These often require soaking in water to remove excess salt before they are slowly baked or fried. 3. "Raw" Ready-to-Eat Hams
Yes, you can buy raw ham, though what "raw" means depends entirely on whether you are looking for a completely unprocessed cut of meat or a cured product that hasn't been heated yet. In the culinary world, "raw" usually falls into two categories: and Uncooked Cured Ham . 1. Fresh Ham (Uncured & Unsmoked) can you buy raw ham
A fresh ham is simply a raw, unprocessed hind leg of a pig. It has not been brined, salted, or smoked. These often require soaking in water to remove
These hams are preserved using a dry-rub curing process but have not been heated or smoked to the point of being "ready-to-eat". The most famous example in the U.S. is Country Ham , which is dry-cured with salt and aged for months. In the culinary world, "raw" usually falls into
The USDA guidelines require labels to state if a ham is "ready-to-eat" or "needs cooking".
Cooking a fresh ham takes significantly longer than reheating a pre-cooked "City Ham". Storage: Keep raw, fresh ham refrigerated at 40°F ( ) or below and use it within 3–5 days of purchase. Uncooked Country Ham | Buy Now | Burgers' Smokehouse
Brands like Burgers' Smokehouse sell these hams "raw" or "uncooked".