Ham | Cured or uncured, that is the question

Ham: Do you know the healthiest choice for your holiday?

Picture this, all your family gathered together to celebrate. A giant table laden with a feast of delicious dishes. And at the very center, a savory roasted ham spiral sliced and ready to melt in your mouth.

But wait, is the taste of the ham worth the possible unhealthy chemicals in it?

Ham is such a central part of many holiday celebrations. Let’s break down the facts about ham and discover the good news that there are healthier ways for you to enjoy it.

Traditional ham facts:

Ham is a cut of pork from the leg of the pig. It is preserved by wet or dry curing, sometimes with smoking and sometimes without. The term ham is also applied to meat substances that have been mechanically molded into a solid piece.

Ham is made using :

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Method:	Dry Curing	Wet Curing	Smoking
Time:	8 mon-2 yrs	3-14 days	as needed
Preservatives:	Salt, Sodium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate	Brine of water, salt, sugar, spices etc	wood smoke

Modern day curing:

To make curing go faster and make ham more shelf stable, modern methods began to include sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate because they prevent bacteria from growing, the right shrinkage of the meat and give ham the deep red color  we are used to seeing.

The problem with nitrates is that they can be lethal. And in cooking they can be transformed into nitrosamines which are known cancer promoters called carcinogens.

Healthier ham facts:

The good news is that there are healthier options available for you to still enjoy your ham.

• Choose uncured meats whenever possible. They do not have artificial nitrates added to them for curing. Instead they use the naturally occurring ones found in vegetables like celery. These natural nitrates are not changed to nitrosamines that can promote cancer

• Watch how you cook your ham. An uncured ham will need to cook slower and longer than a cured ham so pay attention and use a meat thermometer to get the taste and health right.

• Uncured meats will not last as long. You can refrigerate them properly for 3-7 days and freeze them in an air tight container for up to 6 months.

Since ham is such a delicious part of your celebration, now you can make a healthier choice and still fully enjoy it!

And when the parties are over and you need leftover ideas, check out these yummy recipes!

Want to tell us your favorite holiday ham dish or what you do to enjoy the leftovers? Leave a comment below!

Let’s enjoy some healthy ham!