Calling all ham lovers - where to buy a ham?

[EllenFrasier]

My sister and her husband have decided not to exchange gifts with us this year for budget purposes. I'm sure she already has enough picture frames and coffee mugs and she can buy her own shower gel. So I was thinking of buying them a spiral ham. They can invite their grown kids over and entertain or whatever. I have never bought a spiral ham, not even sure if a spiral ham is the best kind of ham.
So for all you ham connoisseurs out there - any ham advice?

 

[mary0305]

For one that you cook yourself - if you have an Aldi's near you, they have great spiral hams. They are usually $ 1.49 per pound. Much less expensive than the the stores that have them premade and ready to go.

 

[vicki_c]

The best I've ever had is from the Honey-Baked Ham Store, but it's expensive.

A close second for me would be a store brand spiral glazed ham from Wegman's, if you live near one.

By the way - I think that is a GREAT idea. No more picture frames, coasters, knick-knacks, lotions!

 

[DebMcDonald]

I second Honey-baked Ham. Great, great great ham.

 

[ENSOCK]

Sam's club is where I get mine. We love the spiral ham there

 

[SalandJeff]

Costco! Their Kirkland brand spiral ham is very good and comes with a packet for glazing. I just paid $2.35 per pound. Tip when choosing a spiral ham...choose one that is broader/wider rather than taller. You get more meat.

 

[swilshire]

When it's for a gift, I always get a Honey Baked ham. They are so expensive that I usually get something cheaper for us to eat. The grocery stores usually have sales around holidays and I also liked Sams' back when we had a membership.

Sheila

 

[lunalibre]

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Honey-Baked ham! Go to their online store and join their email list. You'll get good coupons. Also, last year I got a really good coupon for them in the newspaper either right before or right after Thanksgiving. I'd look out for that.

If you decide to buy from them, be sure to time your purchase. I think their single-busiest day of the year is Christmas Eve. We usually pick our ham up on 12/23, and even then we plan to wait in line at least 30 minutes. On Christmas Eve, plan to wait at least an hour, maybe longer, to get a ham.

If you think they'd use it to entertain, you could get it for them a week or two before Christmas. There will be very short lines then.

In the store, they'll offer to show you the ham before you buy it. Definitely look at it! It's kinda like buying bacon -- some hams are fattier than others.

FYI - a spiral ham from them will keep one week in the fridge. The ham can be frozen, but I'd take it off the bone first. It's best if you freeze it for less than a month if you're using it for dinner slices. It'll keep for longer than that if you use the ham for sandwiches or in a casserole or something. We get our ham on 12/23, eat it for Christmas, then freeze the rest. We take a package out for New Year's, too, so that makes New Year's cooking a snap.

Now I'm hungry.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

If you decide to buy from them, be sure to time your purchase. I think their single-busiest day of the year is Christmas Eve. We usually pick our ham up on 12/23, and even then we plan to wait in line at least 30 minutes. On Christmas Eve, plan to wait at least an hour, maybe longer, to get a ham.

There's one near my office and Christmas Eve and the day before the Thanksgiving, the line is out the door--and those are people who ordered in advance.

 

[CTdiznymom]

I always cook a Carando spiral cut ham. Perfect everytime. The one thing I do with any ham is I very quickly run it under the kitchen faucet. Just a quck 2 seconds. Never salty and always moist.

 

[RangerPooh]

I agree that the Honey Baked Ham Store hams are really good! Albeit they are pricey, even with coupons as there is usually a minimum pound requirement. But tasty just the same The Kirkland hams from Costco are also yummy.

I think that this would be a nice gift. Have you considered pairing it with a bottle or two of sparkling cider or wine?

 

[skw444]

Another vote for Honey Baked Hams since it's a gift. We've also done the honey glazed ham at Sam's which is pretty good and less expensive.