Top 10 Tips to Serving the Best Christmas Ham
Most Christmas tables would have a humungous piece of ham. Everyone wants to have something that could impress family members and guests alike. Make an impressive ham with these tips:
Tip #1: To improve the appearance of the ham, score it. Cut a zigzag pattern to trim excess fat. Run a knife under the rind and lift it off in one piece. Cut diamond squares into the ham. Leftover rinds can be used to cover the ham and keep it moist when stored.
Tip #2: Decorate the Ham
Decorate the ham so that it will also become a visual and gastronomic feast. Use star anise, cherries and other fruits and herbs to decorate the ham.
Tip #3: Add Glaze
To improve the flavor, glaze the rind. You can use honey, mustard, rum and ginger and other glazes that suit your taste. To glaze, decorate the ham on a wire rack in a large baking dish. Brush the surface with the glaze of choice and bake appropriately.
Tip #4: Glaze when….
You have two options to serve the ham: hot or cold. When serving it cold, there is no need to glaze the ham while cooking as it can be glazed a day or two before eating.
Tip #5: Use the Right Carving Technique
Get the most out of your creative juices by properly applying carving techniques.
Tip #6: Do Not Waste
Make sure not to waste your Christmas leftovers. There are many recipe ideas that you could turn to in transforming these leftovers to great dishes.
Tip #7: Correct Storage
The best way to store a ham that has been opened is to keep it in an old and rinsed pillow case. Wrung it tightly and get another one as an alternate. This should keep the ham well in the fridge.
Tip #8: Storage Length
It depends on how the ham is initially stored but if well kept, it should last for up to 16 days.
Tip #9: Re-freezing Thawed Ham
This can be done if the cam has been cooked. Wrap the ham in cling-wrap and store in the freezer. Never re-freeze a thawed uncooked ham.
Tip #10: What to do with the bone?
Avoid the temptation to simply just throw it. Store it in the fridge to serve as base for a great stock!
