Food Guide

5 Reasons Why Your Ham Glaze Isn’t Thickening and How to Fix It

Is your ham glaze not thickening? You’ve come to the right place. We know all about what you’re going through and we want to help!

1. You forgot to add the cornstarch

I was following a recipe for a ham glaze, and it called for cornstarch to be mixed with cold water and then stirred into the boiling glaze.

I forgot to add the cornstarch, and now my glaze is not thickening.

I’m not sure if I can fix it at this point, but I’m hoping that if I continue to boil it, the water will evaporate and the glaze will thicken on its own.

2. You didn’t mix your cornstarch with a cold liquid before adding it to the ham

The instructions for my ham glaze recipe call for mixing the cornstarch with a cold liquid before adding it to the ham.

I missed that step and my ham glaze isn’t thickening.

It’s possible that the cornstarch is not mixing well with the ham glaze because it was not mixed with a cold liquid first.

The instructions for my ham glaze recipe call for mixing the cornstarch with a cold liquid before adding it to the ham.

I missed that step and my ham glaze isn’t thickening.

It’s possible that the cornstarch is not mixing well with the ham glaze because it was not mixed with a cold liquid first.

3. You didn’t simmer the ham long enough

To make this recipe, you’ll need to simmer your ham for about 30 minutes.

The longer you simmer it, the thicker your glaze will be.

Simmering the ham also helps to keep it moist and flavorful as it cooks.

If you don’t simmer the ham long enough, it may not be as tender or juicy as you would like.

You also might not get as thick of a glaze.

4. You used too much water or other liquid when cooking the ham

If you use too much water or liquid to cook your ham, the water will dilute the glaze and make it difficult to achieve a thick and sticky glaze.

Remember, ham glazes are made from sugar, so it’s important to cook your ham to a safe temperature, but not too much.

5. You didn’t reduce the liquid enough after

In a situation like this, where the ham glaze is not thickening even after the liquid has been reduced, it is possible that the liquid was not reduced enough.

This could be due to a number of factors, including the type of liquid used, the size of the pot, or the temperature of the stove.

In order to ensure that the liquid is reduced enough, it is important to pay close attention to the pot and to stir the liquid regularly.

It may also be helpful to use a smaller pot or to turn up the heat.

Takeaways

You made a delicious, beautiful ham and it’s not thickening? I’m sorry, but the reasons are pretty simple:

1. You forgot to add the cornstarch
2. You didn’t mix your cornstarch with a cold liquid before adding it to the ham
3.

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Emily W.

Emily Wong is an Asian-American food writer the founder of Cookindocs.com. With nearly 8 years of experience, she has a passion for making cooking accessible to everyone and sharing her personal experiences with food. Emily's vision for Cookindocs.com is to create a community of food lovers who are passionate about cooking, eating, and sharing their experiences with others. Read my story
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