[MissButtercup]

As the title suggests this year I'll be preparing my first Christmas ham but I have a few questions I hope you can help with;

1. I would like to buy a boneless ham, how does this vary from a whole leg! What's the best piece of ham to buy?

2. What's your favourite glaze? I am thinking that I might try something with my new favourite juice, Charlie's Peach & Passionfruit lemonade, do you think this would be ok to substitute for the traditional orange juice? Would it work and what would you put with it?

3. How do you prepare your ham?

ETA - 4. Can I freeze a ham between now and Christmas? Going in for a c/s this week so need to be organised.

TIA

This post has been edited by MissButtercup: 16/12/2012, 02:12 PM

[Swahili]

I usually just get a free range half leg of ham from the local butcher. Not sure about boneless ham, sorry! Will be watching this thread as I am doing a glazed ham for the first time this year and I haven't yet decided on a glaze- will probably do a honey and mustard one...

[~Supernova~]

Honey and mustard (with accompanying herbs and spices) is always a winner. I don't think I would personally mix peach or passion fruit flavour with ham...but you never know, it might be awesome!

I'd also buy it on the bone. Any reason you want boneless?

You absolutely can freeze ham, but I prefer not to.

Not much help am I?

[FiveAus]

One thing I found with freezing ham is that it very quickly takes on a "freezer" taste. I've used the frozen ham in cooking, but I don't like it just to eat because of the funny freezer taste. I don't know how to avoid it either.

[CrazySingleMum]

I order one from the butcher and pick it up a few days before Christmas. I've never done anything to it.

Wouldn't freeze it, and the boneless ones aren't as good (IMO).

[Jenflea]

I saw Coles had ready made pouches of glaze for ham a few weeks ago. Orange and balsamic vinegar I think. Maybe around the $3 mark. Buy one and do it that way Glaze ready in the fridge to go on the day, ham to be picked up by someone else!

Actually, if you;'re going in for C/S, why are you doing Christmas lunch? Won't you need a bit of recovery time and to NOT be lifting heavy pans of ham etc?

[wilding]

I saw Coles had ready made pouches of glaze for ham a few weeks ago. Orange and balsamic vinegar I think. Maybe around the $3 mark. Buy one and do it that way Glaze ready in the fridge to go on the day, ham to be picked up by someone else!

That's what I used last year and found it tasty. I brought another one for this years ham.

[asdf89]

If you wanted to use fruit juice, my mother did a ham with apricot nectar last year... similar to this one http://www.porkbeinspired.com/RecipeDetail...glazed_Ham.aspx

but she didn't add ground cloves to the glaze, but use whole cloves to decorate the ham (like this http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2012/10/b...506a75dfbd.JPG)

very tasty!

ETA: if you purchase your ham now if should keep in the fridge:

'To store ham on the bone, wrap loosely in a clean tea towel or pillowcase which has been rinsed in water and wrung out tightly. Change the tea towel every day and the ham will keep well. Store ham in refrigerator; the air must be able to circulate around the ham, so do not have a tight covering. Do not store ham in its original packaging.'

There are a few more hints on storage and prep here: http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/food/cookingtips/775617/ham-hints

This post has been edited by asdf89: 16/12/2012, 04:17 PM

[~Supernova~]

One thing I found with freezing ham is that it very quickly takes on a "freezer" taste. I've used the frozen ham in cooking, but I don't like it just to eat because of the funny freezer taste. I don't know how to avoid it either.

This is the issue I have. For Christmas day, all my family "contribute to lunch. My sister wants to bring her frozen ham from Chrisco, but I said I would rather buy a fresh one at my own expense. It just never tastes nice.

[MissButtercup]

Jenflea - parents are coming for dinner but we're off to friends for lunch so i will only be doing a platter. I am going to take some of the ham on the platter for lunch and the rest will be for dinner. DH will be helping out tho (or he better be ) parents will be traveling 3hrs on the day so won't be too much help I wouldn't think.

So it sounds soo far that freezing is out but glad to hear the ham should last in the fridge anyway until Christmas.

I thought boneless just for easy of carving and to save room in the fridge... Better just to go a leg?

This post has been edited by MissButtercup: 16/12/2012, 05:17 PM