Forum: Q Those Storing Uncooked Hams W Power Outages

I love the idea that uncooked hams have a fairly long shelf life without refrigeration. How long can a uncooked ham be stored? What methods of cooking are used when there is no electricity? Can you share non electric instructions for cooking? Im wanting to purchase one but not sure how one is cooked in a fire pit as this would be food to last for many days in an emergency. Thank you

do you mean salt cured?

If you’re asking about the commercial salt-cured hams, many of them can by hung in a dark cellar for 6 months to a year. Just gotta cut any “objectionable” areas off of the skin before eating the ham. And don’t forget, most suggest that you soak a salt-cured ham in water for a good 24 hours to get some of the salt out…change the water about every 8 hours…

I believe the site for Smithfield Hams has instructions for keeping and cooking salt cured hams. I have not bought any hams, but I did buy several packages of dry cured bacon, which also doesn’t need refrigeration, but I have frozen them, until I need them.

My DW works part-time at Edwards of Virginia, which sells the Edwards smoked and salt-cured hams. You can just cut a chunk off and eat it, if you don’t mind chewing into a salt lick!

The pre-cooked hams can be stored for several months, the uncooked hams not as long.

Edwards of Virginia Storage and Cooking Tips

Smithfield Storage and Cooking Tips

A couple of uses:
Cube a chunk and add it to Au Gratin potatoes;
Cube it and add it to hash browns;

Thanks all

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