how long to cook a ham in a crock pot
For most hams, plan on about 4–6 hours on LOW in the crock pot, or 2–3 hours on HIGH, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F for a fully cooked ham.
Key timing guidelines
- Fully cooked, bone‑in ham: generally 4–6 hours on LOW, depending on size and your slow cooker, aiming for 140°F in the center.
- Fully cooked, boneless ham: about 4–6 hours on LOW or 2–4 hours on HIGH; smaller hams may be closer to the low end of the range.
- Small 2–4 lb hams: often 2–3 hours on LOW is enough to heat through to 140°F.
By ham size
- 4–6 lb precooked ham: about 2–3 hours on LOW, checking for 140°F doneness.
- 8–10 lb precooked ham: about 4–6 hours on LOW in a standard crock pot.
- Larger or thicker hams: lean toward the upper end of 6–8 hours on LOW so the heat penetrates fully.
Doneness and safety check
- Use an instant‑read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham, away from the bone, and look for 140°F for a fully cooked, “heat‑and‑serve” ham.
- Avoid overcooking; once it hits 140°F and is hot and tender, switch the crock pot to WARM so it does not dry out.
Simple slow‑cooker method
- Place ham cut‑side down in the crock pot, add a little liquid (like pineapple juice, broth, or water), and cover tightly.
- Cook on LOW for the time that matches your ham’s weight, basting a couple of times if using a glaze, then rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.