How to Choose the Best Ham for Your Family
- by Omaha Steaks
- Last updated Oct 10, 2024
Ham is the go-to centerpiece for holidays and celebrations in the U.S. and for good reason. It’s delicious, easy to prepare, and makes a great impression at the family dinner table.
There is evidence that salt-cured hams originated during the Chinese Tang Dynasty well over 1,000 years ago. Ham as a centerpiece dates as far back as paganism and today millions of pounds of ham are consumed during the holidays in the U.S. There’s no denying Americans love ham and now you can enjoy ham in more flavors than ever.
There are several varieties in addition to the traditional glazed ham and you can find a flavor your family will love with our ham guide. Whether you prefer sweet, salty, or savory ham, we have the perfect ham for your celebration.
Choose Your Ham Flavor
Sweet Ham
A city or sweet ham is the most common holiday ham and is known for its delicious sweet glaze. Each Omaha Steaks Spiral Sliced Ham is slowly smoked with real wood smoke for up to 24 hours to infuse flavor and maximize juiciness, and generously brushed with a sweet and sticky brown-sugar glaze that creates an irresistible crunchy crust. Our spiral sliced ham is bone-in, pre-glazed, and pre-sliced for an easy and traditional holiday dinner. Just heat and serve for a juicy ham that will serve up to 12 people.
Rum & Coke® Holiday Ham Recipe
Rum & Coke® Holiday Ham
Ingredients
Rum & Coke® Glaze
- 1 cup cherry fruit spread such as Smucker’s® or Polaner®
- 3/4 cup dark spiced rum
- 3/4 cup Coca-Cola®
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbps. Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
Ham
- 1 8 lb. Omaha Steaks spiral-sliced ham
- Rum & Coke® glaze recipe above
Instructions
Rum & Coke® Glaze
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized sauce pot, whisking until well-incorporated. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes and then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
Ham
- Thaw frozen ham in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.
- Remove from refrigerator and let ham come to room temperature, about 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Remove ham from foil and film. Return ham to foil wrapping and place in oven-safe roasting pan. Roll the foil down leaving 2”of the foil around the bottom of the ham.
- Place roasting pan with ham in oven on a lower rack and heat uncovered for 60-75 minutes, until ham starts to brown.
- During the last 15 minutes of cooking, glaze with Rum & Coke® Glaze every 5 minutes (glaze three times total).
Video
Smoky Ham
If you prefer a mellow-sweet, lightly smoky flavor, try our boneless Pecanwood Smoked Flank Ham. Slow smoked with real pecanwood chips for up to 8 hours, this whole-muscle flank ham has rich marbling and bold flavor. The all-natural artisan shape of this flank ham makes it easy to cut against the grain for maximum tenderness. If you like smoky, bold flavors, the Pecanwood smoked flank ham is for you. Each ham is fully cooked and serves 4-6 people.
Smoked Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe
Smoked Ham & Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
Sliders
- 1.5 lbs Omaha Steaks Pecanwood Smoked Flank Ham sliced thin
- 1 package Hawaiian rolls
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
- 2 cups gruyere cheese, grated
Dijon Mustard Dip
- ½ cup dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. While the oven is preheating, whisk together the ingredients for Dijon mustard dip and set aside.
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally to form a top and bottom bun. Evenly spread half of the mustard dip on one or both cut sides of the rolls.
- Place half of the sliced ham on the bottom bun, and top with Swiss cheese. Then, place the remaining sliced ham on the Swiss cheese and top with grated gruyere cheese.
- Place in the oven for ten minutes in order to start melting the cheese.
- Remove the rolls, and place the top bun on the melted cheese. Glaze with ½ of the garlic butter sauce, wrap in parchment paper and aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the sliders and unwrap to expose the top buns. Return to the oven for five minutes to brown.
- Remove from the oven, glaze with remaining butter sauce, slice and serve hot.
Savory Ham
The Duroc Boneless Country Ham is a common ham in the South. Proper curing is the secret to transforming great pork into great ham. The Duroc pork is expertly cured with a timeless combination of water, salt, and sugar. This process amplifies the pork’s naturally rich flavor. After curing, each Duroc Ham is slow smoked up to 8 hours with real hickory wood smoke. This elaborate method results in the perfect balance of savory, juicy flavor (with just a hint of smoky depth) and delectable, tender texture. This fully cooked ham is extra-savory with a firmer texture than most hams and serves up to 8 people.
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe
Brown Sugar Ham Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 2.5 lb. Omaha Steaks Duroc Boneless Country Ham thawed
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/4 water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275°F.
- Combine brown sugar and yellow mustard. Stir in just enough water to create a syrupy consistency.
- Place the ham cut side in a roasting pan and pour glaze over ham.
- Cover ham with foil and bake in the oven for 2 1/2 - 3 hours or until internal temperature reaches 140°F.
- Remove from heat and rest. Use the pan drippings to make a delicious gravy.
Choose the Right Size Ham
Plan on serving 8 ounces of ham per person. If you want leftovers for sandwiches or soups, make sure to order more than you need for the dinner. If you are hosting a large holiday dinner, you may need to order two hams to serve everyone.
Whether your family loves sweet, smoky, or savory, we have a ham to meet your needs. Make your next family dinner or gathering easy with our fully-cooked hams and easy side dishes. The perfect ham dinner has never been more delicious or simpler.
How to Cook the Perfect Ham
All Omaha Steaks hams are cured and fully cooked. If desired, simply thaw and serve cold. Or, follow the included heating directions and serve when the ham reaches 145° Fahrenheit internal temperature.
Ham Recipes to Try
- Bourbon-Apple Glazed Ham
- Rum & Coke® Holiday Ham
- Chinese-Pineapple-Molasses Holiday Ham
- Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Choose the best ham for your family with our infographic below. And don’t forget to send everyone on your shopping list steak gift boxes for Christmas. Happy Holidays!
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