We love Honey Baked Hams but we have to go to Wake County to get a ham. Anyone have recommendations for a good supplier in Johnston County of a spiral cut baked ham that can compete with Honey Baked? Looking for one that is cooked, refrigerated and ready to eat. Thanks for any suggestions. Need one for Thanksgiving!
There is a ham store in Smithfield. Turn left on Brightleaf blvd/301 after going thru downtown Smfield. The store is a little ways down on the right.
That store is where they sell Johnston County Hams, some of the best around. Here's their website: http://www.countrycuredhams.com/shop/
Unless he or she wants a "fresh" ham, which is really a pork roast because it is not cured, then he or she is looking for a cured ham. What you are thinking of is a "city" ham, which is wet cured, usually by injecting brine solution. It may or may not be smoked. "Country" ham is dry cured by rubbing a salt mixture directly on the meat and aging it. The cheap slices you get in the supermarket aren't aged very long, and usually aren't smoked. Good country hams are aged longer and are smoked, which is what gives it deep, deep flavor and character. That's why the six-month cured Johnston County ham is more expensive than the three-month cured version. I've found the Johnston County hams to be excellent, and not too salty.
P.S. They sell both cook-yourself hams as well as a pre-cooked, ready to eat one, including a pre-sliced version. http://www.countrycuredhams.com/shop/category.asp?catid=7
Has anyone tried their prosciutto dry cured ham? I'll bet they make a good one, even if it's not imported from Italy!
"Sorry, why not just get a ham at the grocery store and cook it yourself?" 1) Never have been able to cook one and have the same flavor as a "Honey Baked Ham" brand ham. 2) We like the spiral cut. Ready to eat. All slices the same thickness. We can cut a ham but not like the spiral cut of "Honey Baked Ham" brand. 3) Maybe a little lazy. Takes a long time to cook half a ham. 4) Convenience. Just go pick it up and start eating. 5) Pre-cooked, refrigerated, ready to eat ham is a great item to take to a family in the event of deaths. Gives the family something to eat during a trying time. Thanks for the Johnston County ham suggestion. We will try one. I thought they just sold cured "country hams". I did not know they had "city hams". Their web site indicates "Smithfield's Ham Shop". Wonder why it was not titled "Johnston County's Ham Shop"? Could it be they want someone to think they are buying a Smithfield Ham product? "Johnston County Hams" and "Smithfield Hams" are different companies.
Sometimes you can also find good ones at Food Lion (maybe other stores also, FL is where I shop). They're wrapped in red foil, may be called Smithfield hams, not sure.... but they're spiral sliced and and come with the honey/spice mix tht you mix and pour on top before baking... they're really good...but not cheap! Also, Sam's and BJ's sell spiral sliced hams around holiday season.
They're a lot cheaper than the Honey Baked brand name ones! I have used both kinds, and for the cost difference, I would take the one from FL unless it was a really, super, extra special occasion.
