{"id":615,"date":"2023-08-29T09:29:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T16:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/?p=615"},"modified":"2024-10-31T15:42:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T22:42:44","slug":"best-ham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/article\/best-ham\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Ham to Buy, from Honey Ham to Ham Steaks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the best ham to buy? It depends. Do you want honey ham? Smoked ham? Uncured ham? Cubed ham? Ham steaks? There\u2019s a lot of ham out there. And while we haven\u2019t tasted all <\/em>of it, we have tasted a lot of it over the course of two separate taste tests. So, trust us when we say that we\u2019ve found the best ham brands making the best deli ham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By definition, ham is just cured pork leg, but the way each culture makes it is so spectacularly different. We love fancy, paper-thin, melt-in-your-mouth Spanish jam\u00f3n ib\u00e9rico and salty, fatty Italian prosciutto di Parma, but we also love what this article is all about: the best deli ham. Deli ham is iconically American. It\u2019s meant to be stuffed in between bread, wrapped in foil, and shoved in a lunch box. Ham is, despite what elitists might say, also a great snack. A 2 a.m. jaunt to the fridge usually calls for a few slices of processed pork leg. How good is ham? It seamlessly wedged itself into breakfast, lunch, and<\/em> dinner. A ham, egg, and cheese sandwich is just as iconic as a roast ham on Easter Sunday. That\u2019s because ham is, as Homer Simpson<\/a> knows, perfect for any occasion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our initial best ham taste test, we focused on the best ham slices. For our update, we turned our gaze to the best ham steaks as well as the best diced and cubed ham. We also included the winners from our best honey ham<\/a> and low sodium ham<\/a> taste tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever we taste ham, whatever the form it takes, we\u2019re looking for the same things: We want our ham pure. The ingredient list on a package of ham shouldn\u2019t read like a can of SPAM (although we love SPAM). We want a really nice, not overly salted savory flavor with a hint of sweetness. We want ham with flavor, texture, and razzle-dazzle. Here are the top 10 best hams that made the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>\"kroger
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Best Diced Ham<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kroger Diced Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Kroger<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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One thing I learned from our second taste test is that Kroger is one of the best ham brands if you want your ham pre-cut. Why? You\u2019ll meet Kroger\u2019s cubed ham later, but first let\u2019s talk about Kroger\u2019s diced ham. Craving a ham casserole but don\u2019t have a leftover ham just hanging out in your fridge? Enter Kroger\u2019s diced ham. This diced ham has a great savory flavor without being overly salty, and it has a great texture\u2014it\u2019s not spongy or rubbery like some other pre-diced hams. Throw a handful into the mix when you\u2019re making cheesy scalloped potatoes. Or scatter some into an omelet if you want a finer filling than cubed ham. Bet you never knew how useful diced ham could be. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Kroger<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Danola
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Best <\/strong>Lower Sodium Ham<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Danola Lower Sodium Premium Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Coming in at 320 mg sodium per serving, this rectangular ham qualifies as a lower sodium product. But you\u2019d never know it from its flavor, which is why it took the top spot in our best low sodium ham<\/a> ranking. It\u2019s still very savory. The shape makes it perfect for a sandwich, so, if you\u2019re watching your sodium (but not too closely, because 320 mg isn\u2019t nothing), pile a few slices of this ham onto some bread and chow down. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full ranking of the <\/strong>best low sodium ham<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"kroger
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Best <\/strong>Cubed Ham<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kroger Cubed Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Kroger<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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If you\u2019re looking to turn your kitchen into a Denver omelet station, this is the best grocery store ham to make your morning easy and your breakfast delicious. It tastes like cubed black forest ham\u2014sweet and savory and not too salty. It pairs perfectly with some peppers and onions and pepper jack cheese. I\u2019m sure there are other ways you could put this cubed ham to work, but really, it\u2019s absolutely the best ham for omelets. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Kroger<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Farmer
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Best Ham Steak <\/strong>(Regional)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Farmer John Classic Hickory Smoked Ham Steak<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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My father loves to have a ham steak in the fridge, ready to go when someone asks, \u201cWhat\u2019s for dinner?\u201d Griddled up? Some potatoes on the side? A salad? Gravy<\/a> if you actually want to put some effort into it? That\u2019s a fine supper. Here\u2019s what I mean when I talk about ham steak: a slice of ham that\u2019s much thicker than deli ham\u2014about an inch thick. It comes cooked and ready to eat, just like deli ham, but you can also heat it up in a skillet for dinner or breakfast (or, I guess, lunch). Farmer John makes an excellent ham steak. It\u2019s extremely tender and very savory. It doesn\u2019t go too heavy on the smoke flavor, either. If you are in the land of Farmer John, pick up this ham steak. \u2014 Justine Sterling <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best for Snacking<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kroger Honey Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Ralphs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Kroger<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In addition to being classically sweet and smoky, Kroger ham is very savory and a tad earthy. It might have something to do with the cherry powder and celery powder in the ingredients. Regardless, Kroger makes a mighty fine, thinly sliced ham that\u2019s one of the best hams for snacking. It comes in that perfect little tupperware container, too, making it impossible to stay away from as it sits in your fridge. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Ryan Martin \/ Kroger<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best Hot Ham and Cheese<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Land O\u2019Frost Premium Old World Style Black Forest Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Walmart<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Vons<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Land O\u2019 Frost Black Forest Ham is thinly cut but still nice and meaty. The sweetness is subtle, and it\u2019s not overly salty like some other packaged hams. Plus, the price per pound (just under six bucks where we are) is really, really good considering the quality. A hot ham and cheese sandwich succeeds when there\u2019s a lot<\/em> of ham and a lot<\/em> of melted cheddar cheese. Given that this is a quality product and with a good price, Land O\u2019Frost takes the crown as the best store bought ham in that category. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Ryan Martin \/ Walmart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Niman
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Best Ham Steak<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Uncured Ham Steak<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Niman Ranch makes good processed pork. They make some of the best Canadian bacon<\/a>, the best breakfast sausage<\/a>, and the absolute best bratwurst<\/a>. So it comes as no surprise to us that they also make the best ham steak. It\u2019s smoky, it\u2019s meaty, it\u2019s very savory. It\u2019s a real slab of pork, but it\u2019s not too thick. This is a breakfast ham steak. Fry up some sunny-side-up eggs, give this ham steak a quick sear, and go to town as if you just tilled a field. Unlike Farmer John, Niman Ranch is sold pretty much everywhere, so you have no excuse not to try it. \u2014 Justine Sterling <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best Ham Sandwich<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Applegate Black Forest Uncured Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Target<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Applegate\u2019s Black Forest Ham has a perfect texture, sweet taste, and a nice smoky finish. It\u2019s also thin, but not too<\/em> thin. It won\u2019t rip in your hands when you go to grab it from the package. You can really stack this one nicely into a sandwich. Folds of ham cascade onto one another for the best tasting ham sandwich that\u2019s meaty but not overly dense. Plus, there\u2019s no antibiotics and they advertise that the animals are humanely raised. Do your own research, but that\u2019s important in today\u2019s food landscape. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Ryan Martin \/ Target<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"True
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Best Honey Ham<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

True Story Uncured Wildflower Honey & Maple Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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True Story\u2019s honey ham tastes like it was sliced off a real honey baked ham. It has a thick rind that tastes like caramelized honey. The meat is juicy with a tender texture. You could and should pile this onto a charcuterie board along with some fancy prosciutto and cheese\u2014it\u2019s that good. It may come at a bit of a higher premium than some other honey hams, but I promise it\u2019s worth it. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full ranking of the <\/strong>best honey ham<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best of the Best<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Boar\u2019s Head<\/strong> Cooked Uncured Ham<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Pavilions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Boar\u2019s Head is famously reliable when it comes to grocery store deli meats, and their ham is as solid as it gets. It\u2019s savory and rips in your mouth like it\u2019s actually<\/em> meat\u2014not some homogeneous, alchemic ham mixture. It\u2019s a bit fibrous, which gives it that natural, organic texture. There\u2019s a good marbling of fat, as well. It\u2019s sweet, salty, and smoky. There\u2019s also this nice casing around it, like you see with capicola (gabagool<\/em> if you insist, Tony). Boar\u2019s Head smoked ham makes the perfect deli ham sandwich or ham, egg, and cheese croissant\u2014and good luck resisting grabbing a few slices out of the fridge late at night. After two taste tests, Boar\u2019s Head is still the best ham we\u2019ve tasted so far. . \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Ryan Martin \/ Pavilions<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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This little piggy went to market (and then we bought and ate it). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":24364,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,77,49],"tags":[],"articletype":[46],"coauthors":[398,387],"class_list":["post-615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deli","category-deli-dairy","category-meat","articletype-rankings"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RANKING-UPDATE_DELI-HAM_HEADER.jpg","posts_featured":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=615"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43709,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615\/revisions\/43709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=615"},{"taxonomy":"articletype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articletype?post=615"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}