Low Sodium Uncured Ham Recipes

HAM WITH LESS SALT

Steps:

• Take the wrapper off of the ham.
• Place the ham, cut side down, in a large pan or stew pot, large enough so that the ham doesn't stick out of the pot too much.
• Fill the pan with cold water so that 3/4 of the ham is under the water.
• Place the pot in the refrigerator.
• After 12 hours take the ham out of the refrigerator and drain all of the water out. Follow steps 2 to 4 again.
• After the second 12 hours (making it a total of 24 hours), take the pan out of the refrigerator and drain the water.
• Remove the ham from the pan, rinse it, and put it in the pan or crock pot in which you are going to cook it.
• Cook it any way you want to.
• I usualy put mine in the crock pot and let it cook until it is done.
• With a spiral cut ham, it only needs a couple of hours in the crockpot for it to get hot.

NO MORE SALTY EASTER HAM

Steps:

• Trim any visible fat from the surface of the ham and place cut side down in a roasting pan. Pour enough milk over the ham so that it ends up about 1/4 inch deep in the bottom of the roasting pan. Use your hands to pack the ham in a generous coating of brown sugar. Cover the brown sugar with a layer of crushed pineapple, packed on in the same manner. It is okay to have a few bare spots but try not to. Cover the ham with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• When the oven is hot, place the ham, still covered in foil, into the oven. Roast for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and baste with any juices that have accumulated in the bottom of the pan. Continue roasting for 30 more minutes, or until ham is heated through.

HOME-CURED HOLIDAY HAM

Steps:

• Place kosher salt, brown sugar, pickling spice, and pink salt in a container large enough to hold the brine and the ham.
• Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil and pour over the brine ingredients; whisk to dissolve. Pour in 1 gallon fresh cold water to cool down the mixture.
• Score the skin side of the pork roast with a sharp knife. Cut into the fat beneath the skin but not into the meat. Score about 1 inch apart, then score in the opposite direction to get the classic diamond-shaped pattern.
• Lower scored roast into the cooled brine, skin side up. Use a plate to weigh down the roast so that it cures fully submerged in the liquid. Refrigerate for 1 day for every 2 pounds of pork (for a 7 pound roast, cure for at least 2 1/2 days). Turn the roast over halfway through the brining process.
• Remove roast from brining liquid. Discard the brining liquid and transfer the roast back to the brining container. Cover the roast with fresh cold water to rinse off some of the salt. Depending on how salty you want your ham, you can soak it for just a few minutes or overnight. Remove roast from the water and blot dry with paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Add a cup of water to a roasting pan with 2 whole star anise. Place roast on a rack in the roasting pan.
• Roast until ham reaches an internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees F, about 2 hours. Ham will not be fully cooked at this point. If water has nearly evaporated, add a splash more. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Continue to roast until skin is browned and crispy and ham reaches an internal temperature of 145 to 150 degrees F.
• To make the optional glaze, mix the mustard, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and salt together in a bowl. Brush glaze on the ham at this point, not before. Return roast to oven for about 5 minutes to crisp it even further.