The Best Mail Order Hams In 2023
Perfect for holiday season feasts, everyday dinners, and snacks, ham has been a popular U.S. staple for centuries, as per Hobe's Country Ham. The country's long ham tradition had its beginnings in 1525 when a Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto brought 13 pigs to America (via Heritage Foods). By the time the 17th century rolled around, most farmers around the country were breeding hogs for pork.
Today, ham remains as popular as ever. According to a poll conducted by YouGov in 2020, 62% of Americans make ham a part of their Christmas feast. Aside from special occasions, ham is also consumed by many American families on a daily basis, with the humble ham sandwich taking the title of one of the country's favorite sandwiches (via YouGov).
So what's so special about ham? Aside from its numerous variations, ham is also ultra versatile. The meat can be served as a main course with side dishes, such as baked potatoes or roasted veggies, sliced and served as a snack, or chopped and added to dishes like pasta or quiche. Best of all, mail order hams arrive on your doorstep pre-cooked so you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen before digging into their delicious goodness.
How we selected products
While the job is easy once you receive your pre-cooked ham — you simply slice it cold or heat it and serve — selecting the right ham can be an entirely different story. With so many producers around the country and what seems like an endless variety of ham options, choosing your next dinner table centerpiece can be overwhelming. To aid you in your quest, we spent hours researching different ham producers and top ham options in various categories.
To bring you a roundup of the top hams of 2023, we looked at a number of different factors, including each producer's reputation. We also took into account community reviews since we all know that the proof is in the pudding — or in this case, the carving.
Ready to sink your teeth into some mouth-watering pork? From bone-in ham to spiral-cut ham, here's our list of the best mail order hams in 2023.
Best overall mail order ham
Delivered fresh or frozen, the D'Artagnan Berkshire pork boneless smoked ham comes from Berkshire pigs. Sometimes also called Kurobuta pork, Berkshire pork is known for its reddish meat, distinctive marbling, and rich and juicy flavor. Aside from its delicious ham, what makes D'Artagnan stand out from the pack is the fact that it only sources pork from farmers who raise their pigs humanely on pastures without any antibiotics or hormones.
The D'Artagnan Berkshire pork boneless smoked ham is uncured, which means that it's more natural and true to its original flavor (via Robust Kitchen). Nevertheless, since it's been smoked over applewood, the ham is ready to eat straight out of the packaging. Unlike some cured ham that's treated with a variety of preservatives, D'Artagnan smoked ham doesn't contain any nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, or artificial fillers. Weighing between five and seven pounds, the ham comes flavored with raw cane sugar and sea salt.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the D'Artagnan Berkshire pork boneless smoked ham from the brand's website starting at $65.99.
Best budget mail order ham
At just $29.99 for 2.5 pounds, the Omaha Steaks Duroc boneless country ham makes an affordable addition to any feast. The boneless ham comes from Duroc hogs, well known for their dark red coloring, high-fat content, uniform marbling, and juicy meat, as per the Northern Nester. During preparation, each whole-muscle Omaha Steaks ham is "cured to perfection with water, salt, and sugar." Next, the ham is hickory smoked for up to eight hours, resulting in a savory, slightly smoky flavor and a tender texture. The Omaha Steaks Duroc boneless country ham is fully cooked and ready to eat after thawing.
The Omaha Steaks Duroc boneless country ham has received an overwhelmingly positive response from shoppers, garnering 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Omaha Steaks website. One satisfied reviewer has even said that it's the best ham they have ever tried, adding, "Love it and have been making repeated purchases."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Omaha Steaks Duroc boneless country ham from the brand's website starting at $29.99.
Best mail order ham for a splurge
One of Spain's most delicious exports, Ibérico jamón, or Ibérico ham, is classified according to the percentage of Iberian pig in the breed and what it has been fed. Pigs that are 100% Iberian are called pata negra, which translates to black hoof. One of the best hams in the world, jamón Ibérico de bellota, comes from acorn-fed pata negra that have been raised on pastures rather than in feeding lots (via Jamon.com). The natural acorn-based diet of such pigs results in pork with a low cholesterol count and a high level of unsaturated fat, as per the Iberico Club.
The Jamonprive Iberico acorn-fed bellota from Spain is jamón Ibérico de bellota, which explains its steep price tag. When it comes to ham, things just don't get any better than this. The bone-in shoulder ham is slow-cured for between 16 and 24 months with Mediterranean Sea salt and no artificial ingredients. The delectable ham is characterized by a delicate flavor and a tender texture. Please note that while the ham comes with a ham stand, it doesn't come with the hoof depicted in the advertising due to U.S. regulations.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Jamonprive Iberico acorn-fed bellota from Spain from the brand's website for $349.99.
Best honey-glazed mail order ham
When it comes to ham, a honey glaze is as iconic as icing on a cake. Sweet and mouth-watering, there's nothing quite like covering an already-delicious cut of ham with a honey glaze. Sound appealing? The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint smoked BBQ ham comes with a portion of homemade honey glaze, letting you indulge in the sticky goodness of honey-glazed ham to your heart's content.
Weighting between five and six pounds, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint's smoked BBQ ham is brined in kosher salt, dark brown sugar, and a combination of spices and cloves for 48 hours. The ham is then scored to help the seasoning penetrate the rind and again sprinkled with kosher salt. Lastly, the ham is cooked in pecan wood-burning pits.
Just like its name implies, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint's smoked BBQ ham is the creation from the founders of The Shed, one of the most popular dives among barbecue enthusiasts in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Since opening its doors in 2001, the venue has been serving delicious high-quality, antibiotic-free meat and a range of sauces and marinades.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint Smoked BBQ Ham from Goldbelly for $139.95.
Best Black Forest mail order ham
Dating back to 1959 when it was first created by Hans Alder in the Black Forest region of Germany, Black Forest ham originally involved a long curing period, as per Bar-S. The ham was introduced in the U.S. shortly after by Ferdinand Schaller whose recipe shortened its curing period. Schaller's version of the Black Forest ham is smoked and dipped in sweet molasses.
The Schaller & Weber Black Forest ham can be purchased at the Schaller & Weber New York store or delivered right to your doorstep. And ham connoisseurs around the country seem to be more than happy with the nine-pound product. One satisfied iGourmet shopper said, "I ordered four of these for Christmas gifts and each of the recipients was thrilled. They said the hams were huge and delicious." Another echoed the praise, commenting, "The whole process was easy. Ham arrived packed well and on time. Everyone raved about the ham. Well worth the money."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Schaller & Weber Black Forest ham from iGourmet for $102.99.
Best bone-in mail order ham
Cut from the back leg of a hog, bone-in ham tends to be juicy, rich, and complex in flavor (via Delighted Cooking). The Snake River Farms half bone-in ham is no exception. Made from pure-bred Berkshire, or Kurobuta, pigs raised humanely in the American Midwest, the Snake River Farms half bone-in ham is flavorful and highly marbled. Cured and smoked over hardwood, the meat is dark in color and has a relatively firm texture. The ham is delivered in two different sizes — 5.5 pounds for up to six people and 8 pounds, perfect for serving up to 10 people.
Overall, the Snake River Farms half bone-in ham has received favorable reviews. One customer who purchased the ham through the Snake River Farms website says, "This is a great ham, you can really taste the meat, not like other hams that all you can taste is salt. Very tender and succulent without being fatty. This is the only ham I buy." On the downside, another reviewer has complained about the brand's quality control, saying, "[I] ordered the half bone-in ham for a second time after a delicious first experience. The second ham was dry, stringy, and tough — so disappointed. We were really looking to recreate the first ham, which was delicious."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Snake River Farms half bone-in ham from the brand's website starting at $119.
Best spiral-sliced mail order ham
Bone-in hams both look great and taste delicious, but they are definitely not as easy to carve as their boneless counterparts. This is where a spiral ham can be a game changer. Pre-cooked, spiral hams are machine-cut into even slices. Delighted Cooking explains the intricate process, noting that the ham is placed on a base that's then spun around and lowered near stationary blades, allowing the meat to be cut in a spiral pattern.
This is exactly how the Nueske's spiral sliced bone-in ham with honey glaze is shipped — pre-cooked and pre-sliced for convenient serving. This, however, is far from the ham's only claim to fame. The winner of the Specialty Food Association's Silver Award and the accolade of America's Best from the Ladies Home Journal, the succulent ham exudes hints of smoky Applewood and the sweet aroma of honey.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase Nueske's spiral sliced bone-in ham with honey glaze from the brand's website starting at $84.99.
Best large mail order ham
You're unlikely to run out of ham with the Weaver's of Wellsville whole bone-in ham. Ideal for feeding gatherings or large families, the ham weighs a whopping 20 pounds. According to the Ham Size Calculator, that's enough to feed around 30 people. Double-smoked in a traditional outdoor smoker, the Weaver's of Wellsville ham isn't just massive — it's also bound to delight your dinner guests.
Weaver's of Wellsville dates back to 1889 when Jacob and Lily Weaver started producing bolognas and sausages on their farm in Pennsylvania and eventually selling them at their butcher shop. In the early 1900s, the couple's son Martin took over the business and started offering home delivery in the area. After Martin's sons Ken and Pete took over the Weavers of Wellsville in 1960, the company started supplying local grocers with smoked products. Ken's two sons ended up running the venture in the 1970s, expanding the business to what it is today but still using the recipes handed down by the Weaver family from generation to generation (via Weaver's of Wellsville).
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Weaver's of Wellsville whole bone-in ham from Goldbelly for $169.95.