Elementary Chef

The folks at Honey Baked Ham have some good advice for picking the perfect holiday ham!

What would the holiday meal be without the ham? For many Americans, ham is the traditional centerpiece of
holiday celebrations. Yet, half of Americans admit they need help picking the perfect ham.

A Beautiful Presentation — Bone-in hams make an ideal meal centerpiece. They are attractive and offer outstanding flavor and
tenderness. You can purchase bone-in hams that you slice yourself or, for added convenience, you can purchase bone-in hams already sliced. All HoneyBaked Hams are spiral sliced and glazed fresh every day.

Taste and Texture — The amount of water contained in a ham will affect its taste, texture and price. Most hams will fall into one of these categories.

– Ham — A ham labeled just “ham” must be at least 20.5% protein in its lean area and have no water added. The original, spiral-sliced HoneyBaked Ham(R) falls under this category.

– Ham with Natural Juices — Contains at least 18.5% protein and has had a small amount of water added.

– Ham - Water Added — Contains at least 17% protein and has no more than 10% added solution. This ham is versatile and ideal for steaks and thin slicing.

– Ham and Water Products — This ham product is less than 17% protein and can contain any amount of water. Commonly found in the deli, this is a good choice for sandwiches.

Ham nutrition — Ham is relatively low in fat, coming from one of the leanest pork cuts — the hind leg. Pork in general is an excellent source of protein, thiamin and vitamin B-1, as well as iron, zinc, niacin, and vitamins B-6 and B-12.

How much ham do I need? — Determine in advance how many people you will be serving and for what meal occasion. The HoneyBaked Ham Company recommends 1/2 to 3/4 pounds per serving for bone-in ham. A bone-in ham yields 2 to 3 servings per pound. Ham will typically feed more people when served buffet- style than when served in dinner portions.

Keeping your ham fresh — Different varieties of ham will call for different storage instruction. A HoneyBaked Ham(R) will keep in the refrigerator for six to eight days and in the freezer for 45 days.

According to the National Pork Board, ham is the number one in-home lunch sandwich, a perfect option for taking advantage of those leftovers! And for my favorite way to use leftover ham, try this variation on Eggs Benedict!