Cured or Uncured Ham? (2024)

Much of what we know of ham is the cured city or country variety that you simply heat and serve. But lately, I’ve been seeing more ham labeled “uncured” on grocer’s shelves. What’s going on?
Uncured ham is also called fresh ham. It’s the same cut as cured, but not embellished with any of the brine and smoke or other flavorings the more common city hams and gourmet country hams. It even has a light pink or grey color, as you would expect in uncooked meat. It requires a little extra preparation and cooking time than its cured counterparts. Here’s a good explanation of ham types from the City Cook.

You could infer that uncured hams are a healthier alternative. Many are labelled organic or natural. And with uncured hams you won’t get any of the nitrites or nitrates used in many cured hams – a controversial addition for some. Fresh hams are described as far less salty, too, even if you brine the pork yourself.
But the reason I think we’re seeing more interest in the uncured variety of hams is this: We continue to be in the golden age of DIY cooking. This trend grew up with Martha Stewart’s Omnimedia empire, still going strong after many years, and continues to evolve with widening demand for local and organic foods.
In certain ways, people are spending more time in the kitchen. This is particularly true around the holidays. So it makes sense that uncured hams are lining shelves.
Whether you prefer cured or uncured ham, make sure you know how to handle, cook and store your ham safely.

Cooking and Caring for Uncured Ham

Here are a few tips and recipes worth noting:

1. The USDA has a food safety sheet for Ham that’s handy. Here’s a time table for cooking fresh hams. And you’ll want to see this chart on safely storing ham.
2. Epicurious offers a great recipe for Grilled Molasses and Rum-Glazed Fresh Ham.
3. Brine your own fresh ham using this beloved Home-Cured Holiday Ham recipe by Chef John at Allrecipes.

We love pulling out the grill in winter, so we’re thinking of doing a basic brine and then throwing it on the grill. Share your favorite fresh ham cooking technique or recipe with us!

Learn More About Cooking Ham

To learn more about cooking ham, download our FREE eBook, a “Holiday Ham Guide”!
This popular free guide will walk you through how to choose a ham, offers lots of recipe and glaze choices, explains the various ways to cook ham and provides helpful advice such as carving and storing ham leftovers. It’s your go-to guide for all things ham.

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