Unraveling the Mystery: A Complete Guide to Chicken Ham and How It’s Made

For health-conscious eaters or those avoiding pork chicken ham presents an intriguing alternative to traditional ham. But this product leaves many people scratching their heads. What exactly is chicken ham made of and how does it come to resembleregular cured ham? Let’s unravel the mystery of this inventive poultry preparation.

The Composition of Chicken Ham

Chicken ham starts with the main ingredient you’d expect – chicken! Specifically, it uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts as the base. These are seasoned, cured, cooked, smoked and shaped to emulate pork-based ham.

To transform chicken into “ham.” additional ingredients and processing steps are involved

• Brine – Chicken is cured in a wet brine solution, often containing salt, sugar, saltpeter, spices, and wine. This imparts flavor and a pink tint.

• Wrapping – Individual breasts are tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or rolled into rounds to compact the texture.

• Cooking – Chicken is gently cooked sous vide, in a rice cooker, or by poaching or steaming. A low moist heat ensures tenderness.

• Smoking – Light cold smoking infuses smoky ham flavor without overcooking. Wood chips impart subtle smokiness.

• Casing – After curing and smoking, chicken is wrapped in an artificial collagen or fibrous casing to shape it.

Through this multi-step process, the mild chicken breast takes on the appearance, texture and taste of cured ham, while maintaining its inherent health benefits.

Health Benefits of Chicken Ham

Chicken ham offers some advantages over traditional pork ham:

• Lower fat – With the skin removed, chicken ham contains less saturated fat and calories compared to ham.

• Fewer nitrates – Curing uses natural sources like celery powder rather than sodium nitrite.

• More protein – Per ounce, chicken ham packs about 7 grams of protein without skin and fat.

• Lower sodium – Chicken requires less sodium during curing for flavor than pork.

• Versatility – Easy to adapt for gluten-free, paleo, keto and other specialty diets.

For those managing weight, cholesterol, or other health issues, chicken ham provides a tasty lower-fat alternative full of lean protein. The light smoking ensures it’s not considered raw.

Appearance and Flavor

Chicken ham is created not only to be healthier, but to closely replicate the look, texture and taste of real ham:

• Pink color – Curing salts react with myoglobin in chicken to give it a rosy tint like ham.

• Smoky flavor – Smoldering wood chips impart a subtle smoky ham aroma and flavor.

• Dense texture – Wrapping, cooking and casing gives chicken ham a firm, sliceable texture.

• Salty taste – The brine solution penetrates chicken with a salt and savory cured flavor.

• Umami richness – Cooking and smoking develops glutamate compounds, adding meaty umami depth.

With the right techniques, chicken transforms from bland and bouncy to pleasantly firm with complex smoked ham undertones.

Buying and Storing Chicken Ham

When purchasing chicken ham, you may find it:

• Fresh in the refrigerator section
• Vacuum sealed for longer shelf life
• Canned for convenience

For optimal quality, buy freshly prepared chicken ham and consume within 1 week. For longer storage, choose vacuum-sealed and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Canned chicken ham will last on shelves the longest but may have more preservatives and artificial flavors. Check the ingredient list for unwanted additives.

Once opened, keep refrigerated and tightly wrapped to prevent drying out. Use within 3-5 days for freshest taste and texture.

Creative Ways to Enjoy Chicken Ham

Chicken ham brings homestyle ham flavor to all kinds of dishes:

• Breakfast sandwiches with egg and cheese
• Hearty ham and bean soup
• Ham and pineapple pizza
• Ham, apple and brie panini
• Chicken ham caesar salad wrap
• Eggs benedict with chicken ham instead of Canadian bacon
• Ham and vegetable fried rice
• Split pea soup with chicken ham
• Ham and cheese omelet or quiche
• Chicken ham croquettes with mustard dipping sauce

With its savory saltiness and smoky aroma, chicken ham can sub in for pork ham in many classic recipes. Experiment with ways to highlight its flavor and healthier nutrition profile.

Is Chicken Ham Right for You?

Chicken ham offers a creative way for pork avoiders to still enjoy the quintessential holiday ham experience. While pork substitutes like beef ham or turkey ham are available, chicken ham closely mirrors the taste, look and feel of true cured ham.

If the idea of pink chicken seems unappetizing, try it in a recipe first before writing it off. The flavor and texture may win you over! With its lower fat and sodium and higher protein, chicken ham makes a smart substitution to please both pork lovers and avoiders.

Common Questions about Chicken Ham

Still have some lingering questions about this inventive product? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Is chicken ham processed like deli meat?

Chicken ham undergoes a light curing and smoking process but is not heavily processed like bologna or ham lunchmeat.

How long does chicken ham keep?

Fresh chicken ham lasts 1 week refrigerated. Vacuum sealed and unopened chicken ham lasts 1-2 months refrigerated or 2-3 months frozen.

Can you eat chicken ham without cooking?

Chicken ham is precooked so it can be eaten cold and does not require additional cooking or heating before consumption.

What’s the best way to slice chicken ham?

Use a sharp knife or electric slicer. Cut thin slices across the grain for the most tender, sliceable texture.

Does chicken ham taste like real ham?

Thanks to curing, smoking, seasoning and cooking methods, chicken ham provides a very close approximation of cured pork ham flavor.

Have more questions? Reach out in the comments!