Do I have to cure a fresh ham before smoking?
I have a fresh ham. Do I need to cure it somehow before I put it in the stove-top smoker?
Best Answer
Trying to smoke a fresh ham will result in something that tastes like cooked pork. You may impart some smokey crust on the outside, but it will still taste like cooked pork.
Curing and then smoking is the only way to give a true smoked ham flavor, and please learn about curing a fresh ham, a cure applied to the outside of a fresh ham will not penetrate to the bone of a ham.
Roger
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Quick Answer about "Do I have to cure a fresh ham before smoking?"
The nice thing is that smoked ham is really pretty easy to cook. A little bit of curing, a basting of glaze, and a trip into the smoker is all it takes. You don't have to cure your ham, but doing so will keep the meat especially juicy and give it its distinctive pink color.See how how to brine and smoke a ham for Easter
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