The Best Hams for Your Easter Dinner

Easter is just around the corner, and this is perhaps the biggest time of year for ham dinners. While there are some people that opt for turkey or other types of main courses for their Easter dinner, it is certainly true that the most traditional Easter main course is a ham.

There are few things more satisfying than a delicious, old-fashioned wood-smoked ham for an Easter feast. The hams we have at our deli in Williamsport, PA are all hand-trimmed, slowly cured and naturally wood smoked with real hard wood chips for the ultimate smoked flavor. You can purchase bone-in, bone-removed or sliced ham, depending on your preferences and the kind of meal you’re looking to create.

But perhaps most importantly of all, our hams do not have any fillers or binders—they’re moist, flavorful and natural.

Why is it so important to opt for ham that doesn’t contain these fillers or binders? Here’s a bit of information to consider.

Avoiding the negative side effects of some hams

Ham has been a staple in American diets for years, especially in the form of the ham sandwich. Most people are probably aware that the kinds of packaged ham used in ham sandwiches tends to be heavily processed, but they may not be aware of the side effects that can come from eating this ham over a long period of time.

One example of an ingredient found in processed meats is sodium nitrite, which is implemented to help prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism in humans and is frequently used in conjunction with sodium nitrate as a color fixative in cured meat and poultry products. The nitrites combine during the cooking process with some amines that are naturally present in the meat to form some carcinogenic compounds. There is some belief that these nitrites can also combine with amines in the stomach to form those carcinogenic compounds.

Another study performed by the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and the University of Southern California indicates people who eat higher levels of processed meat have a 68 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those who eat the lowest levels of processed meat. This study focused on 190,000 people between the ages of 45 and 75 over the course of seven years.

There are other types of fillers that can be added to processed meats that can have some negative health effects. For example, some products may have added solutions that are cooked in an impervious bag, and are required to be labeled as such (e.g. “This ham contains up to 12 percent solution with juices.”) This doesn’t exactly sound appetizing when phrased this way, does it?

Ultimately, the best kind of ham you can eat is a natural ham that doesn’t come with any of these fillers or binders. It’s going to be healthier and taste significantly better, so why not go with something real for your Easter dinner this year? Contact Tony’s Delicatessen & Fresh Meats or visit our deli in Williamsport, PA today for more information about our selection of Easter hams.

Categorised in: Deli, Deli Ham

This post was written by Writer