When it comes to ham, there are a variety of options to choose from. Whether you prefer a savory glazed ham for a holiday meal or a smoky ham sandwich for lunch, there is a smoked ham out there to satisfy every palate. In this article, we will delve into the world of smoked ham and explore the different types and brand names available.
What is Ham?
Ham is a leg of pork that has been cured, typically from a hog's hind leg. It can come bone-in, partially-boned, or boneless, and can be aged or cured. Aged hams are cured, smoked, and aged for a year or more. There are also variations of ham, such as SPAM, ham bologna, and turkey ham.
SPAM is made with ground ham and pork, potato starch, salt, sodium nitrate, sugar, and water. Ham bologna is a German-style cold cut that combines ham and bologna into a tasty luncheon meat. Turkey ham is a ready-to-eat meat made from cured turkey thigh meat.
What Are the Three Types of Ham?
There are three main types of ham: cured, cured-and-smoked, and fresh ham. Cured ham is pork leg that is wet-cured or dry-cured. Wet-cured ham is soaked in a brine, while dry-cured ham is coated in salt and stored for a period of time until it is preserved. Cured-and-smoked ham is pork leg that is cured before it is smoked for hours, days, or weeks. Fresh ham, on the other hand, is pork leg that has not been cured.
Styles of Ham
There are many different styles of ham, each with its own unique flavor and preparation method. Some popular styles of ham include:
- Bayonne: a salty boneless French-style ham that is dry-cured for months before eating.
- Black Forest: a boneless German-style ham that is salted, seasoned, and smoked. It has a black exterior thanks to seasonings like coriander, garlic, juniper berries, and pepper.
- Canadian Bacon: pre-cooked smoked ham that comes from pork loin. It is typically fried and eaten for breakfast.
- Capicola: an Italian-style cured ham that comes from the pork shoulder or neck.
- Country: an American-style ham that is dry-cured, smoked over hardwood, and aged for at least six months.
- Culatello: an Italian-style cured ham that is soaked in wine as part of the aging process.
- Ibérico: a Spanish-style dry-cured ham that has been aged for two years.
- Irish: an Irish-style brined ham that is smoked over peat wood.
- Picnic: refers to fresh or smoked meat from the foreleg and shoulder of the hog.
- Prosciutto: an Italian-style salt-cured and seasoned ham that is air-dried and sliced paper thin.
- Scotch: a boneless Scottish-style ham that is mildly cured, uncooked, and sold in a casing.
- Serrano: a Spanish-style dry-cured ham that is sliced paper thin.
- Smithfield: a deep-red aged country ham that must be physically cured using a specific process in Smithfield, Virginia.
- Speck: an Italian-style dry-cured ham that comes from a deboned hind thigh. It is lightly smoked.
- Westphalian Ham: a German-style cured ham that comes from pigs who are fed a diet of acorns from the Westphalia forest. It is smoked over beechwood and juniper wood.
- York Ham: a British-style pink ham that has a mild flavor and is often served with Madeira sauce.
Popular Smoked Ham Brand Names
Now that we have explored the different types and styles of smoked ham, let's take a look at some popular brand names:
- Melissa Cookston's Memphis BBQ Smoked Spiral Cut Ham: This ham is known for its smoky flavor and tender texture. It is spiral cut for easy serving and is perfect for holiday meals.
- Bludso’s BBQ Pit-Smoked Honey Glazed Ham: Pitmaster Kevin Bludso custom rubs his seasonal ham and slow smokes it over hardwood, charcoal, and fire for 14 hours. This juicy, smoky, and savory spiral-sliced ham is a dreamy ham deliciousness.
- Pecan Lodge Whole Spiral Sliced Ham: Legendary Dallas BBQ restaurant Pecan Lodge smokes its ham over hickory and oak woods. The meticulously smoked ham is finished with an apricot and molasses glaze.
- Weaver's of Wellsville Half Bone-in Ham: Pennsylvania's Weaver's of Wellsville is an authentic taste of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Their hams are made the old-fashioned way with love and time, and are smoked twice in their outdoor smoker.
These are just a few examples of the many delicious smoked ham options available. Whether you prefer a classic glazed ham or a unique and flavorful specialty ham, there is a brand out there to suit your taste.
In Conclusion
Smoked ham comes in a variety of types and styles, each with its own unique flavor profile and preparation method. From classic cured hams to specialty hams from around the world, there is a smoked ham to suit every palate. Whether you enjoy it as the centerpiece of a holiday meal or in a simple sandwich, smoked ham is a versatile and delicious meat that is sure to satisfy.
What is the difference between cured and fresh ham?
Cured ham has been soaked in a brine or coated in salt and stored for preservation, while fresh ham has not been cured.
What are some popular brand names of smoked ham?
Some popular brand names of smoked ham include Melissa Cookston's Memphis BBQ Smoked Spiral Cut Ham, Bludso’s BBQ Pit-Smoked Honey Glazed Ham, Pecan Lodge Whole Spiral Sliced Ham, and Weaver's of Wellsville Half Bone-in Ham.
What is the most popular type of ham?
Cured ham is the most popular type of ham, as it is brined before cooking to enhance its flavor and tenderness.
What are some popular styles of ham?
Some popular styles of ham include Bayonne, Black Forest, Canadian Bacon, Capicola, Country, Culatello, Ibérico, Irish, Picnic, Prosciutto, Scotch, Serrano, Smithfield, Speck, Westphalian Ham, and York Ham.
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