Country ham?

1911gobang

1911gobang

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OK, so I ate some country ham for breakfast this morning, and it smelled a little off. I know that salt cured meat has a very distinctive smell to begin with, and I really didn’t think much else about it. I guess we’ll see in the next few hours. it didn’t have any slimy feel to it and there was no mold on it, and the package was completely sealed and dated for the end of December of this year. Hopefully nothing will come of that.
 
1911gobang said:
OK, so I ate some country ham for breakfast this morning, and it smelled a little off. I know that salt cured meat has a very distinctive smell to begin with, and I really didn’t think much else about it. I guess we’ll see in the next few hours. it didn’t have any slimy feel to it and there was no mold on it, and the package was completely sealed and dated for the end of December of this year. Hopefully nothing will come of that.
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Country ham can smell a little "off", but unless it's also accompanied by other signs like mold, slimey, discoloration, etc., you likely won't have any problems. In all the years I've eaten country ham, I've never had an issue.

Improper storage of country ham can cause a change in flavor/smell as well as improper curing. If the whole country ham is refrigerated, this can cause this.

Certainly, pay attention to any signs of spoilage. If you're in doubt...don't eat it.

HOWEVER...the salt itself can cause issues if you also add freakishly high levels of additional salt to your foods. And I mean a LOT. Simple eating of country ham won't do it. Eating way too much salt can cause salt induced diarrhea.
 
I remember going out to my grandparents utility shed where they had a west water ham hanging year round. For Christmas breakfast, my grandmother would go slice off a few pieces and rinse off the outside piece, fry it all up and make red eye gravy with the drippings and leftover coffee from Christmas Eve extended family get together.
 
My dad got some kinda whole ham for Xmas present from his employer on time. Hams are either fully cooked or they are cured and require very little cooking if any. I dont know what this was but it had gone bad and stunk up the whole house when he tried to cook it (again). Was no doubt that it had gone bad. What a stench.
 
I love country ham but, it is unobtainable here in TX. Even the country ham at our Cracker Barrels is not the same. I bought a bunch on my trip east last June and have it in the freezer. Many years ago mom tried to cook some and it had gone bad. It had an odor that let you know not to eat it.
 
Geezer said:
I love country ham but, it is unobtainable here in TX. Even the country ham at our Cracker Barrels is not the same. I bought a bunch on my trip east last June and have it in the freezer. Many years ago mom tried to cook some and it had gone bad. It had an odor that let you know not to eat it.
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Call west water hams in nc, they will ship.
 
Geezer said:
I love country ham but, it is unobtainable here in TX. Even the country ham at our Cracker Barrels is not the same. I bought a bunch on my trip east last June and have it in the freezer. Many years ago mom tried to cook some and it had gone bad. It had an odor that let you know not to eat it.
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Lots of places ship. And I'm sure there are people on CFF who would be happy to pick something up and have it shipped to you. I drive by places all the time between VA and SC that have country ham hanging in their stores. When I get back from my current engineering job, I'd be happy to have something shipped to you. In fact, I'd toss in some raw peanuts too, just because! There are some places all along Route 58 between Suffolk and Emporia in Virginia.

PM me if you're interested. I'm currently away doing engineering stuff, but I'll be back in those areas next month.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Lots of places ship. And I'm sure there are people on CFF who would be happy to pick something up and have it shipped to you. I drive by places all the time between VA and SC that have country ham hanging in their stores. When I get back from my current engineering job, I'd be happy to have something shipped to you. In fact, I'd toss in some raw peanuts too, just because! There are some places all along Route 58 between Suffolk and Emporia in Virginia.

PM me if you're interested. I'm currently away doing engineering stuff, but I'll be back in those areas next month.
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Stop by Warsaw nc and get him some west water. Our family being in the hog business since the 50s, we’ve had the opportunity to try a lot from a lot of different places. This isn’t too salty and doesn’t get hard enough to require a chainsaw to cut like a lot left hanging for months.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Lots of places ship. And I'm sure there are people on CFF who would be happy to pick something up and have it shipped to you. I drive by places all the time between VA and SC that have country ham hanging in their stores. When I get back from my current engineering job, I'd be happy to have something shipped to you. In fact, I'd toss in some raw peanuts too, just because! There are some places all along Route 58 between Suffolk and Emporia in Virginia.

PM me if you're interested. I'm currently away doing engineering stuff, but I'll be back in those areas next month.
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Thank you very much for your offer and for your generosity, I deeply appreciate it.

I just buy the packs with a few slices in them and freeze them. They don't take up much room and I can take a pack out now and then.

I had family in Newport News and we used to travel Hwy 58 to go visit them. We got some raw peanuts one time and I didn't like them. Roasted, I can eat a ton of 'em. My wife likes boiled peanuts but, I've never cared for them, either.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Our illustrious @Gunbelt carried a country ham behind his truck seat for 14 years. Every year at The Rendezvous for mountain men he and his buddies would slice off a piece to commemorate the occasion...he eventually swapped off the last bit for some black powder or something. There are 2 hanging in the Cafe on the range that have been there for 3 years.........................I ain't eatin' nary a damn bit of it neither.
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When I was working in Virginia back in the late 1970s I visited a small country ham producer we insured. The owner showed me around, and showed me two hams he said his dad had cured 50* years previously. One, he said, was their show ham, from which a few slices were taken from time to time to enter into competitions. The other he said he was saving to serve at the reception if his daughter ever got married.

He kept an electric frying pan in the office with a couple of slices of ham frying at all times. Psychological warfare, I believe... anyone coming into the office to do business was at a disadvantage as soon as they got a whiff of that ham.

*if I remember correctly
 
Geezer said:
Thank you very much for your offer and for your generosity, I deeply appreciate it.

I just buy the packs with a few slices in them and freeze them. They don't take up much room and I can take a pack out now and then.

I had family in Newport News and we used to travel Hwy 58 to go visit them. We got some raw peanuts one time and I didn't like them. Roasted, I can eat a ton of 'em. My wife likes boiled peanuts but, I've never cared for them, either.
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You don't have to freeze them.
 
Geezer said:
I've got two brothers in VA and they ship me some and I forget to pay them. My way is more cost effective.
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For over 30 years, my sister and I have been waiving a $20 debt back and forth. I couldn't even tell you where the debt started, or if it has ever been paid. that's what makes waiving it off great. every year both her and I don't have to pay back $20
 
He hey, country ham is a wonderful air freshener. Unfortunately, those and the "middlin meat" tend to drip on the counter so I have to diaper them.
Most "preps" live in smokehouse or basement.
My name is Rooster and I have an old food addiction....there.
R
 
Country ham san-wiches on potato bread, yum.
My grand parents used to butcher, you'd be surprised what they had "hanging" .

There's a place in Thurmont MD. Mountain Gate they have a all you can eat buffet and their country ham is awesome, plus the rolls, MD crab soup with actual crab meat in it, fried chkcken, and like home cooked food, pies, cakes, breads, etc.

Shuff's Meat in Thurmont MD has great country ham, scrapple, puddin, sausage (plain and xtra spices).. long way away from SC.

-Snoopz
 
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