Hams ? cooked, raw or cook-before-eating ham
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| Hams ? cooked, raw or cook-before-eating ham | ||||
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| Raw sausages | ||||
| Other deli meats ... | ||||
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There are many varieties of ham: cook-before-eating, cooked, and
raw that is eaten as is.
The term ham designates a meat that comes from pork leg, sirloin
tip, inside or outside round. It is either cured or smoked and sold
with or without the bone.
Ham sold as cook-before-eating has been precooked to an internal temperature of at least 58º C (136º F) to eliminate any trichinella spirals, small parasite worms often found in pork. As its name indicates however, this ham requires additional cooking before it can be eaten.
Cooked ham is salted, either by soaking in or injected with
brine. It is cooked in water, in smoke rooms or steam rooms until
the meat reaches an internal temperature of at least 69º C (156º
F).
Different cooked ham types :
Cooked, “seasoned” ham :
It is obtained by a mechanical process that churns
the meat in water, brine, seasonings and other ingredients.
Seasoned hams have a more uniform texture. The meat is then pressed
in a mould to give it its shape.
Authentic ham :
It has much less seasoning and is injected with a solution
of water, salt, sugar, spices and other preservatives. It is then
cooked or smoked.
Boiled ham (jambon blanc) :
It is seasoned even less. It is therefore leaner because
less fat is added.
Finally, there is the traditional method of making ham, which takes
a lot more time. The pork meat is cured for several weeks then
smoked naturally.
Raw or dry hams are most often salted by repeated rubbings then dried. They may be smoked also.
- Bayonne ham has an exquisite flavour which it owes, in part, to the natural salt used for curing.
- Parma ham, prosciutto di Parma, is made from top quality meat that is salted and lightly spiced. Air-drying over a period of 15 months gives it its unequalled aroma!
 Cooked Ham Sandwich With Apple |
 Holiday Ham with Rio Star Grapefruit Glaze |
 Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Ham |
 Maple and Spice Glazed Ham |
 Maple Ham and Spinach Quiche |
It is also a good idea to keep an eye on the sodium and fat content of ham. The phosphate salts, the brine or the added salt can increase the sodium content of hams.
The fat content of deli products will vary from one product to the next. The Food and Drug legislation imposes a maximum sodium content of 15% to 40% depending on the product category.
Sliced ham contains 3% to 5% of fat, which is totally acceptable in a healthy diet. The perception that ham is always too fatty is wrong!