This is how dumb I can be! White ham?

[glued2it]

I posted this comment on Gypc's thread "smoking Fresh ham Qs"
I figured I would share it to everyone. I still laugh at myself till this day!


"copied from my post on gypc's thread"

(I probably shouldn't admit this)
No I was a big a beef eater for along time and didn't know any better.
and expanding to pork....
I wanted to smoke a ham for the first time and went to the butcher.
I told them I wanted a ham for smoking, The best you got. I said.
They asked me if I wanted a fresh ham, Sure! I replied. I thought it was like seafood and fresh meant not frozen. I didn't have time to wait on it to thaw.

So the butcher brings this enormous 22lb packed fresh ham.

I didn't even know if was going to fit in smoker! ( I had to trim it after all)
I figured "ham" was a certain cut and that's why is was pink.
well after a long smoke and the temp was right I brought the ham inside after letting it rest, I cut into monster chunk of pig and it was white.
&%$@ I just cooked 22lb pork chop! Non the less it was good and there was allot of it. I fed all my neighbors
So I did some research and discovered to get a true ham you have to cure it.

Okay everyone can stop laughing now!

Since that learning experience, I cure and smoke my own hams now. They keep getting better and better. Getting quite proficient at it too.
They are the best hams I have ever had!
Got one for T-DAY!

 

[gramason]

You have to learn somehow, at least it was good. I have never smoked a fresh ham, but look forward to trying one.

 

[richtee]

That undoubtedly broke a record for a pork chop tho :{)

You da MAN, Glue!

 

[bigarm's smokin]

I tell you what my friend, if you can show your error, admit it, and laugh at yourself, you got it made.

Now for my question, I have never cured a ham, I've smoked fresh ham, and like you, I didn't know that it wasn't, "HAM", till I tasted it. It was still great. So, is it worth the trouble to cure a fresh ham, VRS buying a ham in the store? Does it taste that much better?

 

[glued2it]

I LOVE EM!
It's not alot trouble it's actually quite easy! The only thing is the wait.
The wait don't really bother me though, I usually have plenty of things to smoke in the mean time.
you just pump it, brine it and smoke it!

 

[deejaydebi]

Cute storey Glued! Believe it or not my son did the same thing but with a pork shoulder.

 

[pigcicles]

That's funny.. 22lb pork chop. Bet it was still pretty good though. Thanks for sharing. We all do stuff like that from time to time.

 

[glued2it]

Yea it wasn't a total loss!

 

[coleysmokinbbq]

One thing ya gotta admit though...Even our MISTAKES taste mighty good!!...

So...In that case...Is a mistake, really a MISTAKE??...