What Makes a Great Canned Ham?
With a shelf life of almost a year, canned ham is a worthwhile and convenient item to have in your pantry. Essentially ham that has been cured, de-boned and steam cooked in a can, canned ham can be used to make ham salad, ham casseroles or ham and bean soup. Our chefs define high-quality canned, fully cooked, water added ham as having a rosy, pink color with a visual texture that shows a high ratio of solid pork meat pieces to smooth, pureed filler sections. Canned ham should appear delicious and chewy. The complex aroma character will deliver notes of brine, saltiness, sugar or sweetener, along with the sweet and mild character of the pork meat. There should be no off notes in the aroma or flavor, which may include metal, damp or musky notes. Taste balance is achieved when saltiness is the most pronounced basic taste in canned ham. A moderate sweetness—delivered by both the sweetness of the pork meat and the sugar or sweetener used in the brine—will serve to balance the saltiness. Amo
