Why Is Ham Better Than Turkey For Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday menu. The centerpiece of most Thanksgiving dinners is a roasted turkey but is turkey really the best option? There’s another popular holiday meat that offers some distinct advantages over turkey – ham! Here’s why ham is a better choice than turkey for your Thanksgiving feast.

Ham Is Juicier And More Flavorful

One of the biggest issues with turkey is that it tends to dry out while cooking. Turkey meat is very lean meaning it doesn’t have much fat. Without sufficient fat the turkey breast easily dries out in the oven. Even frequent basting doesn’t help much. Ham, on the other hand, has more fat marbled throughout the meat. This extra fat keeps the ham nice and moist during roasting. The end result is tender, juicy meat loaded with flavor.

Fresh ham contains the most natural fat, but even cured or precooked hams are more juicy than turkey. Ham products like spiral cut ham are cured and smoked, giving them an extra flavor boost. While turkey definitely has merits, ham’s richness and bold flavor makes it a clear winner in the taste department.

Ham Is Easier To Prepare

Let’s be honest, roasting a turkey is tricky. With its large size and lean meat, there are a lot of ways for things to go wrong. If you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with dry, stringy meat or worse – an undercooked bird. Preparing a perfect turkey requires careful planning and precision. From thawing, to roasting, to resting, there are a lot of steps involved. It can be downright stressful for even experienced cooks!

Ham on the other hand couldn’t be easier. Fresh ham just needs to be seasoned and popped in the oven. The higher fat content means you don’t have to worry as much about drying out the meat. For precooked hams like spiral sliced ham, it’s even easier. Just warm up the ham to an internal temperature of 140 F and you’re set. No complicated roasting techniques needed! Ham’s simplicity takes a lot of the pressure off on Thanksgiving.

Ham Is More Foolproof

Building on the previous point, ham is a much more foolproof choice for Thanksgiving dinner. With lean turkey, there is little room for error during cooking. If you go over the recommended roasting time, the breast meat dries out very quickly. But with ham’s fat and moisture, it’s a lot more forgiving. You can easily get away with roasting ham longer than the recipe says with minimal impact on moisture.

Don’t want to deal with checking internal temperatures? Precooked hams like spiral cut ham just need to be warmed to 140 F. It’s nearly impossible to overcook ham to the point of drying it out. Many hams even taste great served cold right out of the fridge. No matter who is doing the cooking, ham is a reliable star that won’t disappoint.

More Flavor Options

Turkey might be a blank canvas for Thanksgiving flavors, but it can also be bland without rich gravy or sauces. Ham, on the other hand, packs a ton of flavor all on its own. From smoky to sweet, there are endless ways to flavor cured ham. Honey baked ham, maple glazed ham, brown sugar ham, pineapple ham – the possibilities are endless!

For Thanksgiving, you can play up the warm flavors of fall with an apple cider glazed ham or stick to tradition with a classic brown sugar glaze. No matter which flavors you favor, ham’s assertive pork flavor shines through. Turkey can’t compete with the range of dynamic flavors available with ham.

Easier To Carve

Have you ever tried carving a turkey? It’s incredibly difficult, even for experienced cooks. Navigating around bones and joints to slice perfect portions takes some serious skill. More often than not, the turkey ends up drying out while you struggle to carve it. Then you still have to deal with pulling and slicing all that white and dark meat.

Ham, on the other hand, couldn’t be easier to carve. Boneless roasted ham is a breeze to slice into perfect portions. The meat also holds well during the slicing process compared to turkey. For bone-in hams like spiral cut ham, the pre-cut slices make serving a cinch. Just grab those convenient slices right off the ham and you’re good to go! No carving skill required.

More Budget Friendly

Turkey isn’t cheap, especially when feeding a whole family and friends. You either have to purchase a massive 15+ pound turkey or buy multiple smaller birds. Plus, you can only use turkey once per year. Leftovers are great, but turkey sandwiches get old after a while.

Ham is often more budget friendly, especially when purchased well in advance. You can buy a half ham to feed a smaller gathering or a whole ham to serve a crowd. Leftover ham keeps for weeks in the fridge, letting you get more mileage out of your purchase. From omelets to sandwiches, pasta, and more, ham works well in many dishes. The lower price point and versatility make ham a smart move for your wallet.

Better Sandwiches

Talking about leftovers – everyone knows that leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches are amazing. But leftover ham sandwiches might be even better! Deli sliced ham keeps its moisture and flavor for sandwich making much better than turkey. Cured ham adds so much more flavor to sandwiches than plain turkey.

If you favor cold cut sandwiches, ham is the clear winner. Not to mention, ham pairs wonderfully with so many sandwich toppings. Add some Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles and you’ve got perfection! For deli meat enthusiasts, ham makes better use of leftovers than turkey.

More Guest-Pleasing Sides

Turkey and ham are both extremely versatile when it comes to side dish pairings. However, ham opens the door for a few special sides that perfectly complement its salty, robust flavor. Favorite ham sides like scalloped potatoes, roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon, cornbread stuffing and baked beans go much better with ham than turkey.

These savory, comforting dishes just pair better with ham’s bold flavor profile. Turkey can’t stand up to these rich sides quite as well. For a satisfying and cohesive Thanksgiving plate, ham deserves the spotlight over turkey.

Better Holiday Flavor

Thanksgiving is all about warming spices, comforting dishes, and rich indulgent flavors. When you stop and think about it, turkey doesn’t really fit the flavor profile. Turkey tends to disappear among all those bold tastes and rich dishes like gravy, stuffing and pie.

Ham, with its intensely salty, meaty flavor, is a perfect match for Thanksgiving. The smoky, robust flavor pairs beautifully with comforting sides and seasonal spices. Cranberry sauce and ham were just meant for each other! Overall, ham’s savory flavor simply fits better with the indulgent spirit of the holiday season.

Break From Tradition

Turkey has ruled Thanksgiving dinner tables for so long, it’s almost a tired choice at this point. Don’t get me wrong, roasted turkey can be amazing in the right hands. But it’s also nice to break from tradition and try something outside the box. Choose ham this year to shake up your holiday feast!

Ham will bring loads of comforting flavor and may just become your new Thanksgiving tradition. Offering guests something unexpected will keep the holiday exciting and fresh. Take a break from turkey and let ham shine this Thanksgiving!

Turkey may hold the spotlight most years, but ham definitely deserves more appreciation for the holidays. With better flavor, ease of cooking, juiciness and cost, ham has clear advantages at Thanksgiving time. This year, do something different and let ham be the star of your show! Your guests will be thrilled with the memorable flavors. Once you try ham at Thanksgiving, you may never go back to plain old turkey again.