Spiral hams... are more expensive brands worth it?

[Sandy321]

I love the ease of the spiral hams - once you reheat them (follow directions on package - I always add pineapple, brown sugar and honey - love the pineapples that come off it!) be aware they can dry out - so watch the timing! and when it comes out of the oven, and you cut it just cut a vertical slice, and since its precut horizontally -- easy peasy!

We love to make au gratin potatoes - mom loves potato salad tho - so we have a lot of starches!

and aspargus!

and bread, I love to make rolls! Home made rolls and homemade augratin potatoes are easy and cheap to make!

 

[luvmy3]

I just got a Smithfield spiral ham today on sale for $1.49lb. Its the first year I've tried this brand, usually I get one that starts with a C (not Cooks).

For sides I'll do mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, roasted asparagus and maple glazed carrots.

 

[SandrA9810]

Cracker Barrel sells their hams as well. $36 for a maple sugar glaze, some where around the 7-9 lb range.

I think a lot depends on the glaze that is put on top. Ham by itself is fairly mediocre in taste, so you'll find a bunch with different kinds of sweet glazes on top. I'm not a fan of spiral hams hot, I prefer picking pieces off after it's room temp. I do like the bone in ham that I have to cut up, hot out of the oven.


Overall though, most of the hams will be precooked and you just heat it up in the oven for about a 1/2 hr or so. Can't really mess it up. Unless you burn it.

 

[FINFAN]

I'm jumping in here with the Market Pantry brand that Target sells...almost always under $2 a pound, usually $1.79. Not sure if that falls into the less expensive range, but to me it not unreasonalble so I vote no, more expensive not worth it. (however, I have never spent more than $2.50 a lb so I guess I do not have anything to compare to.)

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Chiming in.... that I do believe Honey Baked ham is worth the price.....

I look forward to it every Christmas and Easter.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Honey Baked is the only ham for me!

 

[rdona24]

Honey Baked hams are completely worth the extra cost, and it's not like you have to get one all the time, it's twice a year, Christmas and Easter.

 

[HM]

In my opinion Heavenly Ham, Honeybaked ham are a bit overrated. Im happy with a grocery store spiral ham

I bought a spiral ham at Sams Club a couple weeks ago to see if we might get it again for Christmas eve. While it was good, my kids were asking what kind we'd had at their aunt and uncles over Thanksgiving because it was so much better. So it was decided, that even though it costs twice as much, we'd be getting a ham at Honey Baked for the holiday.

 

[MineMail]

I just got a Smithfield spiral ham today on sale for $1.49lb. Its the first year I've tried this brand, usually I get one that starts with a C (not Cooks).

Carando, perhaps? That's my favorite brand, but BJs didn't have it last night. I bought one when we were first married - it came with a little metal stand to set the ham for serving. Costco brand ham is goodl. I don't care for the Smithfield ham - it's too salty. (That's what BJs was selling, at a discount, but I still passed it up.)

To me, the Cooks brand always tastes a little weak, like it's been brined too long. Ironic, since I never brine ham, I use a dry rub of mustard, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, white pepper and a (very) little salt. Put it on, refrigerate overnight, then bake the next day - delish! Save the bone and deglaze the pan for soup.

I've never had a Honey-Baked Ham, but it must be great if they're still in business, given what they charge. The store near me closed this year, but I'm sure it was because they lost their lease. The shopping plaza's been changing tenants for the past two years. Almost every storefront is now a sit-down restaurant.

 

[pk1959]

For those of you who buy the Aldi's spiral cut hams, have you found that they are just not cut well?? The last couple that I have bought are only cut MAYBE half way down, so that the entire bottom section we just have to cut off in chunks. I have stopped buying them at Aldi's because of the way they are cut. Add to that the fact that they are only 10 cents a pound cheaper than I can get them other places in town, I figure it's worth the 10 cents a pound to have one well cut. I do like the glaze of the Aldis' one though.

 

[smkiya]

In my opinion Heavenly Ham, Honeybaked ham are a bit overrated. Im happy with a grocery store spiral ham

One year I decided to see what the Heavenly Ham rave was all about. While it was good, it wasn't something I'd spend $60 on again. For half or even a third of that price I can get a good ham elsewhere.

 

[JB2K]

If your local Target is now selling fresh groceries, check-out their Archer Farms Hams...all the quality for not too much $$...

 

[5 Disney Fans]

I have a follow up questions for the Ham experts. I have always bought a Cooks spiral cut ham at Shop Rite where you have to cook it for so long depending on the size and add the glaze for the last 15 mins. But this year we received a Honeybaked Ham as a gift and the instructions state that you should not cook it, just let it get to room temp. What is your experience with this?

 

[goofyredraider]

If your local Target is now selling fresh groceries, check-out their Archer Farms Hams...all the quality for not too much $$...

I'm glad to hear that, because that's what I have picked up for Christmas dinner. It was about $22 for an 11 lb ham, and to boot, I used bonus gift cards I earned getting my Disney GCs with the $75 purchase deal last weekend. So free!

 

[mjkacmom]

We always had honeybaked hams for Christmas Eve., and then tried Costco a few years ago. No one could tell the difference, so Costco it is.

 

[CowboyCO]

The OP - be aware that spial sliced hams can easily be overcooked and died out when heating them to temperature in an oven. Because they are sliced, the juices will run out of the ham, often leaving it dry.

Personally, I buy just a regular bone-in smoked ham, glaze it at the end and slice it at the table after it rests for 20-30 minutes. It takes longer, but it is so much more juicy. My MIL swears by the spiral-sliced. It's a matter of personal taste.

 

[labdogs42]

I picked up an Archer Farms one from target this week (good sale!). I'll report back on it after Christmas! I have gotten Honeybaked in the past, but they are just so darn expensive. I have a feeling no one will know the difference in my house.

 

[luvmy3]

The OP - be aware that spial sliced hams can easily be overcooked and died out when heating them to temperature in an oven. Because they are sliced, the juices will run out of the ham, often leaving it dry.

Personally, I buy just a regular bone-in smoked ham, glaze it at the end and slice it at the table after it rests for 20-30 minutes. It takes longer, but it is so much more juicy. My MIL swears by the spiral-sliced. It's a matter of personal taste.

You can wrap the spiral ham in foil or even use an oven bag so that it stays moist.

 

[rcraw45425]

I always wash my ham before cooking, it's something my mother in law started me doing, it removes a lot of the saltiness. Then I score it (not necessary with this spiral I have) and rub it down with the Boars Head glaze. 15 minutes per pound at 325, then take out and re glaze, back in the oven for like another 10-15 minutes and voila! I was unable to get the Boars Head glaze one time and simply did the old brown sugar and pineapple juice concoction, my family complained!!

 

[Sweettears]

As a life long ham lover I'll jump in with my own two cents. To the OP my response is yes there absolutley is a difference. The only "store bought" ham I'll eat is Hillshire Farms. The others are way to salty (not in a country ham way) and are injected with water, salt and who knows what.

The best hams come from some of the on-line providers IMO. Smithfield, Broadbent etc...

brands like Cooks et al are a last resort if I need a ham fixin and thats all thats available. I agree with the PP that unsliced bone in is the only way to go. The rest are too dry.