The ham is the star of many holiday meals, and those who love it often ask, “Where are Appleton Farms hams processed?”
This staple dish is a holiday mainstay, appearing during Christmas, Easter, and even Thanksgiving (when a single bird just will not cut it).
No doubt, when prepared properly, the ham may be a crowd-pleasing main course.
And when you talk about ham, you just cannot keep Appleton Farms out of the picture.
The quality is quite outstanding, and that makes many people wonder, “Where do Appleton Farms hams come from?”
Appleton Farms hams are processed in Indiana and are then made available for mail order and local delivery.
Where are Appleton Farms Hams Processed Really?
Applewood Farms is proud to offer the industry the highest quality food products and customer service.
Family history in the restaurant and catering industry dates back more than seven decades.
So, where does Appleton Farms hams come from? The hams they offer are processed in Indiana but they source them differently.
Turkeys from Applewood Farms are raised in a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility.
Everything from the intensity of the light to the temperature of the water and the air is carefully regulated to achieve the highest standards of quality.
Fact: All of the turkeys at Applewood Farms have passed federal inspection and are classified as Grade A by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Why Is Appleton Farms Ham So Popular?
Applewood Farms hams can be purchased pre-packaged in a broad range of sizes to accommodate the demands of different households.
It seems they pay special attention to maintaining the quality of their meat, ham in particular.
Not only this, they always ensure that their hams are free of common allergens and other similar ingredients, such as:
- Peanuts
- Whey
- Soybean
- Tree nuts
- Crustacean shellfish
- Eggs
What Types of Hams Can You Get from Appleton Farms?
You can now find various types of hams from Appleton Farms and they work for most people because they are minimally processed. For instance:
Boneless Black Forest Ham
Nitrate-free and hormone-free, their black forest hams are minimally processed and cured with natural juices and honey.
They are then smoked, which gives them a deep, dark color and a robust flavor despite having a relatively low sodium content.
All of them are delivered boneless, trimmed to your specifications, and cooked to perfection. Their low-sodium ham is a throwback for carnivores.
Fact: Hickory smoked ham from Appleton Farms is preserved using a mixture of potassium lactate, water, salt, dextrose, corn syrup, and sodium nitrite.
Fire-Torched Spiral Sliced Halves
Their half-spiral selection is already glazed and sprinkled with brown sugar stars before being fire-roasted.
Then, it gets masterfully burnt to provide a caramelized crust.
This delicious ham is best served and consumed within 2 weeks, but it can be frozen for later use to maintain its fresh flavor.
You also get an extra glaze packet with each package.
Honey Cured Spiral Sliced Ham
Spiral-sliced ham cured with applewood smoke and honey is sliced by hand to guarantee the finest quality.
Each spiral is freshly prepared and cut to order. It is the perfect star of any family celebration or ordinary dinner!
What Sets Appleton Farms Processed Hams Apart from Others?
The ham they offer is quite juicy and flavorful. It can be easily eaten by biting or cutting with a fork or knife.
The ham has a deep, satisfying taste that lingers on my palate after each bite. The fact that they only offer minimally processed hams make them popular.
Fact: The nutrition facts for a 3-ounce portion of hickory glazed ham are 120 calories, 4 g of total fat, and 1.5g of saturated fat, with 8g of added sugar.
How Can You Enjoy Appleton Farms Hams?
For most people, this ham is the epitome of deliciousness.
It goes well with a hearty meal of eggs, sausage, pancakes, or bacon, and a muffin, a common way for most people to enjoy ham.
On other occasions, you can combine a slice with some Swiss cheese and sandwich it between two pieces of rye bread for a savory and satisfying meal.
On other occasions, you can make a meal around the ham. You can prepare yams or mashed potatoes and serve them with a side of pork or corn and beans.
The resulting feast is both flavorful and filling!
An Important Consideration
An eight-ounce package of delicious ham does not last long because it goes with so many different dishes.
However, because of the inexpensive cost of the ham at ALDI, you can easily buy a second package and include it in a number of different meals.
What are Some Alternatives to Appleton Farms Hams?
Baked ham is one of the few celebration meals that can simultaneously bring back fond memories and be a source of joy.
Feelings of abundance, festive gladness and shared meals with loved ones are conjured up when one sees a shining, brown-sugar glazed ham.
No doubt, Appleton Farms hams are among the finest, but they are certainly not the only option to consider.
Here are some other alternatives to Appleton Farms hams.
Hormel Cure Bone-In Half Ham
If you are looking for the best thick-cut ham in town, you just cannot go wrong with Hormel.
When it comes to sandwiches, many people prefer spiral-cut hams because of the thin, stackable slices.
The Hormel Cure 81 Bone-In Ham, on the other hand, is a much heartier option for the main holiday dish.
These pieces are the ideal size for the main course. The heartier, thicker slices have a satisfying texture.
This spiral-sliced ham will retain its moisture for longer since the slices are thicker.
Maple syrup and brown sugar flavors come through in the glaze. This ham is not as sugary as you may assume.
If you eat it with some salty, delicious pork, the flavors will complement each other well.
Hickory Farms Spiral Sliced Ham
Sometimes you just have to try a few different things before you get the right crust or glaze for your ham.
Hickory Farms removes all doubt from your next special occasion!
True to its name, this ham is delicious with a chestnut-colored coating. The maple flavor is present without making it too sugary.
To be sure, this ham is not all sugar and no meat.
The slices of this ham are perfectly soft and juicy, just what you would hope for in a Christmas main dish.
Nueske’s Spiral Bone-In Ham
The best thing about this ham is that it tastes as if your local butcher has just smoked it. This thinly cut ham has a strong, rich smoky flavor.
However, there is more to this ham than just the smoke flavor. Applewood adds a unique sweetness that is not artificial but rather reminiscent of natural sugars in the wood.
This ham is perfect for your next picnic, whether you want to eat it fresh out of the oven or use it to make sandwiches.
At Neuske’s, you can buy a whole ham, as there are many ways to enjoy the leftovers.
Fact: The best part about Appleton Farms hams is each is delivered boneless, cut to order, and fully cooked and seasoned.
Smithfield Hardwood Ham
In spite of the convenience of spiral sliced hams for baking and serving, you might find it more satisfying to carve a whole ham on your own.
If so, Smithfield has the answer.
You can really taste the pork in this ham, and it is perfectly balanced with a little salt and not too much sugary glaze.
The unique flavor and tender texture of this Smithfield ham set it distinct. The ham can be shredded with little effort.
Because of this, it is perfect for serving with handmade buns on Christmas morning.
And it is just fantastic for creating pulled ham or incorporating it into other meals, such as scalloped potatoes, as a tasty alternative to using up leftover turkey.
Takeaway
Where are Appleton Farms Hams processed? It is the natural reaction the moment you eat that ham and get lost in its flavors and tenderness.
The great thing is that you can find many different types of hams from Appleton Farms, which processes its hams in Indiana.
But, if you are looking for other alternatives, you can find quite a few. What works best for you usually depends on your own unique tastes.
So, try a few to find the best.