The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Food processing => Topic started by: Sudanpan on May 19, 2012, 02:44:42 pm

Title: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: Sudanpan on May 19, 2012, 02:44:42 pm

Today we took down one of the hams that has been hanging up in the eaves since Aug last year. Have to say it looked MOST unappealing  :(



However - spurred on by the comments of 'Don't panic' and 'if it smells ok and not soft and gooey then it will be ok' we carried on.


We started with tunnel boned hams, and although we wrapped the salted meat in the muslin it did mean that there was quite an big area of unprotected (as in no fat) meat on one side. On unwrapping it is evident that the lean meat area is ROCK hard, so much so that the meat slicer (decent butcher's one) was defeated on that area. We had to pare off the really rock hard stuff to then get to the lovely pinky red stuff  ;D


Thinner slices are ACE  :thumbsup:  they taste really great.


BUT - we did notice some really FOUL smelling and spongy (yuk) meat around the tunnel bone area so have cut all this area away. When we did the original salting last year I did try and get the salt deep into the hole but made the mistake of not actually packing it with salt - this year we will just cram it in and fill up the hole!


Because of the deep cutting out that I did we have ended up with 3 lumps of the ham - I've wrapped them in cling film and put them in the fridge.


We still have one ham hanging in the barn  ;D


We will definitely be repeating the process with a couple of the hams from this years pigs  ;D

Title: Re: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: deepinthewoods on May 19, 2012, 02:47:51 pm

well done, for a first effort that looks superb. yummy

Title: Re: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: The Mobile Butcher on May 20, 2012, 12:45:20 pm

well done for your 1st attempt, looks good to me.
Best off luck with your next batch. if you need any advice please P.M me :wave:

Title: Re: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: suziequeue on May 20, 2012, 07:05:53 pm

Oh my  :o :o :D


Looks fantastic - well done. I am going to try some this year.

Title: Re: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: Eve on May 30, 2012, 06:38:53 pm

Excellent - looks just like it should (which is to say: ours looks the same  ;D ).
One leg lasts us about 2 months in ham sandwiches for 2 people, making it great value for money, and soooo easy to make!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: Bionic on May 30, 2012, 06:41:26 pm

Mmm looks good to me. I might even try to do the same once mine get to slaughter age
Sally

Title: Re: Moment of truth - air-dried ham
Post by: suziequeue on May 30, 2012, 10:21:59 pm

Sme here. definitely going to try it this winter once our pigs go