Gammon guides

Air Fryer Gammon

Wrap the joint loosely in foil and air fry it at 180°C. Unwrap it and glaze it for the last 10 minutes. A 1kg joint takes about 70 minutes in total.

At 180°C20 min per 500g + 30Glaze for the last 10 min
Time
Joint: 20 min per 500g + 30 min in total. Steaks: 8–10 min.
Heat
180°C for joints, 200°C for steaks
Done at
70°C
Method
Foil-wrapped air fry, then uncover and glaze

Weigh it. Pick a method. Done.

What you need

  • 1kg boneless gammon joint
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
  • Foil

Method

  1. Wrap

    Take the gammon out of its packaging and pat it dry. Wrap it loosely in a double layer of foil, scrunched closed at the top so the steam stays in.

  2. Air fry

    Put it in the basket and cook at 180°C for 60 minutes. Check it fits with a couple of centimetres of space all round, so the air can move.

  1. Glaze

    Open the foil and peel the skin off, leaving the fat. Score it, mix the honey and mustard, and brush it over. Fold the foil down to make a tray, then cook for the final 10 minutes until it's sticky.

  2. Check and rest

    The middle should read 70°C. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

An air fryer is brilliant for a small gammon joint when you don't want to heat the whole oven or stand over a pan. The foil is what makes it work. Without it, the outside dries out long before the middle is cooked.

Joint timings

Allow 20 minutes per 500g, plus 30 minutes, all at 180°C. That's the total time, and the last 10 minutes of it is the glaze.

Joint weight Total time Of which glazing
500g 50 min last 10 min
750g 60 min last 10 min
1kg 70 min last 10 min
1.25kg 80 min last 10 min
1.5kg 90 min last 10 min

Air fryers vary more than ovens do. Check the temperature for the first time ten minutes before the end.

Gammon steaks

Snip the fat every couple of centimetres so the steak doesn't curl up. Air fry at 200°C for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway. A pineapple ring or a fried egg on top is optional but traditional. There's more on the gammon steaks page.

Straight answers

What size gammon joint fits in an air fryer?

Most single-basket air fryers take up to about 1.5kg. Anything bigger cooks unevenly, so use the oven or the hob instead.

Do I need to boil gammon before air frying it?

No. Wrapping it in foil traps enough steam to keep it moist. Soak it first only if the pack tells you to.

How long do gammon steaks take in the air fryer?

8 to 10 minutes at 200°C for a steak about 1cm thick. Turn it halfway through.

Why did my glaze burn?

Air fryers are fierce close to the element. Glaze for the last 10 minutes only, and if the top is catching, lay a scrap of foil over it.

Updated 10 November 2026