Where to Buy Ham Bones for Soup: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Bone

A steaming bowl of homemade soup made with a ham bone simmers with mouthwatering flavor. The smoky, savory goodness of the ham infuses the broth, taking it to new heights. But before you can ladle up this soup perfection, you need to get your hands on some ham bones. If you’re wondering where to find ham bones for soup, this guide will walk you through the best places to get your hands on these flavor boosters.

Check Your Local Butcher Shop

Your first stop when ham bone shopping should be your neighborhood butcher. Skilled butchers carefully source and cut meat, making them the ideal people to consult about ham bones. Many butchers stock bones like ham hocks or smoked ham knuckles specifically for soup making.

Chat with your butcher about the freshness of the bones, where they source them from, and how to choose the right size. They can likely cut them to order if needed. You’ll get expert advice and quality bones, probably for less cost than a supermarket. Supporting local butchers keeps skills and small businesses alive in your community.

Explore Farmer’s Markets

Outdoor farmer’s markets are perfect for finding niche meat items like soup bones. Seek out vendors specializing in pork, ham, or charcuterie. Farmer’s markets give you access to small-scale suppliers focused on quality. The bones may come from pasture-raised heritage breed pigs, resulting in deeper flavor.

Discuss with the farmers how the pigs are raised and what cut the bones are from Farmer’s markets are great for making connections and learning the stories behind your food You may even find bones from specialty cured hams like prosciutto or serrano to upgrade your soup.

Head to the Meat Counter at the Grocery Store

Your local supermarket likely has soup bones Hidden in plain sight at the meat counter Look for packages labeled “ham hocks” or “smoked ham knuckles” They may be behind the counter, so don’t hesitate to ask the butcher.

Grocery store bones offer convenience, letting you buy bones and other soup ingredients in one trip. Check the labels for details on ham cut, bone size, and whether the bones are smoked. Smoked ham bones add extra depth but increase sodium levels.

Source Online Soup Bone Retailers

Ordering bones online opens up many specialty suppliers of soup making ingredients. Search for companies focusing on bones for stock or sites selling cured ham bones. Read sellers’ credentials carefully and shop around for competitive pricing.

Choose expedited 1-2 day shipping and proper insulation to ensure the bones arrive chilled and in optimal condition. Online sourcing means you can buy large packs of bones at wholesale prices. Stock up and freeze extras to always have bones ready for impromptu soup night.

Don’t Throw Out Holiday Ham Bones

Leftover ham bones from holiday meals are liquid gold for homemade soup stock. Instead of discarding that gnawed ham bone after Christmas or Easter dinner, wrap it well and pop it in the freezer. Ham bones keep beautifully frozen for 4-6 months.

The holiday ham bones already have tons of concentrated hammy flavor infused during cooking. Later, simply defrost the bones and simmer them in your soup pot for intense smoky stock deeply superior to plain water.

What to Look for When Buying Ham Bones

Not all ham bones are created equal when it comes to soup making. Keep these tips in mind to select the best bones:

• Size Matters – Choose bones that fit your pot with some room to spare for water and other ingredients. Hock and knuckle bones work well.

• Meaty Bones – Bones should have plenty of meat, fat, and cartilage attached for flavor and body. Avoid bare sparse bones.

• Freshness – Bones should look moist with no dry spots or unpleasant odors. Yellowish fat and vivid meat indicate freshness.

• Salt Cure – Lightly cured ham or smoked ham bones offer complexity. But avoid bones that are too salty, limiting other seasoning.

• Price – Shop prices to balance your budget. But remember pricier pastured pork bones give the best flavor.

How to Use Ham Bones to Elevate Your Soup

You found the perfect ham bones, now what? Here are tips for extracting maximum flavor from your ham bones to make stand-out soup:

• Soak Bones First – For very salty cured ham bones, soak in water for 1-2 hours to remove excess salt before cooking.

• Brown the Bones – Browning the bones in the pot before adding liquid amplifies flavor and color.

• Simmer Low and Slow – Long, gentle simmering over low heat coaxes the most gelatin, nutrients, and ham essence from the bones.

• Skim Impurities – As scum rises during simmering, use a spoon to skim it off for clearer broth.

• Blend It Up – For silky texture, blend a portion of the finished soup and ham bits with an immersion blender.

• Finish with Herbs – Right before serving, stir in chopped fresh parsley, thyme, or other herbs.

Sample Soups for Ham Bones

Ready to put those ham bones to work? Here are some classic soup recipes that get a big boost of flavor from ham bones:

• Split Pea Soup – Smoky ham broth pairs perfectly with earthy split peas.

• Navy Bean Soup – White beans plump up in ham bone stock for a hearty, satisfying soup.

• Potato Soup – Diced ham and ham stock add comfort to creamy potato soup.

• Vegetable Soup – Turn plain veggie soup into a meal with ham bone savoriness.

• Lentil Soup – Nutty lentils and smoky ham are a match made in soup heaven.

• Ham and Corn Chowder – Sweet corn and ham are natural partners in chowder.

Now that you know where to find soup-worthy ham bones and how to use them, you can look forward to pot after pot of your best homemade soup yet. Happy ham bone hunting and soup simmering!