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Calcium Crispies in ham....?

post #1 of 6
1/2/09 at 3:53am
Thread Starter 
Yesterday I pulled an aged country ham from the fridge......
Johnston County Ham, buffet style fully cooked, boneless from smithfield NC....gelatin added, dry cured with salt sugar sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite......

It had crystal crunchies in it....very much like a good aged Parmesan or Gouda.....?......first time I've encountered that phenominum.....

So, anyone got info?
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post #2 of 6
1/4/09 at 11:47am
Shroom' -
I've been eating every country ham I could get my hands on for decades - Missouri, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky. Never heard of such crystalline stuff.

Never heard gelatin mentioned in respect to country ham, either. :confused:

Wonder if that might have something to do with it.

How old was that ham?

Mike
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post #3 of 6
1/4/09 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
well it was in my fridge for 3+ years.....it was exceptional. Some of the fancy old Spainish hams have crystals n um too.....or so I've read.
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post #4 of 6
1/5/09 at 5:07am
I believe they are crystaline salt and sugar crystals. As it ages that long, it throws a slight liquid (perspires) it then sits on the ham surface and due to the dehydration effect of refreigeration dries into a sought of crystal. Since it is composed of salt and sugar it taste good. If you hang a ham for a long period check the floor under it and you will see where liquid had dropped.:chef:
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post #5 of 6
1/5/09 at 5:52am
I make seranno hams custom cured.

A few are coming up on 24 months old, they are developing the salt sugar crystals in them.

Don't know if it is the same as the crystals you are seeing, but I will photograph them and post a pick so you can have a look.
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post #6 of 6
1/5/09 at 6:32am
Thread Starter 
this Johnston County Ham....buffet style.....was boneless and approx 3#, came in a cloth bag then in a plastic (?) or something like plastic sealed with metal closures, then a separate layer on the inside. I'll take photos too.....it's been refrig. the whole time.
Very nice, I like crunchies.
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