We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Spiral Ham: Your Ultimate Guide to This Succulent Delicacy

Editorial Team
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 17,827
Share
What Is a Spiral Ham?

Spiral ham, a culinary favorite, streamlines the holiday feast with its pre-cooked and pre-sliced convenience. According to the National Pork Board, ham ranks as the second-most consumed protein choice. Expertly crafted by butchers who employ specialized machinery to create a continuous, uniform spiral cut, hams of this sort require effortless serving. While the majority of spiral hams retain their bone, enhancing flavor and moisture, select butchers offer boneless alternatives for added convenience. Understanding what a spiral ham is can transform your meal preparation, offering a blend of tradition and ease that is cherished by home cooks nationwide.

 

Typically, butchers begin making a ham by selecting a cut of meat from the hind thigh of an adult pig. Some butchers may use a cut from the shoulder of the front leg — creating a variation known as a "picnic ham" — but this cut is less common when preparing spiral ham. A hind cut of pork always initially contains a center leg bone. Leaving the bone in makes home preparation and cutting more difficult, but since the spiraling process simplifies cutting, butchers often leave this bone in for spiral hams. Many cooks believe that bone-in hams have more flavor than boneless hams.

After obtaining a good cut of meat, the butcher fully cooks the ham by baking, curing, or smoking it. The fully cooked ham is then locked onto a rotating base. This mechanical base spins the ham around in circles while moving downward. Meanwhile, a stationary blade cuts into the side of the ham, slicing it in a spiral pattern. This process creates even slices, usually measuring roughly 0.375 inch (about 9.525 millimeters) in thickness per slice.

Since the slices are not completely cut off, a spiral ham holds its overall shape. The consumer buys the ham whole, prepares it as desired, and finishes cutting off the pre-sliced sections when serving it. A well-prepared spiral ham sold by an expert butcher or reputable manufacturer makes cutting and serving equally sized slices almost effortless, even with bone-in hams.

Consumers looking to purchase a spiral ham should select a bright pink ham with uniform color throughout. Marbling indicates how much fat a ham contains, and too much fat will negatively influence the texture and taste of the ham. High quality spiral hams should have clear, even slices that the consumer can identify through a transparent wrapping.

Spiral hams are usually fully cooked, which means that they can be eaten as is without presenting any health hazard. Most consumers prefer to warm them before eating, however, and many also prefer to prepare a glaze for the ham prior to reheating it. Many simple ham glazes combine brown sugar with some sort of fruit juice, such as pineapple or orange juice. Others combine brown sugar and other sweeteners, like honey or maple syrup. Thin glazes tend to seep in between slices on a spiral ham, and depending on the glaze used, this pre-sliced ham may soak in the flavors of the glaze more thoroughly than unsliced hams typically do.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Editorial Team
By Editorial Team
Our Editorial Team, made up of seasoned professionals, prioritizes accuracy and quality in every piece of content. With years of experience in journalism and publishing, we work diligently to deliver reliable and well-researched content to our readers.
Discussion Comments
By Rotergirl — On Dec 24, 2014

@Pippinwhite -- I know what you mean about a spiral slice being so much easier. You can save a little money if your grocery store has a decent meat department. They can sometimes spiral slice it right there in the store, and you can take it home and cook it. Makes it easy, and much cheaper.

My particular favorite glaze is stone ground mustard and brown sugar. It gives the ham a great flavor and a beautifully brown crust. Some spiral sliced hams come with a glaze mix, but they're not always that good. I end up having to tinker with the glaze until it's like I want it.

By Pippinwhite — On Dec 23, 2014

My husband love ham above all things, and we usually get a spiral sliced one for Christmas. They cost a little more, but they really are worth it. I love it because it's so easy to slice, and because it's pre-sliced, it makes it much easier to get all the ham off the bone for sandwiches and soup later on.

You definitely pay for the privilege, because it can add $10 or $12 to the cost of the ham, but it's so much easier to deal with on a holiday, I'm willing to spend the extra money because I have so much to do anyway, and I'd just rather not have to fool with carving a ham.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team
Our Editorial Team, made up of seasoned professionals, prioritizes accuracy and quality in every piece of content. With years of experience in journalism and publishing, we work diligently to deliver reliable and well-researched content to our readers.
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-a-spiral-ham.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.