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What To Do If Your Ham Is TOO Big For Your Crock Pot….
I love making ham (and occasionally turkey) in the slow cooker – it frees up the oven for rolls and pies and casseroles and other yumminess!
If you find that your ham or turkey is too big your crock pot there is a SUPER easy tip where you can still cook your meat in the slow cooker…..
You can use an ALUMINUM FOIL tent if your ham or turkey won’t fit in the crock pot!
You’ll first want to set your turkey or ham down in your slow cooker with the flat side down. If you’re adding any pineapple juices, brown sugars, syrups, or other marinades, then pour those on next. This Maple Glaze for hams OR the old-fashioned Brown Sugar & Pineapple are amazing for too – we also have a delicious Slow Cooker Turkey Breast recipe!
If you’re looking to make Holiday meal planning SUPER simple, check out our Celebration Menu Planning Made Easy set OR check out our Easter Menu. It includes all the recipes you need and a grocery list too!
Here’s how to make an aluminum foil tent for your slow cooker:
Next, take heavy duty aluminum foil (if you have it – but regular will work in a pinch) and cover the meat generously so that foil hangs down over the sides some. Do the same in the other direction – so there are no areas of the surface not covered by foil.
Finally, crimp the foil to the crock pot rim and work your way all the way around, making sure it’s as tight a seal as you can manage.
You’ll then let it cook the normal amount of time and it works like a charm!
You’d be surprised how long it took me to think of this the first time I bought a turkey or ham that wouldn’t fit completely in my slow cooker – sometimes when you are under a tad bit of stress (like holiday baking!) your brain doesn’t work like it should 😉
Thanks to Rebecca for sharing this picture with us of how she used aluminum foil to fit her oversized ham in the crockpot!
When you have time to update this post, may I suggest you replace the first photo with one showing the foil over a too tall ham tightly crimped to the slow cooker liner? The one with foil overhang is contrary to your article.
Good idea Nally – this photo was taken pre-crimping but we’ll do a reshoot this year!
Love how year after year this tip saved peoples minds and pocket books! This year it’s my turn, so thanks for the foil trick and validation it will work!
You’re so welcome! 🙂
Omg I just started my thanksgiving cooking this morning and everything was going swell until I put my Turkey breast in my crockpot and the lid wouldn’t fit. There were some F words turned to google and found this. Thank you! I’m slightly paranoid it won’t work (I’m overly paranoid/stressed easily about all things meat) but trying to stay hopeful that it’ll turn out great! Thanks again!!
I am so happy you were able to get it to work! So happy you found this post, too. Happy Thanksgiving!
How did this work for you?
Can I slice it up and THEN put it the crock pot?
We haven’t tried it that way but I’m sure it would work. You’ll probably have to adjust your cooking time. We would love to hear if you try it! 🙂
Nobody has pics ??? I’m a beginner and need lots of help. All the comments say it’s was a great idea but some ppl learn by photos. So if anyone can help w tht Ty ❤️
Thank-you. I was about to buy a new crock pot to fit my Turkey breast when I decided to google if I could hack with foil. Yup! You just saved me a hundred bucks!
Thanks for this great tip; you saved the day, and our Christmas ham! It was 10lbs and stuck up above the rim of the crockpot by a couple of inches; using a sheet of heavy-duty foil tightly sealed around the edge of the slow cooker did the trick. The ham cooked on low for 4 hours and it was absolutely succulent! Thanks again!
Yay ~ so glad to hear it was helpful Stephanie! 🙂
This worked great! Thank you so much…
So glad to hear that Elizabeth! 🙂
Wow, thank you so much for this clever hack!
You’re so welcome Jacqui! 🙂
Thank you!!! Saved Thanksgiving!!!
Do you leave the lid on top of the foil while meat is cooking as seen in the photo?
Hi Elaine! I would leave the top on, and once it’s cooked down enough for the ham to fit (it’ll shrink some), just leave the lid on and remove the foil. Hope that helps! 🙂
I’ve done this too using a crockpot cooking bag twist tied at the top followed by the lid, foil and a dish towel to insulate. It works very well!
Is it okay to trim ends a bit to fit pot?
Is it okay if the ham is touching the sides of the crockpot?
Thank you! I have a 17# ham and the lid wouldn’t fit ( using a Nesco roaster).
You’re so welcome Kay! 🙂
Over the rim?
Yes
Do I cover the ham or over the lid of the crockpot rim??? I need to know now!
Hi Dina! You’ll cover with foil over the sides of the crockpot rim, then crimp the foil to the crock pot rim and work your way all the way around, making sure it’s a tight seal! Hope that helps!
Ham
I just put my Easter ham in the crock pot, and it was too big. I decided to use foil, then decided to Google it to make sure I won’t burn the house down (Must have that This Is Us episode engrained in my brain. Thanks for the validation!
Thank you! Trying now. Fingers crossed!
This tip is a lifesaver for my Christmas Eve dinner plans.
Thank you so much.
You’re so welcome Marcy! 🙂
I will try this now! Thanks
I’m going’s to try this right now! Thank you
Good luck Olivia – and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Thank you, thank you!!