Cheap & Easy Flavor: Smoked Ham Bone (2024)

Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

published Oct 31, 2012

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Cheap & Easy Flavor: Smoked Ham Bone (1)

It’s a zombie invasion! Oh wait, no…just a ham bone. Phew. While this may not be the prettiest of ingredients, it is an inexpensive way to round out a pot of soup and add an enormous boost of rich flavor while you’re at it. Skip the zombies, keep the meat. Ham bones are just the thing for a cozy winter meal.

An average ham bone will weigh a few pounds and run you $4 or less. I most often see them smoked, like ham hocks or turkey legs, but you’ll sometimes find them fresh. Personally, I love the subtle woodsmoke flavor that a smoked ham bone gives a dish and will seek it out whenever possible.

Depending on exactly where it’s been cut, the ham bone usually consists of one or two long leg bones with a few smaller bones at the joints. There’s quite a bit of meat on those bones! I usually get between 1 1/2 cups and 2 cups off one ham bone, plus the bone itself gives the soup a silky, rich consistency.

You may have to do a bit of searching before you find them at your grocery store. Sometimes they’re in the butcher’s case, other times they’re wedged onto a far shelf of the refrigerated section. They’re not a super-fancy item only found at gourmet grocery stores—I buy mine at the local Safeway. If you can’t find them, just ask.

Both fresh and smoked ham bones need to be cooked thoroughly before eating and do best when simmered slowly for hours in a pot of soup. Just settle the entire whole ham bone into the middle of the pot and let it cook. Once the meat becomes so tender that it falls off the bone, scoop out the big pieces, shred them, and return them to the pot. (Also, discard the bones!)

If you can’t find ham bones, look for ham hocks. These tend to have less meat than the ham bones, but work just as well for adding flavor and richness. Smoked turkey legs are another good, low-cost substitute.

Do you ever cook with ham bones? What are your favorite recipes?

Related: Ham or Vegetarian? Two Ways to Make Split Pea Soup

Cheap & Easy Flavor: Smoked Ham Bone (2024)

FAQs

Can you buy a ham bone at the grocery store? ›

Where to Buy a Ham Hock. You can buy them fresh, but hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked — that's what gives them that delicious, bacon-y flavor. In general, ham hocks are not hard to find. They're available in most grocery stores and butcher shops.

Does a bone in smoked ham need to be cooked? ›

Hams are either ready-to-eat or not. Ready-to-eat hams include prosciutto and cooked hams; they can be eaten right out of the package. Fresh hams and hams that are only treated to destroy trichinae (which may include heating, freezing or curing in the processing plant) must be cooked by the consumer before eating.

What makes ham taste better? ›

Peach preserves, hot pepper jelly, and maple syrup work as sweet bases for glazes that add sheen as well as distinct flavor. Tasty additions such as aromatics, herbs, and spices switch up a traditional ham and make it truly memorable.

What can I use instead of a ham bone? ›

Ham Bone Substitutes
  • Smoked ham shanks or ham hocks are a great alternative and also add tremendous flavor. ...
  • Salted pork and/or a few strips of uncooked smoked bacon can also be substituted. ...
  • If you're unable to use a ham bone or any of the substitutes: Use 8 cups of chicken broth instead of 4.
Dec 22, 2021

Can you buy a ham bone from honeybaked ham? ›

you can go get lunch at Honey Baked Ham, and they don't throw away the bones, they sell them.

How do you heat up a smoked bone-in ham? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Can you eat the marrow out of a ham bone? ›

It can be eaten straight out of the bone, spread on bread, or even used on tacos.

Can you eat a smoked ham without baking it? ›

Both whole or half, cooked, vacuum-packaged hams packaged in federally inspected plants and canned hams can be eaten cold, right out of the package.

What happens if you score a ham too deep? ›

Scoring Your ham Too Deep

Scoring will help the glaze seep into the ham allowing for maximum flavor. If you end up scoring too deep into the ham you run the risk of drying it out while cooking. Instead: Make sure to only score into the ham 1/4 of an inch.

Can I glaze my ham the night before? ›

Yes, you can glaze and bake ham the day before it's meant to be served. The glaze can be made up to a week in advance. Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can remove the rind and score the ham up to three days before using it.

When to glaze a ham? ›

The glaze should not be applied until the final hour to 30 minutes, in order to avoid burning the sugars. What you're going to do with the glaze ingredients is just combine most of them into a paste, and then apply it to the ham. After that, the heat in your oven will take care of everything.

How do you add flavor to bland ham? ›

You can rub it with brown sugar and put it in a hot oven. You can inject with a solution of water, salt, maple syrup and white pepper before you cook it. You can slice it and fry it in butter.

What is the tastiest ham in the world? ›

Joselito | Declared the best ham in the world | Iberian acorn-fed ham. SINCE 1868 With more than 150 years of experience, Joselito holds the secrets of an ancestral tradition.

What type of ham has the best flavor? ›

Bone-in ham

The bone provides the meat with better flavor and texture. As a bonus, the leftover bone is great for making soups and stews, like this Old-Fashioned Split Pea Soup. Bone-in hams are sold as half hams. When you opt for bone-in ham, you'll also need to consider the part of the ham you buy.

Is a ham hock the same as a ham bone? ›

A ham bone and ham hock are two different parts of the pig. Ham bones typically come from the leg, while ham hocks come from the shank or bottom part of the leg, close to the ankle. Ham hocks are typically sold cured and smoked, so they provide more flavor than ham bones.

Does Kroger have bone-in ham? ›

Smithfield Whole Bone-In Ham (Limit 2 at Sale Retail), 1 Lb - Kroger.

Do all hams have a bone? ›

Ham comes from the back legs and rump of a pig. A whole ham is a large piece of meat weighing about 18 to 20 pounds, so most grocery stores sell them in sections. Ham sells both boneless and bone-in. (Remember to keep the hambone to flavor soups, stews, and greens.)

Is a bone-in ham the same as a spiral ham? ›

What Is a Spiral Ham? A spiral ham is, in a nutshell, a bone-in ham that's been sliced with a special spiral-slicing machine, which carves the meat into perfectly thin slices while allowing it to retain its show-stopping centerpiece shape for optimal presentation.

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