The standard Virginia ham
Country ham
Country ham is a variety of heavily salted ham preserved by curing and smoking, associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States. Used as a method of preservation from before widespread refrigeration, country ham is packed in a mixture of salts, sugar, and spices and allowed to cure for a long period of time, sometimes months, and often smoked afterwards. It is extremely dry and salty, …
Black Forest ham
Black Forest ham, or Schwarzwälder Schinken in German, is a variety of dry-cured smoked ham, produced in the Black Forest region of Germany. In 1959, Hans Adler from Bonndorf pioneered manufacturing and selling Original Black Forest ham by retail and mail order. Since 1997, the ter…
Why is Black Forest ham called Black Forest ham?
Within the European Union, Black Forest ham has an Appellation of Controlled Origin, meaning that only ham from the Black Forest is allowed to be labeled as such. For European consumers, this appellation ensures that they know what they are buying.
What are the ingredients in Black Forest ham?
Subway Black Forest Ham Ingredients. Black forest ham (water added, natural smoke flavor added), Cured with: water, dextrose, 2% or less modified food starch, salt, vinegar, sodium phosphates, natural smoke flavor, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrate.
How to cure Black Forest ham?
Start Smoking
- At the three-hour mark, start your charcoal fire. ...
- Wash off all the salt under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Make the spice rub by grinding together (I like to use an old, electric, blade coffee grinder), the whole spices, bay leaves and dried marjoram, and sprinkle over all sides ...
What does Black Forest ham mean?
Black Forest ham ( German: Schwarzwälder Schinken) is a variety of dry-cured smoked ham produced in the Black Forest region of Germany . In 1959, Hans Adler from Bonndorf pioneered manufacturing and selling Original Black Forest ham by retail and mail order. Since 1997, the term Black Forest ham has been a Protected Geographical Indication in ...
What is a nontraditional Black Forest ham?
Where did the Black Forest Ham originate?
What is the flavor of Virginia ham?
Why is the exterior of a Virginia ham black?
What are the two most popular types of hams?
What wood is used for smoked ham?
How do you dry cure a ham?
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What makes a ham a Black Forest ham?
To be a true Black Forest ham it must be produced in the Black Forest of Germany. It was traditionally coated with beef blood which gave it a black exterior surface however, today the blackened exterior is most often the result of the spices applied to the outer surface and the smoking process during curing.
How is Black Forest ham different from other ham?
Black Forest ham is smoked over pine or fir and the whole process can take up to three months. It's a very moist ham and gets much of it's distinct flavor from the types of wood used in smoking. DI LUSSO® Black Forest Ham is carefully crafted and modeled after these time honored traditions.
Is Black Forest ham a good ham?
Black Forest Ham Nutrition Black Forest ham is a great source of protein, but since it is cured in salt, the sodium levels of the meat tend to be a bit high. There are lower sodium Black Forest ham options available for purchase, so if you are watching your salt intake, you may want to consider this as an option.
What's special about Black Forest ham?
Though the ham may look bad, the black skin is actually what gives it its distinctive flavor. Once removed from cold storage, the ham is air-cured for an additional two weeks before going on the market. When it comes to meat flavorings, there are several, including maple, hickory-smoked and hardwood-smoked.Aug 22, 2018
What is similar to Black Forest ham?
You May Also LikeHam hocks.Tasso.Ardennes Ham.Ham, boneless canned.
Is Black Forest ham processed meat?
Is Black Forest ham a processed meat? They include ham, bacon, corned beef, salami, bologna, pastrami, hot dogs and bratwurst. Every 50 grams of processed meat (about two slices of Black Forest ham), eaten daily, increases your risk of colorectal cancer by an average of 21 percent.Apr 26, 2020
Why is it called Black Forest ham?
Since 1997 the term "Black Forest ham" is a Protected Designation of Origin in the European Union, which means that anything sold in the EU as "Black Forest ham" must come from the Black Forest region in Germany.
What is the original Black Forest ham?
Black Forest ham (German: Schwarzwälder Schinken) is a variety of dry-cured smoked ham produced in the Black Forest region of Germany. In 1959, Hans Adler from Bonndorf pioneered manufacturing and selling Original Black Forest ham by retail and mail order.
Do you need to cook Black Forest ham?
Cooking Instructions: All of our smoked hams are fully cooked and do not need to be heated prior to serving. If you would prefer to serve your ham warm, preheat oven to 325ºF. Place ham on rack in roasting pan and cover with foil.Nov 6, 2020
Is Black Forest ham unhealthy?
Its mammoth report stated there was convincing evidence that cured and processed meats cause colorectal cancer. Every 50 grams of processed meat (about two slices of Black Forest ham), eaten daily, increases your risk of colorectal cancer by an average of 21 percent.Sep 14, 2010
How long does Black Forest ham last?
To maximize the shelf life of ham deli meat after opening, keep refrigerated in airtight containers or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Properly stored, sliced ham deli meat will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
What does Uncured Black Forest ham mean?
Uncured ham is not injected with the same chemical brine, smoke, or flavorings that are used in cured meat. When purchasinguncured ham, you may notice that it has a slightly different, yetnaturally occurring color than the cured ham you're used to.
What is the difference between a city ham and a country ham?
The distinction between city and country ham is how the meat is cured. Hams that are wet-cured are referred to as city hams. Most hams you’ll find at your local supermarket are city hams. In addition to being wet-cured, they are usually smoked.
What is bone in ham?
Another distinction you’ll see is between boneless and bone-in hams. A bone-in ham tends to be moist and have a nice, rich flavor that comes from the bone, but carving it can be a bit challenging since you have to work around the bone. Once you finish carving a bone-in ham, the bone can be used to flavor soup beans, collard greens and other Southern classics.
What can you use boneless ham for?
Once you finish carving a bone-in ham, the bone can be used to flavor soup beans, collard greens and other Southern classics. A boneless ham is made to be easier to carve. Rather than working around a bone, you can make clean passes through the ham to create uniform slices.
What is a shank end ham?
Shank end hams are what you likely picture when you think of a Christmas or Easter ham. They’re pretty enough to be a centerpiece for a holiday dinner in addition to being the main course. However, the meat on a shank end ham tends to be fattier and less tender than the meat you’ll find in a butt end ham.
Where are ham hocks taken from?
Though ham hocks are not actually part of a ham, they are taken from the portion of the leg just below where the ham stops, at the end of the shank. Essentially, this is a hog’s calf area. Ham hocks contain a lot of collagen, which breaks down as it cooks to turn the meat tender and delicious.
Where is sugar cured ham made?
Black Forest ham: Black Forest ham, strictly speaking, is made in the Black Forest region of Germany. It is characterized by a blackened exterior and a flavor profile that comes from the herbs that are added to the cure.
Where is ham cut?
Hams are cut from the rear leg of a pig. The exception to this is picnic ham, which is really not ham at all. These “hams” are cut from the front leg. If a rear leg cut of meat were immediately cooked, it would simply taste like any other pork roast.
What is Black Forest Ham?
Black Forest ham is one of the most popular deli meats sold in the U.S. today, and it can be used in sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. However, though many Americans appreciate the flavor of the meat, not many appreciate its rich history.
How long does it take to make Black Forest ham?
What is Black Forest Ham. The original Black Forest ham is a variety of dry-cured smoked ham. It typically takes up to three months to produce from start to finish. The first step in producing this deli favorite is to salt and season the raw ham with pepper, garlic, juniper berries, coriander and other spices.
Why do you smoke ham?
Smoking serves to add more flavor to meats that do not accrue a lot of flavor during the curing process. It also makes the meat easier to slice. Manufacturers smoke ham by heating it to about 130 degrees in a smoker. The flavor of the meat comes from the type of wood that the manufacturer uses to generate the smoke.
What wood is used to smoke turkey?
The flavor of the meat comes from the type of wood that the manufacturer uses to generate the smoke. Traditionally, various hardwoods, such as hickory, are burned to produce the smoke. In the case of applewood-smoked turkey and ham, the type of wood used is from apple trees.
Is Black Forest smoked ham cured?
Black Forest Smoked Ham. When it comes to meat flavorings, there are several, including maple, hickory-smoked and hardwood-smoked. One flavor favorite is applewood-smoked. Once a meat is cured, it is either sold as-is, as Black Forest ham is, or it is smoked first. Smoking serves to add more flavor to meats that do not accrue a lot ...
What is a nontraditional Black Forest ham?
Nontraditional Black Forest Hams. Rather than dry curing, a nontraditional Black Forest ham goes through a brine curing process. Brining soaks the ham in salt, sugar and water prior to the smoking process. This produces the familiar black exterior of a traditional Black Forest ham, but this nontraditional version has a different, less salty taste.
Where did the Black Forest Ham originate?
Origins of Virginia and Black Forest Hams. Virginia hams and Black Forest hams originate from two different locations. Virginia hams, a type of country ham, come specifically from the state of Virginia, while a true Black Forest ham comes from the Black Forest of Germany.
What is the flavor of Virginia ham?
The standard Virginia ham has a rich, yet dry, salty taste. Most cooks prefer baking or boiling the ham. Some prefer soaking prior to baking in order to reduce saltiness. Others add a glaze, typically made of brown sugar and tropical fruit juice, to sweeten and moisten the final product. Traditional Black Forest ham naturally has a moist, salty and intense flavor. It's commonly baked and added to pasta dishes for a kick of flavor. Alternatively, Black Forest ham can be thinly sliced and served with bread or cheese.
Why is the exterior of a Virginia ham black?
Nowadays, however, the black exterior often results from spices applied prior to the smoking process and from the smoking process itself. The Virginia ham lacks this blackened exterior altogether.
What are the two most popular types of hams?
The two most popular types of hams that you're likely to encounter are the Black Forest ham and the Virginia ham. Although similar, there are a number of subtle differences between the two.
What wood is used for smoked ham?
Virginia hams and Black Forest hams go through a different smoking process: Virginia hams are typically smoked over oak, hickory and apple wood, while traditional Black Forest hams are smoked over pine or fir. Smoking over pine and fir give the Black Forest ham a slightly more intense taste than a Virginia ham.
How do you dry cure a ham?
Immediately before smoking the ham the butcher rubs it with a dry cure mixture made of salt and other dry seasonings to add flavor to the pork. After smoking, the ham ages, losing 20 percent of its moisture content and acquiring a salty taste.

How Is Ham Made?
Types of Hams and How They Are Cooked
- When you’re ordering a ham or purchasing one at the supermarket, you’ll want to know what labels mean so you end up with a ham that fits your tastes. Let’s look at some basic distinctions used to label different types of hams and talk about how each of these types should be cooked to maximize the unique flavor and texture.
Specialty Varieties of Ham
- Beyond the basic distinctions we looked at above, there are many different types of hams hailing from places all over the world and with specific textures and flavor profiles that make them unique. We’re going to cover some of the most common specialty types of ham, including American hams and European hams. 1. Smithfield ham: Hams labeled as Virginia hams are sim…
Enjoy Delicious Hams from S. Clyde Weaver Smoked Meats & Cheese
- If you want to keep things simple and avoid comparing hams at the supermarket, choose a ham from S. Clyde Weaver Smoked Meats & Cheeses. With a century in the business, we’ve created a solid reputation for excellent quality and tastes that remind you of holiday dinners at home. We source our products locally, and we ship them across the nation, so no matter where you are, yo…