Yes, you can definitely buy honey glazed ham from a variety of sources. Honey glazed ham is a delicious type of ham that is coated with a sweet glaze made from honey, often along with other ingredients like brown sugar or maple syrup. It’s a popular choice for holidays like Easter and Christmas, but you can find it in stores year-round.
Some quick answers about buying honey glazed ham:
– Grocery stores – Check the deli counter or pre-packaged meat sections at your local supermarket. Many chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, etc. sell spiral sliced honey hams around the holidays.
– Butcher shops – Local butcher shops are a great place to find high quality, custom honey glazed hams. They can slice it and even give you the glaze recipe.
– Online – Numerous online retailers sell mail-order hams that ship nationwide. This includes everything from luxury food brands like Harry & David to direct-from-farm companies.
– Restaurants – Some dining establishments like Cracker Barrel sell whole glazed holiday hams to-go. You can order ahead then pick up in store before your event.
– Bakeries – Specialty bakeries often have honey baked hams this time of year. Call ahead to your nearby bakeries and don’t forget local donut shops!
Where to Buy Honey Glazed Ham
When it comes to buying a delicious honey glazed ham, you have plenty of great options:
Grocery Stores
Stopping by your local grocery store is one of the easiest ways to purchase a honey glazed ham. Most major supermarket chains will carry them, typically in the refrigerated meat case. Here are some specific stores that sell them:
– Kroger – Kroger has high-quality Private Selection branded hams that come spiral sliced and coated in a brown sugar glaze. They’re usually available as part of their holiday offerings.
– Publix – Publix is famous for their honey glazed hams, which are baked in-store at each location. They often go on sale leading up to holidays like Easter.
– Safeway – Safeway’s honey hams are custom made for them by Cook’s hams. They are spiral cut and smoked with an applewood glaze.
– Wegmans – This East Coast supermarket chain has outstanding honey hams, smoked for up to 12 hours and glazed with honey and brown sugar.
– Aldi – Aldi carries affordable Harris Farms honey hams around holiday times. They come spiral cut and coated in a sweet honey bourbon glaze.
Butcher Shops
Local butcher shops are a smart place to check for high-quality honey glazed hams. Many butchers receive fresh hams from pork providers, then hand glaze and bake them. Going to a butcher shop allows you to customize the size of ham you need. You can also ask about their specific glazing and cooking process.
When you order a honey ham from a butcher, they often bake it fresh. Then they will slice it for you on-site. This makes it easy to take home and serve. Butcher shop hams are typically premium quality, versus the mass-produced hams found in big grocery stores.
Ask your butcher if they have any specialty ham glazes like:
– Honey mustard glaze
– Honey bourbon glaze
– Coca-Cola glazed ham
– Pineapple glazed ham
Online Mail-Order Hams
Searching online opens up lots of options when it comes to buying a ready-to-eat ham with a sweet honey glaze. There are several major companies that ship hams nationwide:
– Harry & David – This premium gift company is renowned for their spiral-cut hams made with real honey and pineapple. They come fully cooked and glazed.
– Burgers’ Smokehouse – A famous smokehouse that ships hams across the country. Their honey glazed hams are smoked over a wood fire using a signature recipe.
– Godshall’s Quality Meats – This specialty producer makes Amish country hams. Their honey baked hams come spiral sliced and coated in a honey, brown sugar, and pineapple glaze.
– Swiss Colony – This Wisconsin-based company has mail-order gourmet food gifts, including hickory smoked holiday hams with a sweet honey finish.
– Wolferman’s Bakery – Get specialty baked hams shipped from this well-known bakery and cafe. Their honey glazed hams come spiral cut and ready to enjoy.
– Porter Road – This butcher and meat delivery service will ship fresh cooked hams covered in bourbon honey glaze anywhere in the continental US.
Restaurants
Certain dining establishments prepare holiday hams in-house and will sell them to customers. For example:
– Cracker Barrel – Cracker Barrel restaurants bake hams with three layers of glaze, including honey, brown sugar, and other sweet flavors. You can order whole or half hams to-go from many locations.
– Jason’s Deli – This sandwich chain cooks their own unique sweet glazed hams. Around Easter, you can pre-order a whole sliced ham or ham platter from your local deli.
– City Barbeque – This fast-casual BBQ joint sells Brown Sugar Spiral Cut Hams by the quarter, half, or whole ham around Easter. You can order online and pick up in-store once cooked.
– HoneyBaked Ham – The HoneyBaked Ham Company operates cafes and also sells their signature hams for Easter and the December holidays. Hams can be ordered online and shipped or picked up in stores.
Bakeries
Check out bakeries and donut shops in your area to see if they carry honey glazed hams. Many will bake hams with sweet glazes or have them specially made by local suppliers. Hams sold at bakeries are often smaller in size, perfect for smaller holiday gatherings.
Some examples of bakeries to call for holiday hams include:
– Your local donut shop – Many mom and pop donut stores sell hams around Easter and Christmas. The hams are a nice grab-and-go option with donuts for breakfast.
– Whole Foods – The bakery and prepared foods sections at Whole Foods may carry fresh hams basted in honey or maple glazes.
– Joan’s on Third – This upscale bakery has locations in Los Angeles. Around Easter and Christmas, their bakery sells gourmet hams with specialty glazes.
– The Grand Central Bakery – A renowned Pacific Northwest bakery with locations in Seattle and Portland. They receive cooked and glazed hams from partner meat purveyors during the holidays.
How Much Does a Honey Glazed Ham Cost?
The price of honey glazed ham can vary considerably based on the size, brand, source, and quality. Here is an overview of the average cost for a whole, bone-in ham:
– Grocery store hams – $40 to $60. Grocery chains tend to offer affordable glazed hams, but quality may not be premium.
– Butcher shop hams – $60 to $100. Expect higher prices for gourmet hams sold at butcher counters and meat markets. Custom glazes and premium pork also increase costs.
– Online mail-order hams – $70 to $150. Shipping perishable hams adds to the costs from online specialty food sellers.
– Restaurant hams – $50 to $75. Ordering a pre-cooked ham from a dining establishment tends to cost less than a fancy mail-order ham.
– Bakery hams – $30 to $60. Smaller hams sold at bakeries and donut shops are usually very reasonably priced.
As you can see, pricing can range widely. Factors like size, quality, preparation method, custom recipes, and convenience affect the costs. In general, expect to spend $50 to $100 for a high-quality bone-in honey glazed ham feeding 8 to 12 people.
What to Look for When Buying Honey Glazed Ham
Not all hams are created equal. Here are some tips for selecting a delicious honey glazed ham:
– Read the ingredients on the label. You want to see that actual honey is used in the glaze, not corn syrup or artificial honey flavoring. Also look for quality ingredients like brown sugar, pineapple, cloves, etc.
– Opt for spiral sliced hams for easier serving. The even slices make it simple to plate once you heat up the ham.
– Choose a ham from the refrigerated section, not canned. Fresh hams tend to have better texture and flavor.
– Select a ham with an even glaze coating. It should cover the entire outside with a sticky, shiny honey glaze.
– Look for a ham with some fat. A little fat marbling improves moisture and flavor as the ham cooks.
– For convenience, buy a ham that’s already fully cooked. This saves you the hassle of baking it yourself at home.
– Inspect the sell-by date. Make sure you can serve the ham by that date, or freeze any leftovers.
– Consider the size. Estimate how many people you are serving, and buy a 5 to 7 pound ham for 4-6 people, or a 10 to 14 pound ham for 10-14 people.
How Long Do Store-Bought Honey Hams Last?
An unopened store-bought ham with the original vacuum packaging will typically last 1 to 2 months in the refrigerator. Once opened, the ham should be consumed within 5 to 7 days.
Here are some ham storage guidelines:
– Unopened ham in original packaging – 4 to 8 weeks in the refrigerator
– Opened whole ham – 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator
– Sliced ham leftovers – 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator
– Ham slices sealed in air-tight packaging – 1 week in the refrigerator
– Whole ham in freezer – 4 to 6 months
– Sliced ham in freezer – 2 to 3 months
Make sure you check manufacturer sell-by dates and follow proper food safety practices. Sealed, unopened hams last the longest. Once exposed to air, ham leftovers have a shorter shelf life. Freezing maximizes how long you can save cooked glazed ham.
Can You Freeze and Thaw Hams Multiple Times?
It’s best to limit freezing and thawing of hams to preserve quality. Here are some guidelines:
– Uncooked hams can be frozen safely just once, according to USDA guidelines. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.
– Cooked hams can be frozen and thawed safely up to two times. Thaw in the refrigerator and avoid refreezing any thawed portions.
– Freezing ham for long periods reduces moisture and affects texture. Ham thawed after being frozen for over 4 months may have poorer quality.
– Only re-freeze ham that was thawed in the refrigerator, no on the counter or in hot water. Bacteria multiply rapidly at unsafe temperatures.
– tightly seal ham in freezer bags or wrap in plastic to prevent freezer burn. Use ham thawed after one freeze cycle within 3-4 days for maximum freshness.
In summary, one round of freezing and thawing is best for uncooked hams, while cooked hams maintain better quality with two freeze-thaw cycles. Limit the amount of time ham sits frozen and be diligent about food safety when thawing to prevent bacterial growth.
Can You Buy a Half Ham Instead of a Whole?
Yes, you can often purchase a half ham if you don’t need an entire full-size, bone-in ham. Here are some tips:
– Check the deli counter at your grocery store. They may be able to sell half of a spiral sliced, honey glazed ham.
– Ask your local butcher shop if they can custom cut a fresh ham in half. This may cost a bit more.
– Look for pre-packaged half ham options. Certain brands like Cook’s and Swift Premium sell half hams vacuum sealed and ready to cook.
– Check with restaurants like Cracker Barrel that sell hams. You can order a half ham to pick up instead of a full ham to feed a smaller gathering.
– Order a half ham from mail-order or online specialty food companies. Most places that ship hams can accommodate your request for a half size.
– Consider getting a smaller shank half ham or butt half ham. These contain just one portion of the full ham.
With a little searching, you should be able to find and purchase just a half honey glazed ham if that better suits your needs versus a large, whole ham.
Should You Get Bone-In or Boneless?
This often comes down to personal preference, but here are some pointers on choosing bone-in or boneless ham:
– Bone-in hams are traditionally more flavorful. The bone and fat content add richness as the meat cooks. Bone also protects the meat so it remains juicier.
– Slicing boneless ham can be easier since you don’t have to carve around the bone. It gives you more even slices.
– Boneless ham tends to be lower cost per pound. Removing the bone cuts down the overall weight.
– Smaller gatherings can be served well with a petite boneless ham roast. Larger parties often warrant a big bone-in ham.
– Look for boneless ham sold in easy shapes like rounds or loafs. They simply reheat and slice.
– If choosing bone-in, look for an uncut shank end for juicier meat. The butt end is more prone to drying out.
Either bone-in or boneless ham can make for a wonderful honey glazed ham. Think about your occasion size, budget, and what would be easiest for serving when deciding between the two.
What’s the Best Way to Cook a Store-Bought Ham?
For the best results with a store-bought ham, follow these tips:
– Read the packaging carefully. Many brands now sell “cook before eating” hams that just need to be heated or glazed before serving.
– For hams that do require baking, use an oven bag or foil tent to prevent drying out. Cook at 325 F and baste with glaze periodically.
– Cook hams for roughly 18-20 minutes per pound. A 10 lb ham takes around 3 hours. Use a meat thermometer for doneness.
– Let the ham rest at least 15 minutes before carving so juices redistribute. This makes it juicier.
– Maintain food safety and shoot for eating ham within 2 hours of taking it out of the oven. Refrigerate promptly.
– Still baked too dry? Add a little water or broth and cook covered to restore moisture. Or glaze again at end.
– For ultimate ease, choose a spiral cut ham. After cooking or reheating, the slices separate cleanly.
Conclusion
Honey glazed ham is a cherished tradition for many holiday meals and gatherings. With so many sources available like grocery stores, specialty shops, online retailers, and restaurants, buying a delicious ready-to-eat ham is easier than ever. Look for quality ingredients like real honey in the glaze and follow proper food safety when storing leftovers. With minimal preparation needed for many pre-cooked hams, even a novice cook can serve up this comforting dish. A beautiful bone-in ham adorned with a glistening honey glaze is sure to be the centerpiece of any celebration.