Why is there mold on my whole country ham?
It is normal and an indication of proper ageing for a country ham to mold. Mold may be removed at any time by washing with warm water and a brush.
*IMPORTANT NOTE* Your ham should have arrived in a plastic bag. Please remove it from the plastic upon arrival for airing.
How do I store my Whole Country Ham until I am ready to cook it?
Remove from plastic bag upon arrival. Country hams should NOT be refrigerated until they have been cooked or sliced. It is best to store the whole ham hanging in a cool dry place away from animals and insects. We do not recommend you hanging your ham for an extended period of time. The ham will continue to age the longer it hangs and may dry out. The longer it hangs the greater the risk of attracting unwanted insects.
Why do country hams have to be cooked if they have been smoked?
We do use smoke during our curing process. The smoke is used only to help dry the hams and add flavor. They are not smoked in a smoker so they are not cooked, only cured. Please see our recipe page for proper cooking instructions.
Is country ham salty?
Country ham is cured with salt and will have a more salty taste than a “city ham” that has not been cured or aged. If country ham is cooked properly it should not be too salty. It is meant to be eaten in small portions or on a biscuit or some other type of bread.
How do I store my Sliced Country Ham?
Sliced Country ham can go without refrigeration for up to two weeks. We recommend you refrigerate it upon arrival. It can stay in the refrigerator for up to a year without breaking the vacuum seals. Once the seal has been broken we recommend repackaging it and freezing it. You can also freeze the ham if you prefer.
Why does my country ham weigh less after it has been sliced?
During the slicing process a country ham will lose up to 2 pounds. When we slice through the bone the marrow has to be scraped off or it will form a bacteria. I relate this to saw dust when cutting wood. We also remove the aitch bone during the slicing process. The aitch bone has no meat or fat and can not be used for anything including seasoning. You will receive all eatable parts of your ham.
Why were my meats not cold when they arrived?
Because our meats are cured they can go without refrigeration for up to two weeks. This includes all of our smoked bacons,smoked sausage and sliced country ham. Because of this all of our products are shipped by UPS ground without any type of cooling device. It is perfectly normal for the meat to be warm when arriving at your home. It WILL need to be refrigerated upon arrival.
Please feel free to give us a call or e-mail us with any questions or concerns you may have.
