Where can I find a Cook's ham?
Cook's hams are available at most major supermarkets. If
you are having problems finding quality Cook's hams, ask
the meat department at your favorite store to order you a Cook's ham.
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What is the difference between Cook's® spiral sliced hams and specialty store spiral sliced hams like
HoneyBaked®?
None, they are both bone-in hams, except specialty stores heat
and glaze the ham for you. We prefer to sell our quality products
through your favorite supermarkets where we can pass along considerable
savings to you without sacrificing product quality.
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Can I order a Cook's ham online?
No, we do not offer Cook's Hams online or mail order, but
we do have a strong distribution through many of the major supermarkets
throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. You'll most
likely be able to purchase a Cook's Ham in your local supermarket
meatcase at a better value, without having to pay hefty shipping
and handling charges.
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How many people does an average ham feed?
Refer to serving
sizes chart.
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How do I cook a Cook's ham?
Refer to cooking
instructions.
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How do I carve a Cook's ham?
Refer to carving
instructions.
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Can I microwave a ham?
Current microwave technology does not generally yield results that
are as favorable as conventional cooking methods for larger pieces
of meat. Meats tend to be drier and tougher when microwaved.
Because of their smaller unit size, however, Cook's ham
steaks can be effectively microwaved as a quick, time-saving
alternative.
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I would like to use a ham rack/holder when I serve
my spiral sliced ham. Where can I purchase one?
Sometimes you can find ham racks/holders at local specialty kitchen supply
stores. Otherwise, you can find a ham rack at Fante's Kitchen
Wares Shop www.fantes.com.
Their phone number is 800-443-2683. Please reference item #6889.
Or you can purchase a ham holder from Hubert www.hubert.com.
Their phone number is 800-543-7374. Please reference item #13200.
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If I cook 2 hams in the same pan, do I double
the cooking time?
No, you do not double the cooking time. If you put both hams in
the same pan, just remember to cover the pan with an aluminum foil
tent, which allows air to circulate.
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How long can I keep a Cook's ham in
my refrigerator?
We generally recommend that you keep your unopened ham in the refrigerator
no longer than 7-10 days after purchasing. For longer storage we
recommend freezing the ham.
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Can I freeze my Cook's ham?
Yes. The American Meat Institute recommends that you can freeze
your ham (before opening the packaging) just as you would other
meat for up to 3 months.
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How do I thaw a ham?
It depends on the size of the ham, but in general we recommend
defrosting in your refrigerator for 24-48 hours. The USDA does
not recommend defrosting meat of any kind on the countertop,
which can encourage bacterial growth.
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What's the difference between bone-in and
boneless hams?
Many people think the sole difference between bone-in ham versus
boneless ham is simply that one has bones while the other does
not. However, you will find that bone-in ham and boneless ham vary
in flavor, texture and preparation. Bone-in ham has a superior
taste and texture because the natural muscle, fat and bones are
undisturbed.
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What's the difference between the butt and
shank portion/half ham?
The shank portion or shank half of a bone-in ham tends to be a
bigger piece of meat, easier to carve and the bone is easier to
use when making soups. The butt portion or butt half tends to be
smaller and a leaner piece of meat, but can be more difficult to
carve due to the irregular shape of one of its bones (aitch bone).
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Is there anything I can do to reduce the salty
taste of a ham?
Some people are more sensitive to sodium than others. Sodium is
an essential ingredient in the curing process of making a ham.
If you would like to reduce the salty taste of a ham, here are
a few tricks you can try before you cook your ham. Soak ham in
cold water overnight in the refrigerator; or bake ham for first
1 to 1½ hours, then pour off salty pan drippings. Pour a small
bottle of ginger ale or 7-Up over the ham, and finish baking.
In some areas, we also carry reduced sodium hams, which contain
25% less sodium than our regular product. An orange colored "reduced
sodium" statement on the label easily identifies them in the supermarket
meatcase.
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Is there a difference between a smoked pork
shoulder picnic and a ham? They look the same.
Location. Location. Location. Ham is taken from the back leg of
a pig, and the picnic refers to the front leg or shoulder. Hams
are a leaner cut of meat. Picnics have more internal fat. Many
people use picnics for preparing boiled dinners or find them a
great way to add flavor to other dishes, especially soups and casseroles.
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Do Cook's products contain gluten?
The manufacturing objective for all Cook's branded meat products is that
they be gluten-free. The fresh meat Cook's uses as it's primary raw material is naturally free of
glutens, however, other ingredients are also necessary in the production of all Cook's hams and other
processed meat products. Since these outside ingredients and spices represent a potential source
for the introduction of gluten, Cook's specifies that these ingredients must be gluten-free.
Despite this, Cook's suppliers are able to alter their spice formulations from time to time, without
Cook's prior knowledge, yet still comply with federal USDA labeling requirements. Any change in an
individual ingredient or its source, however, creates the possibility of gluten being unwittingly
introduced. For this reason, Cook's cannot absolutely guarantee the gluten-free status of all our
vendor's supplies and, therefore, cannot guarantee that all Cook's products will be 100% free of
gluten.
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