What kind of pre-cooked hams do home cooks usually buy?
The hams sold in many supermarkets and better butcher shops are half hams that usually have been smoked. They contain a center bone and are sold in two versions: the rump or butt end or the shank end. Popular and good quality brands to look for include Karl Ehmer, Cook’s, Berkshire (their products are all heritage breeds), and Niman Ranch (also heritage breeds). A half ham will weigh about 9 pounds and will easily feed 8. Many home cooks think that a bone-in ham has more flavor than a boneless. It may be trickier to carve, but the taste advantage is usually worth the trouble. There is no consensus on which cut of ham to buy. The butt end is usually leaner meat and has a more rounded top; the shank end may be larger and is usually more pointed or tapered in appearance. Cook’s Illustrated recommends the shank end because it has more meat and less connective tissue around the leg bone. Many butchers recommend the butt end saying it has better flavor and is meatier. You may need to just tr
