Honey Ham

[SmokinEdge]

My wife really likes honey and sweeter ham (me not so much) she is on a ham McMuffin kick lately for breakfast and has requested I figure out how to make “honey flavored ham”. Well, when my war department sends in a request I can never ignore that, she must be obeyed.

So here is my first attempt after mixing up some different brines in small scale to get flavor profile right, at least for her.

I will use the 10% injection method, bag it and wait 10-14 days for cure and flavor development then smoke and slice it up. I’m using a small 3# fresh picnic ham for the test run.

Here is the recipe for my recipe for injecting a 3# ham.

Water) 136g
Salt) 17g (1.25%)
Phosphate) 5.4g (.4%)
Cure #1) 3.4g (.25%)
Honey) 51g (3x the salt amount)
White sugar) 6.8g (.5% )
NaE) .7g (.05%)

The test brines I made tasted good here (was without cure #1 but salt was allowed for it) not sure what the final product will be but I’ll let you know if it actually works in terms of honey flavor.

 

[indaswamp]

They sell dehydrated honey in crystalized form...I would think that would give a very pronounced flavor if used in a rub....

 

[JLinza]

Can't wait to hear how it turns out, though I'm sure it will be quite good

 

[JIMSMOKES]

What is NaE?

 

[indaswamp]

What is NaE?

NaE is Sodium Erythorbate

 

[SmokinEdge]

We are on our way.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I boned the picnic and netted it.

 

[forktender]

They sell dehydrated "home", home = (Honey) in crystalized form...I would think that would give a very pronounced flavor if used in a rub....

It took me a few seconds to figure this out. LOL
I use crystallized honey a lot, you have to be careful buying it off Amazon, a lot of it is fake, it's dried sugar. Buy one that has good reviews.

I love honey baked ham from the "Honey Baked" store. I use this copycat recipe.

Never trust a skinny Chef!!!

Copycat Honey Baked Ham Recipe (holiday recipe) - The Chunky Chef

Save yourself some money during the holidays by making your own Honey Baked Ham recipe at home! Juicy ham with a sugary crust that's to die for!

www.thechunkychef.com

 

[Gonna Smoke]

I'm along for the ride on this one, Eric...

 

[Brokenhandle]

I'll tag along also!

Ryan

 

[SmokinEdge]

Yesterday was smoke/cook day.

Today is slice day.

This recipe is good to go as I originally posted. It’s a mild ham that is subtle in sweetness (as honey is) but the honey shines through flavor wise. To me this is a slightly sweet forward ham and really delicious. The wife thinks it could be sweeter but she is happy as is. The honey is good where it is at 3x the salt, more sugar would be sweeter obviously if you want that. All in all this is a keeper ham injection and hopefully some of you interested will give it a try for yourself. The ham itself is as tasty of a honey ham as I’ve ever eaten deli or otherwise, a glaze would amp this up for a dinner fork and knife ham.

 

[JLinza]

That looks great, ill bet it was delicious

 

[indaswamp]

Awesome looking ham!

 

[texomakid]

That looks delicious!!! That shot in the smoker reminds me of the hams they smoked in the meat market I worked in back in the mid 80's. Very nice.

 

[SherryT]

Honey ham is not usually my 1st ham choice (love a sweet, caramelized glaze on occasion, but not sweetness throughout the meat), but I'd SO eat that!!!

 

[Gonna Smoke]

All in all this is a keeper ham injection and hopefully some of you interested will give it a try for yourself.

I'm on it...

 

[Fueling Around]

Looks good Eric.
My meat choice would be tenderloin as the slices are sandwich sized.

They sell dehydrated honey in crystalized form...I would think that would give a very pronounced flavor if used in a rub....

Granulated (crystallized) honey is not dehydrated but lower moisture. Either still needs to be liquefied to mix in the injection or a rub

 

[JIMSMOKES]

I'm on it...

I'm right behind ya.

 

[Jim_C]

Great looking ham. I'll bet it beats the heck out of anything in the store. I'll need to look up the crystalized honey.