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A few months ago, after weeks of testing spiral hams as part of my job on the Consumer Reports foods team, I was a bit hammed out. Nevertheless, I decided at that point that the top pick from our tests would be featured on our holiday menu this year; I was impressed by that ham's complex, well-balanced flavor and the moist, tender meat. Whichever brand you choose—read "Best Hams for the Holidays" for more details—remember to order far enough in advance. The longer you wait, the heftier the shipping costs.
We ordered dozens of hams for our review, and in one case spent $55 to get a single ham to our labs in time for testing. That was more than the cost of the ham itself! (Shipping for the hams we tested ran as high as $58.) Smithfield offers free shipping, which takes five to seven days. Check company websites for retail stores in your area. You eliminate shipping costs and won't have to worry about the ham arriving on time.
If you get a ham delivered, unpack it right away and check that it's still frozen. (The ham should arrive in an insulated container with dry ice or cool packs.) If the ham was not packed properly, call customer service to get another ham shipped to you or to get a refund. During testing we received one shipment of hams that were packed without cool packs or dry ice and had to be thrown away.
Defrost your ham in the refrigerator for a few days before your big meal and you'll be ready to go.
—Linda Greene
Read "Who's Makin' the Best Bacon?" for our reviews of bacon, including turkey products.
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