The 8 Best Mail Order Hams in 2021

Best Overall: D'Artagnan Berkshire Pork Bone-In Spiral Ham

Buy On Dartagnan.com

D’Artagnan was founded in 1985 by Ariane Daguin, the daughter of a French chef who fell in love with foie gras and found an opportunity to produce it domestically. Since then, it’s become known as a leader in natural, sustainable, and humane production and a pioneer in the organic meat world. Thanks to partnerships with chefs and restaurants (first in NYC, then across the country), D’Artagnan has reshaped what we think of as good meat in the United States. As such, it’s not really a surprise that the company's ham is fantastic—it’s made with pasture-raised Berkshire pork that’s been smoked over real applewood. It’s tender, juicy, well-marbled, and deserves a spot on your table.

Best Boneless: Omaha Steaks Duroc Boneless Country Ham

Buy On Omahasteaks.com

This whole-muscle, expertly butchered ham is slow-smoked for up to eight hours, resulting in a mellow, extra hammy flavor. Omaha Steaks, which calls itself “America’s Original Butcher” has been famous in the meat industry since the early 1900s. The company is especially known for steak, but this ham gives the brand's beef a run for its money. This ham is boneless and especially juicy and easy to cut. It serves 10, but you're unlikely to have leftovers even if you’re serving fewer than that.

Best Ham and Turkey Combo: Harry & David Sliced Ham and Turkey Sampler

Buy On Harry & David

Maybe half of your family wants turkey and the other half prefers ham. When you just can't decide between the top holiday meats, this sampler saves the day. Harry and David may be best known for its fruit baskets and nut selections, but it's also one of the best places to order meat online, including this pre-sliced ham and turkey combo or a spiral-sliced ham. You can also buy a complete meal, so you won’t even have to worry about side dishes.

Best Virginia Ham: Edwards Virginia Smokehouse Petite Virginia Ham

Buy On Goldbelly.com

Edwards Virginia Smokehouse is a fourth-generation family business, offering American-made country ham since 1926. The company is famous among ham lovers for its hickory smoking and precise aging process. The Petite Virginia Ham on Goldbelly, at 2 to 3 pounds (serving 12 to 15 people), arrives in a cloth bag for extra giftability and is boneless, hickory-smoked, and fully cooked. It’s flavored simply with salt, brown sugar, and black pepper, and aged between four and six months. While 2 to 3 pounds is by no means a small amount of ham, this one is on the smaller side (which the brand calls “specially sized for today’s modern households”), and while there probably won’t be leftovers, any could easily be frozen for another day.

Best Smoked: Fossil Farms Duroc Pork Boneless Smoked Ham

Buy On Fossilfarms.com

Fossil Farms describes itself as “a mission-driven company guided by principles.” This means that the brand raises sustainable pasture-grazed meat without antibiotics, steroids, or hormones. The all-natural Duroc Pork Boneless Smoked Ham is a whopping 6 pounds, has a pleasant amount of smokiness, and is sourced from South Eastern PA. After being cured and smoked over hardwood, it comes ready to slice and eat or reheat.

Best Black Forest: Diestel Farms Whole Black Forest Ham

Buy On Williams-Sonoma

Black Forest Ham originally meant ham from the Black Forest region of Germany (in German: Schwarzwälder Schinken). Today, it generally refers to a type of dry-cured, smoked ham that takes about three months to produce and is flavored with black pepper, coriander, garlic, and juniper berries. This Black Forest ham from Diestel Family Ranch in Sonora, California (a leader in meat production since 1949) by way of Williams-Sonoma makes a mean holiday main course, and also could be wonderful for breakfast, on sandwiches, in pasta, and more. It’s 8 pounds (!) and can last in the fridge for 30 days unopened or five days opened. If that’s not enough time, it can be stored in the freezer for up to a year.

Best Overnight Delivery: Stock Yards Prosciutto Cotto Ham Roast

Buy On Stockyards.com

Looking for something to arrive quickly? The Prosciutto Cotto Ham Roast from Stock Yards can be ordered at the last minute. Prosciutto cotto is Italian dry-cured ham that's known for its versatility—it’s just as great for Sunday dinner as it is for a quick weekday sandwich. After being slow-roasted, it’s infused with rosemary, sage, and juniper for extra flavor, with no nitrates or nitrites, antibiotics, or artificial ingredients. At 4 pounds 11 ounces, there will be plenty for a feast, plus some leftover.