Everything You Need To Know About Hickory Honey Ham

Hickory honey ham is a beloved deli meat that combines smoky, savory ham with sweet honey glaze. The combination of salty, smoky, and sweet flavors makes it a crowd-pleasing addition to any charcuterie board or sandwich. But what exactly is hickory honey ham, and what’s the best way to enjoy it?

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this popular cured ham, including:

• What is hickory honey ham?
• How is it made?
• Buying and storing hickory honey ham
• Serving suggestions
• Nutrition facts
• Making your own at home

Let’s dive in and explore the delicious world of hickory honey ham!

What Is Hickory Honey Ham?

Hickory honey ham is ham that has been cured, smoked over a hickory wood fire, and coated with a sweet honey glaze. This imparts a lovely blend of smoky, salty, and sweet flavors

It’s made from the hind leg of a pig that has been brined, smoked and glazed. The hickory wood smoking gives it a distinctive smoky barbecue flavor. Meanwhile, the honey glaze provides a sweet contrast to the salty, savory ham.

Hickory honey ham is ready to eat as is, either cold or heated up. It’s a versatile deli meat that works great in various dishes, sandwiches, wraps, charcuterie boards, and more. The wood smoking preserves the ham while the honey adds moisture.

How Is Hickory Honey Ham Made?

Hickory honey ham is made through a multi-step process:

• Curing – The raw ham is cured using a brine solution containing salt, sugars, and sodium nitrite. This both preserves and flavors the meat.

• Smoking – The cured ham is then smoked slowly over a fire of hickory woodchips. This infuses a lovely smoky barbecue flavor.

• Glazing – After smoking, the ham is coated with a sticky glaze made from honey, brown sugar, spices, and other ingredients. This adds sweetness.

• Aging – Higher quality hams are aged further to allow the complex flavors to develop. This can take weeks or even months.

The combination of salt-curing, hickory-smoking, and honey glazing produces the characteristic flavor profile hickory honey ham is prized for.

Buying and Storing Hickory Honey Ham

When purchasing hickory honey ham, you can find it:

• Pre-sliced at the deli counter
• In whole bone-in hams
• Vacuum-sealed for longer shelf life
• Canned for convenience

For optimal freshness and flavor, look for hams with:

• A clear honey glaze coating
• Pink or mahogany-colored meat
• Little to no liquid in the packaging
• Pleasant, mildly smoky aroma
• Firm texture when handled

Once purchased, properly stored hickory honey ham lasts 1-2 weeks refrigerated. Keep the ham tightly wrapped and place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, as this is the coldest area.

For longer storage of an unopened whole ham, you can freeze it for 2-3 months. Wrap it thoroughly with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.

Delicious Ways To Enjoy Hickory Honey Ham

The sweet and smoky flavors of hickory honey ham make it extremely versatile in recipes. Here are some delicious ways to eat it:

• On sandwiches or paninis
• In omelets, quiches, or frittatas
• Diced in salads
• Wrapped in biscuits or croissants
• On charcuterie and cheese boards
• In pastas or risottos
• On pizzas
• Glazed with spices and roasted
• Simmered into soups or beans
• Added to dips like ham salad
• Baked into casseroles or pot pies

It also pairs wonderfully with fruit flavors like pineapple, apple, or orange. So get creative with how you incorporate hickory honey ham into meals!

Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Hickory honey ham is a leaner source of ham, albeit still high in sodium. A 3-ounce serving provides:

• Calories: 90
• Fat: 4g
• Sodium: 580mg
• Protein: 15g

As a smoked and cured meat, hickory honey ham delivers protein, vitamins, and minerals like:

• Niacin – boosts energy metabolism
• Vitamin B6 – supports immune health
• Vitamin B12 – essential for nerve function
• Zinc – aids immune system and cell growth
• Phosphorus – builds bones and teeth

The honey glaze results in some added sugars. But overall, hickory honey ham can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Making Your Own Hickory Honey Ham at Home

Want to try making your own hickory honey ham? Here’s a simplified overview:

Ingredients

• Boneless pork shoulder or leg
• Hickory woodchips
• Brine mixture – salt, sugar, spices, curing salt
• Honey glaze – honey, brown sugar, mustard

Steps

1. Prepare brine and mix well until salt and sugars dissolve.
2. Submerge pork in brine. Cure in fridge 1-2 days.
3. Rinse pork and pat dry. Smoke with hickory 3-4 hours at 225°F.
4. Coat smoked pork with honey glaze. Bake until glaze caramelizes.
5. Let ham rest before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Keep in mind, curing meats requires meticulous attention to food safety. But with care and patience, you can create your own gourmet hickory honey ham at home.

Everything You Need To Know About Hickory Honey Ham

With its balance of smoky, savory, and sweet flavors, it’s no wonder why hickory honey ham is such a coveted deli specialty. Learning about how it’s made and the best ways to serve it lets you appreciate this honey-glazed smoked ham even more.

Here are some key takeaways:

• It’s made by curing, hickory smoking, and glazing ham with honey. This gives a lovely blend of salty, smoky, and sweet.

• For best quality, look for hams with a glistening honey coating, pink meat, and firm texture.

• Store hickory honey ham tightly wrapped in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

• The ham pairs deliciously with fruits like pineapple, apple, or orange.

• It can be used in diverse dishes like sandwiches, charcuterie, salads, and pasta.

• Hickory honey ham provides protein, vitamins, and minerals as part of a balanced diet.

• Making your own requires attentive brining, smoking, and glazing.

With this guide, you’re now a hickory honey ham expert! Now get ready to wow guests at your next meal with this beloved deli specialty.