Where to Find Authentic Salt Cured Ham

If you love the rich, salty flavor of old-fashioned country ham, you may be wondering where you can find real deal salt cured ham While this specialty Southern food has exploded in popularity, not all “country hams” are created equal Many mass-produced versions lack the distinctive flavor of those long-aged over a wood fire using traditional curing methods.

Luckily, you can still track down genuine salt cured hams from small-scale producers. Here’s where to source the good stuff, plus what to look for when buying. Let’s delve into the world of authentic country cured ham!

What Makes True Country Ham Special?

True Southern country ham gets its signature flavor from a salt curing and smoking process perfected over centuries. The steps include:

• Salting – Packed in salt or submerged in brine for 4-6 weeks This removes moisture and preserves the meat

• Resting – Rinsed then rested in cool conditions for 2-3 months. Allows salt to spread evenly.

• Smoking – Smoked over fragrant hardwood like hickory or oak. Adds terroir.

• Aging – Hung to cure for 6 months up to 2+ years! Age concentrates flavor.

Properly made country hams develop a concentrated porkiness paired with a pleasantly funky, nutty taste from aging. The meat firms up yet remains wonderfully moist. No shortcuts used by large factories can replicate the complexity of a long-cured country ham.

Where to Buy Real Country Ham

You’re unlikely to find genuine country ham at the supermarket. Look to these sources instead:

Specialty Shops

Many Southern towns have small butcher shops specializing in country hams. Check if any historic smokehouses operate near you. These producers take pride in tradition and quality.

Online Retailers

Various online stores ship country ham nationwide. Look for those based in Kentucky or other Southern states. Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams is one reputable choice.

Direct from Farms

Some country ham operations sell direct to consumers through their website. Colonel Bill Newsom’s Aged Kentucky Country Ham is a prime example, curing hams since 1917!

Local Farmers Markets

In areas like Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina, local farmers often bring country hams to weekend markets. Chat them up about their curing methods.

Butcher Shops or Delis

Even outside the South, gourmet butcher shops and delis sometimes stock country hams from regional producers. Look for hams tagged with their origin.

What to Look for When Buying

Not all self-proclaimed “country hams” walk the walk. Here are signs you’re getting the real thing:

• Rear leg cut – Must come from fresh ham of the rear leg, not other parts.

• Bone-in – Bone lends flavor during curing. Some may be boneless after aging.

• Dry cured – Curing method should involve extensive salting/brining. Not injected or tenderized.

• Wood smoked – Should be smoked over hardwood like hickory to impart flavor.

• Aged 6+ months – Check for a long minimum aging time for properly concentrated flavor.

• Southern origins – True country ham hails from states like Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, etc.

• Small producer – Look for hams made in limited batches by a specialty or heritage producer.

• Fat cap intact – The exterior fat helps the meat retain moisture and should be left on.

• Cloth sack wrap – Another sign of authenticity is the ham being enveloped in an old-fashioned cloth.

• Unique flavors – Expect a range of flavor profiles depending on regional traditions.

By keeping an eye out for these markers, you can spot authentic country hams made the time-honored way.

6 Top Country Ham Producers to Try

Once you know what to look for, check out these revered country ham sources:

1. Edwards of Surry, VA

Using family methods since 1926, Edwards produces some of the most renowned country hams. They’re smoked over hickory and aged for a minimum of 1 year.

2. Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Ham, TN

Allan Benton’s generations-old curing process churns out hams with a smoky, meaty bite. They age each ham for 1-2 years.

3. Colonel Bill Newsom’s Aged Ham, KY

Specializing in longer-aged hams since 1917, Newsom’s are smoked using a mix of hickory and apple wood.

4. Clifty Farm, KY

Situated on lush grass pastures, Clifty Farm dry cures heirloom Berkshire pork legs for richly flavored hams.

5. Broadbent’s B&B Foods, KY

A mecca for true country ham, Broadbent’s submerges hams in salt/water brine for 2 months before smoking and aging.

6. South Fresh Farm, NC

Minimally handled from pasture to plate, South Fresh Farm’s rare breed hogs produce exceptionally tasty dry cured hams.

Start with these iconic smokehouses and branch out from there as you explore the myriad offerings of genuine country cured ham.

How to Prepare Salt Cured Ham at Home

Unpacking a salty slab of aged country ham can be intimidating. Here are tips for preparing it at home:

• Trim – Carefully trim away exterior mold, irregularities, and the tough outer skin. Leave fat cap.

• Soak – Soak 15-30 minutes per half pound in water to desalinate. Change water periodically.

• Simmer – Next, place ham in fresh water and simmer gently until heated through.

• Glaze – Brush with your favorite glaze like brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

• Bake – Finally, bake at 325°F for 15-20 minutes until glazed.

• Slice thin – Carve into paper-thin slices at an angle against the grain.

Take it slow to allow the uber-salty ham to gently rehydrate. In return, you’re rewarded with the heady, rich flavor only proper salt curing and aging can achieve.

Salt Cured Ham Recipes to Try

Aged country ham boasts a big taste that pairs wonderfully with biscuits, cheese, beans, and more. Here are my favorite ways to serve it:

• Country ham biscuits – Shaved ham with homemade biscuits is quintessential Southern breakfast fare.

• Sandwiches – Pile thin slices on buttered bread for no-frills ham sammies.

• Ham and redeye gravy – Simmer the ham fat drippings into coffee-laced redeye gravy.

• Cheese plate – Balance the saltiness with bites of fresh chèvre, smoked gouda, and aged cheddar.

• Green beans – Add diced ham bits to flavor slow cooked green beans.

• Baked potatoes – Top loaded russets with crispy chunks of country ham.

• Quiche – Stud a quiche with cubes of salty ham for a savory kick.

• Hash – Sauté potatoes, peppers, and onions with chopped ham for a hearty hash.

However you eat it, quality salt cured ham adds old-fashioned, comforting flavor. Just beware of the ultra-salty aftereffects! A tall glass of iced tea or coffee makes the perfect accompaniment.

Satisfy Your Country Ham Cravings

If you hanker for the concentrated flavor only found in genuine salt cured country ham, use my tips to track down the good stuff. Seek out heritage producers who dry cure, smoke, and age their hams for months using time-honored techniques. Taking the time to find authentic country ham is well worth the payoff in tasting a piece of vanishing Southern food history. Just go easy on those biscuits at breakfast!