We Found the Best Mail Order Hams for Any Celebration

What to Look for in Mail-Order Hams 

Size and Serving

The right amount for your dinner will depend on your guest count. It’s generally better to have leftovers than to not be able to feed your guests, though, so we recommend ordering a little more than you expect to serve.

Flavor

The exact ham you like will probably depend a lot on what you have the most nostalgia around. Do you like the rich sweetness of honey-glazed ham? The enhanced meatiness of smoked ham? Would Italian spices, like rosemary and sage, add to your experience or detract from it?

When it comes to pre-seasoned hams, experts say you should pay attention. "Some more commercial hams on store shelves use corn syrup, potato starch, chemical curing agents and artificial flavoring," says Andrew Hunter, the Executive Chef at Niman Ranch. "Hams that are smoked over real hardwood and featuring a very short list of ingredients you can easily pronounce produce a premium ham you can proudly serve your family."

Leftovers

This will also depend a lot on your preferences. Something like the Harry & David option that comes pre-sliced will be extremely easy to repurpose into sandwiches. However, if it’s spiral cut, it may hold up better in the fridge as it’s waiting to be used in leftovers.

"Leftover ham is one of the best parts of being the host. It’s such a flavor powerhouse and great for fried rice, hearty bean soups, stacked sandwiches and so much more," Hunter says.

What You Need to Cook a Mail-Order Ham

Although many mail-order hams come fully cooked and can be served cold right from thawing in the fridge, you may prefer heating it up before placing it in the middle of your holiday table. Regardless, there are a few items that will help you with reheating and serving, and we've tested one that can do both.

KitchenAid Enameled Cast Iron Au Gratin Oval Roasting Pan

While regular roasting pans work perfectly on hams of all sizes, we tested this one in the kitchen of one of our experienced product testers and found it to be the perfect two-in-one piece. It's a slightly different shape than other roasting pans but is aesthetic and can go from the oven to the table with ease. The handles make it easy to carry (with proper heat protection on the hands) and it comes in multiple colors. We cooked a whole chicken in this roasting pan, but think it would be a great way to cook and serve a ham.

FAQs

What is a spiral ham?

Spiral ham has generally been sliced by a butcher into a spiral shape. It’s become popular for its ease of carving at the gathering table.

How many pounds of ham do you need per person?

If you’re doing a boneless ham, plan on around 0.33 pounds per person. If you’re doing a bone-in ham, go with 0.5 pounds per person.

Can you refreeze ham if it partially thaws in transit?

As long as it’s only partially thawed, the USDA says it’s fine to refreeze ham that’s been partially thawed in transit.

How We Selected

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best mail-order hams on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like size, glaze, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used our own knowledge and first-hand tasting experiences to choose the items listed above.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Writer and professional eater Christine Clark is a nationally recognized food expert and locally recognized eater of good things. She was a vegetarian in college and now refuses to live life without a steady stream of pork products. She has a cheese podcast and is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society.

Allison Wignall, who updated this article, is a writer who focuses on food and travel. She’s always in the kitchen trying to recreate recipes from around the world. Her work has been featured in publications, such as Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.

Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this story with the most up-to-date information.

Sources

• Andrew Hunter, Executive Chef at Niman Ranch