{"id":1753563,"date":"2022-03-21T08:03:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T13:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=listicle&p=1753563"},"modified":"2025-03-28T05:48:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T10:48:26","slug":"best-holiday-ham","status":"publish","type":"listicle","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/collection\/best-holiday-ham\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Ham to Order for Your Holiday Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Thick Cut Ham\" product_name=\"Hormel Cure 81 Bone-In Half Ham\" image=\"1755042\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Hormel\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/hormel.com\/Brands\/Cure81\/Hormel-Cure81-Bone-In-Hames\/HORMEL-CURE-81-Bone-In-Half-Ham\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Hormel\" \/]\r\n\r\nMany spiral-cut hams have super thin slices that are great for piling high on sandwiches. For a holiday entree, though, you may want a more substantial slice like with a Hormel Cure 81 Bone-In Ham<\/strong><\/a>, carried by many grocery stores.\r\n\r\nAccording to Catherine Ward<\/a> in our Test Kitchen, \"these slices are perfect for a dinner portion.\" The thicker slices have a hearty feel. Also, thicker cuts mean that this spiral-sliced ham won't dry out<\/a> as quickly as a finer slice. But you can make sure that any ham is moist and tender when you learn how to cook ham<\/a> the right way.\r\n\r\nAs for the flavor, you'll get hints of brown sugar and maple thanks to the glaze. Don't think this ham is too sweet, though! Paired with salty, savory pork, you'll have just the right balance. And don't forget to serve this up with plenty of tasty sides<\/a>, says Catherine.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Smoky Ham\" product_name=\"Nueske\u2019s Spiral Sliced Bone-In Ham with Honey Glaze\" image=\"1755041\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Nueske\u2019s\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/www.nueskes.com\/spiral-sliced-bone-in-ham-with-honey-glaze\/\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Nueske\u2019s\" \/]\r\n\r\nSearching for an old-fashioned tasting ham that'll take you back (in the best way, of course)? You'll definitely want to order Nueske's Spiral Sliced Bone-In Ham<\/strong><\/a>.\r\n\r\nThis thinly sliced ham has a deep, rich smoky flavor to it that \"tastes like a local butcher smoked it fresh,\" according to Catherine Ward. But this ham offers much more complexity than just plain smoke. \"There's a sweetness here\u2014applewood\u2014that doesn't taste like added sugar but the sweetness of wood,\" she explains. And she's got a great palette\u2014Catherine pegged the wood used to smoke<\/a> this ham blindly!\r\n\r\nWhile our team enjoyed this ham hot out of the oven, Catherine also suggests that it would be a tasty addition to sandwiches at your next picnic. Don't be afraid to buy the whole ham at Neuske's\u2014you'll find plenty of uses for leftovers.\r\n\r\nWhile you're shopping, be sure to pick up a pack or two of Neuske's bacon<\/a>; it's one of our Test Kitchen's favorites<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Spiced Ham\" product_name=\"Harry & David Spiral-Sliced Ham\" image=\"1755043\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Harry & David\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/www.harryanddavid.com\/h\/gourmet-foods\/pork-poultry\/346\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Harry & David\" \/]\r\n\r\nHow you season a ham is entirely up to you. Some people prefer a sweeter glaze and pineapple rings<\/a> on top while others like ham with a bit of a kick. If your taste buds fall in the spicy camp, try\u00a0Harry & David Spiral-Sliced Ham<\/strong><\/a>.\r\n\r\nSlices of this ham, which can be delivered right to your door, have a great savory flavor and tender texture (with a slight chew) that everyone wants from their ham dinner. This Harry & David ham had a bit of a smoky flavor that really paired well with the spicy glaze brushed on the exterior.\r\n\r\nOutside of giving the ham a bit of a kick, Catherine explains that the flavorful glaze gives the exterior \"a lovely mahogany edge\" that looks tempting to slice into.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Unsliced Ham\" product_name=\"Smithfield Hardwood Smoked Ham\" image=\"1755040\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Smithfield\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/smithfield.sfdbrands.com\/en-us\/products\/ham-special-occasions\/hardwood-smoked-bonein-portion-ham\/\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Smithfield\" \/]\r\n\r\nWhile spiral-cut hams are easy to bake and serve, you may prefer to carve a ham<\/a> yourself. If that's the case, our Test Kitchen recommends\u00a0Smithfield Hardwood Smoked Ham<\/strong><\/a>.\r\n\r\nThis ham had a great savory pork flavor with a touch of salt that's not overwhelmed by smoke or sweet glazes.\r\n\r\nWhat really sets this Smithfield ham apart, though, is the texture. According to Ellen Crowley in the Test Kitchen, this ham \"can be shredded very easily.\" That means this ham is tender and delicious to eat alongside homemade rolls<\/a> during the holidays, a great option for making pulled ham<\/a>, and for leftovers<\/a> in dishes like scalloped potatoes<\/a> or eggs.\r\n\r\nThough, with the just-right texture and balanced flavor, we're not sure you'll have much ham left!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"49501\"]\r\n

How Our Pros Sampled Ham<\/h2>\r\nWith holidays on the horizon, our\u00a0Test Kitchen experts<\/a>\u00a0were excited to put the most popular ham brands head to head in a\u00a0test<\/a>. All of the hams we tried are available nationwide either in stores or online. Yep, you can get your holiday ham shipped right to your door and save yourself a trip to the butcher.\r\n\r\nEach ham was prepared according to the package directions by one of our pros. After cooking, each ham was sampled blindly and judged in each of these categories:\r\n