke points such as extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
• Salt & Seasoning: Season from a modest height above the pan to ensure an even, uniform crystalline dispersion.

Follow these sequential steps with careful attention to sensory cues and cooking temperatures:

Step 1: Technique & Execution

Press whole cloves into the ham so they are evenly distributed

Step 2: Technique & Execution

You may score the ham for easier insertion if you wish

Step 3: Technique & Execution

Place the ham in a slow cooker

Step 4: Technique & Execution

Pour in apple cider until only about 2 inches of ham is above the surface

Step 5: Technique & Execution

Pack the brown sugar on top of the ham, pressing into the cloves

Step 6: Technique & Execution

This will get washed away in the next step but any that stays on is a bonus