Family and Consumer Sciences
Country ham is a regional delicacy that many of us enjoy but may not know how to properly prepare. Here are some tips and tricks to make country ham the star of your holiday dinner.
Country hams may contain mold, which is a result of the curing process. Mold is normal, but it could produce mycotoxins which could cause a food-borne illness. Remove mold by washing the ham with hot water and scrubbing it with a stiff vegetable brush.
Soak the ham for 4 to 12 hours in the refrigerator.
Cover with water and boil the ham for 20 to 25 minutes per pound.
Drain and glaze your ham to taste.
Brown the ham in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Store cooked country ham in the refrigerator for 7 days or freeze it for up to a month.
For more specific directions and safety precautions, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ham and Food Safety webpage at http://bit.ly/2fkcCRv or contact the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office at 549-1430; visit the office located at 4275 N. Highway 25W in Goldbug; or email DL_CES_WHITLEY@EMAIL.UKY.EDU.
