Ham Cooked In Coca Cola In Slow Cooker

I'm a 30-something mum of one living in South Wales and sharing recipes, travel posts, and craft guides.

Ham Cooked in Coke?

Many people have been talking about this recipe. The idea of cooking ham, or any other meat, in a bottle of Coke was almost an urban legend—until people actually started doing it! The Coke makes the meat so tender that it literally falls apart. It is sweet and beautiful!

My recipe is based on one I found in a Jamie Oliver cookbook and adapted to suit our tastes. This meat is so moreish (addictive) you literally won't be able to stop eating it! It's great served hot with veggies or cold as part of a salad or sandwich. We had half of ours as an evening meal then had the rest in sandwiches the next day—so we had two meals in one!

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Cook Time


Prep time	Cook time	Ready in	Yields
15 min	4 hours 25 min	4 hours 40 min	Serves 4

Ingredients

3 kg (6 or 7 lbs) ham or gammon joint, unsmoked
2-4 liters (just enough to cover the ham; depends on size of pot) regular Coke, do not use diet! There have been reports of explosions!
1 large white onion, quartered
2 star anise
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp mustard, any type will do
2 tbsp Demerara (unrefined) sugar
4 tbsp runny (not raw) honey

Instructions

Place the ham in a large pan of water and bring to boil for 5 minutes to get rid of any salt on the meat.
Once boiled, drain the meat and place in the slow cooker (or in a pot on the stove) along with the onion and star anise.
Fill the pot with Coke until the meat is completely covered. If using a slow cooker, set on low for 5 hours or high for 3 (it will be more tender if you can leave it for the full 5 hours). If using a pot on the stovetop, bring to a boil, then simmer on a very low heat for 3 hours under a secure lid.
Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the pot, discard the liquid with the onion and anise, and leave the ham to cool for a few minutes on a plate.
Preheat your oven at 170°C or 340°F.
To make the glaze, mix together all the other ingredients. Stir together well until it is all combined.
Score the meat with 1-2 cm deep cuts in a check pattern, then place in a roasting pan or baking tin.
Brush the glaze over, turning to completely coat the meat. Use all the glaze—no point wasting it!
Bake for 25 minutes. You can baste halfway through, using the juices from the bottom of the pan.
Remove from the oven. The glaze should be sticky. Slice and serve with your choice of veggies. Yummy!

Variations

If you want to add a little kick of flavor, try adding some cloves, four peppercorns, and a little bit of chili pepper to the glaze.
Try roasting some vegetables in the roasting tin with the meat, so they all get nice and sticky, too. I added some sliced carrots and some red peppers, which came out really yummy!

Another Great Recipe for the Slow Cooker

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes - Best Sausage Casserole
The best, most filling sausage casserole/cassoulet recipe. Yummy and fairly healthy, guaranteed to be a big hit with the family.

Shut Up AND DRIVE on December 24, 2018:

Flamehead, I too have just made this in time for Christmas. It is absolutely delicious! Sooo much better than just boiling or roasting. So beautifully moist and flavoursome. Perfect.

Cat on December 21, 2018:

I have tried cooking my ham in coke and it did taste nice only thing I didn't like is that the coke makes the the ham very dark in colour

Kirsten on December 18, 2018:

Okay I have a 11pound/ 4.9kg gammon joint how long would it take to cook in the flow cooker ??

DaddyCurbs on June 14, 2018:

Read More From Delishably

Score the meat before putting the coke in, it really helps the flavor see in

Ian c on February 25, 2018:

Looking forward to this gammon

Pierre on December 12, 2017:

Hey Chantele. I've got an 5kg uncooked gammon I wanna prepare in the slow cooker. How long would I cook it for and on what temperature? I have a Kenwood with a low, high and auto setting

Maggie on August 05, 2017:

I am going out before I can doing the second half of the recipe. Will it be ok to finish the glazing in the oven tomorrow?

Cat on June 17, 2017:

I made this along with a roast Chicken for dinner for 9 and it went down a treat. Great recipe and so easy to follow! The Coke gives the gammon such a nice flavour.

Sandra Pauw on April 25, 2017:

Cant wait to try this tomorrow. Sounds super.

Shared this recipe.

Lewis on February 21, 2017:

Amazing recipe!! I didn't realise that coke could make ham taste so nice and tender.

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on December 24, 2016:

Oh I hope you like it!!!

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on December 22, 2016:

No you don't

Pamela Hair on December 22, 2016:

Do I need to take the skin off before I glaze it?

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on December 05, 2016:

I've never tried it to be honest so really wouldnt like to say for definite, but I can't imagine it would be an issue

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on November 04, 2016:

It would probably cook quicker

Esther Goertz on October 31, 2016:

Will the time change if I use a smaller piece 1,5 kg?

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on January 01, 2016:

I shouldnt think so, it may just end up a bit saltier

Sue on December 21, 2015:

Would it matter if you used smoked ham.

Dianna Mendez on November 25, 2015:

I usually don't drink soda but I will make an exception with this delightful version of sweet ham. Your post is perfect and very inviting to read. Happy Thanksgiving!

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on June 09, 2014:

Yep, during cooking, but don't eat them afterwards!

Natalie on June 01, 2014:

Hi just going to try this recipe. Does the onion go in with the meat and coke?

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on March 17, 2014:

Hi Sue, I hope you like it!

sue on March 11, 2014:

Sounds lush going to try it over the weekend. Thanks

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on March 05, 2014:

It will be yummy I promise!!

Jodi on March 04, 2014:

I'm doing it with pork roast tonight for my hubby, he loves pork belly and I thought I'd try something different. I've been looking for this recipe using cola, so far smells great, can't wait for the smell of the glaze wafting thru the house!!!!!

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on December 24, 2013:

It always tastes so good!

Leah on December 23, 2013:

I've cooked mine like this for years it's a must try its beautiful meat

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on December 16, 2013:

Hi Egg I hope you enjoy it!

egg on December 15, 2013:

Doing it now il let you know

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on September 29, 2013:

Hi @Nash this is the best recipe ever, I promise you will love it!

Nash on September 28, 2013:

Going to cook this tomorrow in the big Crock Pot, sounds YUM! :)

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on June 29, 2012:

This ones great, why not take a look at some of my others too!

Francesca27 from Hub Page on June 28, 2012:

Good one. I'm always looking for a slow cooker recipe. I'm going to try your recipe.

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on June 28, 2012:

It leaves the meat super tender!

emilybee on June 28, 2012:

This is sooo so awesome. I think I have heard of this, but now I know how to do it! The flavor must be so amazing!! Great hub!

Chantele Cross-Jones (author) from Cardiff on June 28, 2012:

Thank you! Your very right, a ham joint is something so nice, and not too expensive and most people wouldn't have a clue how to cook it, other than simply putting it in the oven to roast on its own.

beaddve1800 from Toronto on June 28, 2012:

Nice recipe, shared!

(You know, what? Lots of people don't know how to cook a good ham! This recipe helps them a lot!)