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How to Choose the Best Ham for Your Family

Whether you're preparing a Christmas lunch, a Sunday roast, or a special family gathering, choosing the best ham for your family can make all the difference. With so many options—smoked, glazed, bone-in, boneless, honey-cured, wood-smoked—it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news? Once you understand the different cuts, flavours, curing styles, and serving sizes, choosing the perfect ham becomes simple. Here's everything you need to know to pick the best, juiciest, most flavourful ham for your next celebration. Key Takeaways Bone-in hams offer richer flavour and stay juicier during cooking Boneless hams are easier to slice and perfect for sandwiches Allow 250–300g per person for bone-in, 200–250g for boneless Proper storage in a ham bag keeps your ham fresh for 7–10 days Choose your glaze based on whether your family prefers sweet or savoury flavours Choose Between Bone-In vs Boneless Ham The first decision you'll make is whether to buy bone-in or boneless ham. Each has distinct advantages depending on how you plan to serve it. Bone-In Ham Best for flavour lovers. Bone-in ham delivers rich, traditional flavour and stays juicy during cooking. Benefits: Rich, traditional flavour Stays juicy during cooking Perfect for roasting or glazing Makes a great leftover bone for soups Best for: Christmas feasts, large families, roasting 💡 Key Insight: The bone helps conduct heat evenly through the meat and adds depth of flavour during cooking. Save the bone after carving to make stock or split pea soup. Boneless Ham Best for convenience. Boneless ham is easy to slice and ideal for everyday meals. Benefits: Easy to slice uniformly Cooks more quickly Great for sandwiches and platters No carving skills needed Best for: Smaller families, sandwiches, light entertaining Understand the Types of Ham Knowing the curing and smoking style helps you choose the right taste and texture for your family's preferences. Smoked Ham Smoked ham offers deep, savoury, traditional flavour. It's smoked with wood or natural smoke and ideal for roasting, glazing, or serving cold. This is the classic choice for holiday tables and pairs beautifully with both sweet and savoury glazes. Honey-Cured Ham Honey-cured ham is sweet, delicate and family friendly. It's great for glazing with extra honey or brown sugar and perfect for kids and sweeter palates. If your family enjoys milder, sweeter flavours, this is your best option. Double-Smoked Ham Double-smoked ham delivers bold flavour with amazing crisp edges when baked. It's great for those who like a stronger, more pronounced smoky taste. Natural/Uncured Ham Natural or uncured ham is less salty with a milder flavour. It still needs cooking unless the label says "ready to eat." This option works well if you're looking for a cleaner ingredient list or want to control the seasoning yourself. Decide Whether You Want Ready-to-Eat or Cook-Yourself Ham Your choice here depends on your cooking confidence and available time. Ready-to-Eat Ham Ready-to-eat hams are already fully cooked. You just heat and glaze them, making them easy for busy families and foolproof for holiday hosting. Most hams sold in Australia during the holiday season are ready-to-eat, which saves significant time and stress. Cook-Yourself Ham (Green Ham) Cook-yourself ham is raw and needs full cooking. It allows complete flavour control and is great for experienced home cooks who want to customise the cure and seasoning. 💡 Key Insight: Always check the label. If your ham is not labelled "ready to eat" or "fully cooked," it must be cooked to an internal temperature of 71°C before serving. Pick the Right Size for Your Family Use this quick guide to avoid buying too much—or running out during your celebration. Ham Type Serving Size Best For Bone-In Ham 1 kg serves 2–3 people Large gatherings, roasting Bone-In Ham (4–5 kg) Small family (8–12 people) Christmas lunch Bone-In Ham (6–8 kg) Large gatherings (15–20 people) Big celebrations Boneless Ham 1 kg serves 3–4 people Sandwiches, platters Boneless Ham (2 kg) Small family (6–8 people) Everyday meals Boneless Ham (3–4 kg) Medium group (10–15 people) Parties, buffets Tip: Always allow a little extra for leftovers. Ham makes excellent sandwiches, omelettes, toasties, salads, and breakfast boards. Check the Quality Before You Buy Quality makes a significant difference in taste and texture. When selecting your ham, look for these signs of freshness and quality: Even pink colour throughout Minimal water content Firm texture (not mushy) Natural fat layer around the outside Australian-sourced if possible Avoid hams that look grey, overly wet, or artificially bright. These are signs of poor quality or excessive processing. If you're buying from a butcher, ask about the curing method, smoking wood used, and whether the ham is locally sourced. Choose the Best Flavour for Your Family Different family members have different tastes. Here's how to match ham flavour to preferences. For Sweet Lovers Honey ham Maple glazed Brown sugar crust Pineapple glazed For Savoury Palates Wood-smoked Double-smoked Mustard-crusted Herb-roasted For Kids Mild honey-cured Boneless ham Lightly smoked Consider offering a glaze on the side so guests can customise their serving according to their taste. Think About How You Will Serve It Your serving style should guide your ham selection. Planning a Christmas Feast? Choose a bone-in ham with a beautiful glaze. The presentation matters, and bone-in ham creates an impressive centrepiece. Making Sandwiches for Several Days? Choose a boneless ham for easy slicing. You'll get uniform slices perfect for sandwiches, wraps, and breakfast plates. Serving Cold on Platters? Choose smoked ham, already cooked and chilled. It holds up well on charcuterie boards and buffet displays. Hosting a Big BBQ? Choose a leg ham, great for carving and sharing. The bone makes it easy to hold while carving, and everyone loves carved-to-order servings. Choose a Glaze That Elevates Your Ham Glazes make a big difference in colour, aroma, and taste. The right glaze can transform a good ham into an unforgettable one. Popular Glaze Ideas Brown sugar + honey + mustard Maple syrup + cinnamon Orange juice + cloves Pineapple + ginger Apricot + rosemary Brush your chosen glaze on during the last 30–45 minutes of heating for irresistible caramelisation. Score the fat in a diamond pattern before glazing to help the flavours penetrate. 💡 Key Insight: Don't add glaze too early. Sugar burns easily, so apply it only in the final stage of cooking when the ham is already hot throughout. Storing Your Ham Safely Proper storage is essential to keep your ham fresh and safe to eat throughout the holiday period. Best practices for ham storage: Store ham in a breathable ham bag or clean pillowcase Soak the bag in water + vinegar first Keep refrigerated at 3–5°C Refresh ham bag every 3 days Well-stored ham lasts 7–10 days Never store ham in plastic wrap or airtight containers for extended periods. Ham needs to breathe to prevent moisture buildup and bacterial growth. If you need reliable storage for your holiday preparations, explore options in our refrigeration collection or browse food storage containers designed for safe meat storage. Where to Buy the Best Ham Quality starts with where you buy. Look for these trusted sources: Local butchers Australian pork producers Farmers markets Stores with award-winning hams Buying good-quality ham supports local farmers and gives you better flavour and texture. Don't be afraid to ask questions about sourcing, curing methods, and recommendations. Many butchers will also offer custom glazing and preparation services if you want a ready-to-serve option. Making the Most of Your Ham Purchase Once you've selected the perfect ham, proper preparation ensures the best results. If you're heating and glazing your ham, you'll need the right equipment. A quality roasting pan is essential for even cooking. Browse our cookware collection for professional-grade roasting equipment. Temperature monitoring is critical for food safety and quality. Check out thermometers and timers to ensure your ham reaches the proper internal temperature. For carving, a sharp knife makes all the difference. Explore our cooks knives for precision slicing. Leftover Ham Ideas A quality ham provides meals for days. Here are popular ways to use leftover ham: Classic ham and cheese toasties Ham and pea soup using the bone Diced ham in omelettes or frittatas Ham and pineapple pizza Chopped ham in pasta carbonara Ham salad sandwiches Ham and vegetable fried rice Proper portioning and storage of leftovers extends the value of your purchase. Use gastronorm pans for organised refrigerator storage of sliced ham. Key Takeaways Choose bone-in for traditional flavour and presentation, boneless for convenience Match the ham type (smoked, honey-cured, natural) to your family's taste preferences Calculate 250–300g per person for bone-in, 200–250g for boneless Check for even pink colour, firm texture, and minimal water content Store in a breathable ham bag at 3–5°C for up to 10 days Apply glaze only in the final 30–45 minutes of cooking Frequently Asked Questions What's the best ham for Christmas? Bone-in smoked ham is the traditional choice. It has the best flavour and caramelises beautifully when glazed, creating an impressive centrepiece for your holiday table. What size ham do I need for 10 people? Aim for a 4–5 kg bone-in ham or 3 kg boneless ham. This allows approximately 300–400g per person including bone weight, with some left over. Is boneless ham real ham? Yes, boneless ham is real ham. It's simply deboned for easier slicing and storage. The meat quality is identical to bone-in ham from the same producer. What glaze works best? Brown sugar, honey, and mustard is the classic combination that pleases most palates. It balances sweetness with slight tang and creates excellent caramelisation. Can I freeze ham? Yes, you can freeze ham. Freeze slices in airtight packaging for up to 2–3 months. Vacuum sealing works best to prevent freezer burn. How do I know if my ham is fully cooked? Check the label. Most hams sold in Australia are labelled "ready to eat" or "fully cooked." These only need reheating. Raw hams must reach 71°C internal temperature. Should I remove the rind before glazing? Yes, remove most of the rind but leave a thin layer of fat. Score the fat in a diamond pattern before applying glaze to help flavours penetrate. Conclusion: The Best Ham Is the One That Fits Your Family Choosing the best ham for your family comes down to understanding your options and matching them to your specific needs. To choose the perfect ham: Pick your style (bone-in vs boneless) Choose flavour (smoked, honey, natural) Decide on serving style (hot, cold, glazed, sliced) Buy the right size Make sure it fits your family's tastes With the right ham and proper preparation, your holiday table or family gathering will be unforgettable. Whether you're a home cook preparing a special meal or a hospitality professional planning a commercial event, having the right equipment makes all the difference. Visit Hospitality Connect for everything you need to prepare, cook, serve, and store your perfect ham.