Since this only happens every once in a while, I’m going to serve up my crowd-pleasing smoked ham recipe. Whenever I make a dish from scratch, I’m sure to give it my flavor signature. Of course, I have to make a little extra because my friends have already asked me for take-out boxes. Today, I’ll share my tips so you can also stand out for your girl-time gathering!
Picking the Right Ham to Smoke
Meat Quality So, how do we buy fresh ham? Well, there are simple signs to look for before making the purchase. I follow these simple points using the nose, eyes, and touch. Bone-in, Semi-Boneless, or Boneless? What’s the difference between the three? Whenever I buy whole meats from the butcher’s or the grocery store, I always have three choices for my ham. These are:
What You Need
Ham – The leading player can be bone-in or boneless, cooked or uncooked. Buttery Glaze – Butter, brown sugar, honey, and Dijon mustard are the perfect combination to coat the delectable ham. Seasonings – Orange juice, pineapple juice, garlic, Creole seasoning, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice kick up the basic glaze to make a spectacular and flavor-packed dinner.
How to Glaze and Smoke Ham
Prepare the Ham Make the Glaze Smoke the Ham
Smoking Methods
Which smoker to use? Lots of smoking methods work for ham. I really don’t think there’s no one specific way to perfectly smoke ham. I like mixing and matching different aromas and flavors to get the best smokey taste. Following are some of my preferred techniques for this recipe:
My Choice: Pellet Smoker
Pros
Craft Your Flavor – It takes a while to smoke meats using this smoker, but it’s totally worth the wait. Flavored woodchips infuse your desired flavor down to the meat’s core. Flavored Wood Chips – Pellets are primarily compressed and flavored wood chips that smoke the ham in a closed chamber. Indirect Heat – This smoker uses indirect heat far enough away from the meat to get an even slow smoking experience.
Cons
The unit is bulky – Who needs another appliance taking up space?
How to use a pellet smoker?
Placing the Meat – Simply place the ham on a rack in the middle of the smoker. That will ensure that your meat cooks evenly without burning on one side. Install the Water Pan – Add half a cup of water to the pan in the smoking chamber so your ham doesn’t dry out. This method also infuses the woodchip flavor into the meat better. (Personally, I think apple, peach, or cherry are great for ham but feel free to mix and match.) Keep in the Heat – Shut the lid to trap that flavorful smoke and heat.
Verdict – This way is by far the easiest to smoke. It automatically feeds pellets into the heater and fans the heat throughout the chamber. No need to get dirty; just check the meat from time to time!👍 I love my Traeger Pellet Smoker because it’s one of the most versatile cookers on the market. Traeger also offers a wide range of woodchip flavors. Yum!
Charcoal Grill
Pros
Compact Unit – The small size is truly convenient. Go Green– Enjoy your favorite smoked dish while in the great outdoors without using electricity. Low Cost – Its low cost, price, and maintenance make it more affordable. Plus, it’s waaay easier to clean!
Cons
Direct Heat – The charcoal is in the same chamber as the ham, so technically, it’s direct heat. That can lead to roasting rather than smoking, which can burn one side of the meat if you don’t keep an eye on it.
A straightforward, compact charcoal grill can also be used for smoking. This smoker is perfect if you don’t have much space in your backyard. However, you’ll be dealing with hot coals, which can also be a little dirty. Charcoal cooks the meat with low but direct heat. You can also use flavored wood for this method to infuse a smoky aroma to the bone! Barbecuing vs. Smoking – Smoking uses slow and indirect heat so that all sides cook perfectly, while BBQs use that wonderful open fire. How your charcoal grill doubles as a smoker
Heat the Charcoals – Place the hot charcoal on one extreme side of the grill. Save those Juices – A tin catch below the grill catches any juices that drip off. Placement – Place the ham on the side of the grill furthest from the coals and put the water pan beside it. Trap the Heat – Shut the lid and start smoking.
Verdict: I like this method because it’s convenient, with no bulky unit in my backyard. 👍🏾 Just add my favorite wood flavor to the charcoal, and I’m ready to go.
Electric Smoker
Pros
Indirect Heat – We won’t be using an open fire for this smoker, just woodchips and some heating rods. Its own Thermometer – It has a built-in thermometer to tell the smoker’s internal temperature.
Cons
Takes Longer – It cooks longer and slower because of the low maximum temperature. Of course, this could be listed as a pro, too. Electric Consumption – Your electric bill may be higher when using this smoker. Tastes Slightly Different – Without the authentic smoke from a burning woodchip, you’ll taste a slight difference. Also, you may taste a bit of manufacturing plastic residue if you don’t preheat the smoker before using it the first time.
Electric smokers use wood chips to create smoke via heating rods. The lack of real fire may also give your ham a different flavor. It’s similar to a bullet smoker with the wood tray substituting the fire chamber. How to use an electric smoker?
Preheat the Smoker – Pre-smoke the unit with the woodchips of your choice. Attach the Water Pan – Place the water pan inside the unit’s lowest space once it reaches the desired temperature. Start Cooking – Place the ham on the racks and close the lid or door.
Verdict – Electric grills may take longer because they cook at lower temperatures.
Serving Suggestions
See, it’s easy to prepare this holiday favorite even if it’s not the holidays. You can make it even better with tasty side dishes for a purely satisfying smoked ham dinner.
Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes Parmesan Crusted Asparagus Easy Dinner Rolls Creamed Spinach
More Delicious Ham Recipes
Stuffed Pork Loin Roast Pernil (Puerto Rican Roast Pork) Smoked Prime Rib Slow Cooker Ham Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Conclusion
Choosing your ideal ham and the smoking method will give you the perfect smoked ham. Oh yeah! Your family and guests will be super impressed. Which smoker do you use? Comment below and share your experience. Thanks:)
