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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
The pasture-raised D'Artagnan Berkshire Pork Bone-In Spiral Ham deserves a spot on your table because it's tender, juicy, and smoked over real applewood. If you're on a budget, the Hickory Farms HoneyGold Spiral Sliced Ham offers a lot of bang for your buck.
For some, it’s just not the holidays without a gigantic ham for dinner. Most of the time, the pork comes fully cooked, and all that’s left to do is reheat it in the oven.
There are honey-glazed, maple-glazed, smoked, spiral, and combinations of all of the above. Some prefer boneless options, while others love to reuse the reuse the ham bone after the ham is gone. Plus, there are countless glorious ways to use leftovers. We scoured the internet for the best places to order ham online for Easter, Christmas, or any upcoming feasts you may be planning.
Here are the best mail order hams.
Best Overall: D'Artagnan Berkshire Pork Bone-In Spiral Ham
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Courtesy of D’Artagnan
Fresh or frozen
Pastured Berkshire pork
Pricier than some others
What do buyers say? 20+ D'Artagnan reviewers rated this product 4.2 stars or above.
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. 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.
Size: 8 to 10 pounds | Serves: 16 to 18 people | Availability: Easter preorder requires delivery between April 7, 2022 and April 14, 2022
"This is my go-to ham for every holiday. I'm pretty picky about spiral hams—because they can get dry—but this one comes out perfectly. It also arrives exactly when promised, so I never have to worry about delays." — Julia Warren, VP of Commerce
Best Budget: Hickory Farms HoneyGold Spiral Sliced Ham
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Courtesy Hickory Farms
Comes with glazing packet
Cured with real honey
Spiral cut for easy serving
Bone in
Fatty
If you want a lot of bang for your buck, Hickory Farms has a beautiful HoneyGold spiral sliced ham that may interest you. While you certainly get an impressive amount of ham for the full price, the cost drops down to around $68 when on sale. This hefty honey-cured ham weighs in at 7 to 9 pounds. If you have many guests (or just want a lot of leftovers), it feeds up to 18 people total. Hickory Farms’ award-winning ham is fully cooked, so all you have to do is thaw and warm it up following the provided directions. Use the glazing packet for an extra touch of sweetness.
Size: 7 to 9 pounds | Serves: 14 to 18 people | Availability: Ships Monday through Thursday within the same week of ordering. There are expedited (2-3 business days) and express (1-2 business days) shipping options available
Best Boneless: Omaha Steaks Duroc Boneless Country Ham
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Courtesy of Omaha Steaks
On the smaller side
Longer smoke process for enhanced flavor
You may not have leftovers
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.
Size: 2.5 to 5 pounds | Serves: 10 people | Availability: Express shipping arrives within 2-3 business days, rush shipping arrives the next business day, Saturday rush shipping arrives Saturday afternoon if ordered between Thursday 9 a.m. CT and Friday 9 a.m. CT
“Some more commercial hams on store shelves use corn syrup, potato starch, chemical curing agents and artificial flavoring. Hams that are smoked over real hardwood and featuring a very short list of ingredients you can easily pronounce produce a premium ham you can proudly serve your family.” — Andrew Hunter, Executive Chef at Niman Ranch
Best Ham and Turkey Combo: Harry & David Sliced Ham and Turkey Sampler
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Courtesy of Harry & David
Everyone can have what they like
Pre-sliced meat is good for sandwiches
Fairly small amount of each meat
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.
Size: 2 pounds of ham, 2 pounds of turkey | Serves: 8 to 10 people | Availability: Express two-day shipping is included on this gift
"This is such a convenient option for anyone who doesn't want to spend all day cooking meat and would be a great addition to a buffet at a party any time of the year. I was impressed with the flavor of both the ham and the turkey—they made delicious sandwiches." — Mary Kate Hoban, Associate Editorial Director
Best Black Forest: Schaller & Weber Black Forest Ham
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Courtesy of iGourmet
Really nice on sandwiches
This brand popularized Black Forest ham in the U.S.
Not pre-sliced
Black Forest ham originally meant ham from the Black Forest region of Germany. 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 one is from Schaller & Weber, the brand that popularized this style in America more than 80 years ago. After working in butcher shops throughout Germany, cofounder Ferdinand Schaller brought the experience to his butcher shop in partner with Tony Weber on New York’s Upper East Side, and the rest is history. This ham makes a mean holiday main course, which could also be wonderful for breakfast, on sandwiches, in pasta, and more.
Size: 9 pounds | Serves: 18 to 20 people | Availability: Orders placed after 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday with 2-Day shipping will ship on Monday of the following week
Best Overnight Delivery: Stock Yards Prosciutto Cotto Ham Roast
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Courtesy of Stock Yards
Italian style
Infused with spices
Not the quintessential holiday ham
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 or antibiotics. At 4 pounds and 11 ounces, there will be plenty for a feast, plus some leftover.
Size: 4 pounds, 11 ounces | Serves: 10 to 12 people | Availability: Easter order cut-off dates—standard shipping (4-7 business days): Wednesday April 13, 2022; overnight express shipping: Thursday April 14, 2022; overnight Saturday delivery: Friday April 15, 2022
“Leftover ham is one of the best parts of being the host. It’s such a flavor powerhouse and great for fried rice, hearty bean soups, stacked sandwiches and so much more.” – Andrew Hunter, Executive Chef at Niman Ranch
Best Honey-Glazed: Nueske’s Spiral Sliced Bone-In Ham with Honey Glaze
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Courtesy of Nueske's
Bone-in (can use it for soups)
Award-winning
Bone-in (one more thing to deal with)
If you’re a fan of honey-glazed ham, look no further than the Spiral Sliced Bone-In Ham with Honey Glaze from Nueske’s, the multi-generational Wisconsin-owned premium meat company, which has been producing since 1882. You can trust Nueske’s meat in general, but this ham is something special—it was named one of America’s Best by Ladies Home Journal, it won the Silver Award from the Specialty Food Association, and nabbed the Seal of Excellence at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Size: 12 pounds | Serves: 20 to 22 people | Availability: For Easter, order by Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Standard shipping: about 3 business days; rush service: guaranteed delivery within 2 business days; overnight: guaranteed delivery by end of next business day
Best for Gifting: Melissa Cookston's Memphis BBQ Double-Smoked Spiral Cut Ham
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Courtesy of Melissa Cookston
Flavor from smoke and brown sugar glaze
Woman-owned business
The only one not fully cooked
Melissa Cookston of Melissa Cookston’s Memphis BBQ is a living legend—the only woman to be named a world BBQ champion (a title she's earned seven times) and the first female pitmaster in the Barbecue Hall of Fame. The Wall Street Journal called her “The Most Decorated Woman in Competitive Barbecue.” If you’re guessing, then, that her ham is worth a try, you would absolutely be correct. The double-smoked, brown sugar-glazed ham comes packaged in a cloth bag perfect for gift giving. Enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth flavor with a big glass of bourbon.
Size: 8 to 10 pounds | Serves: 10 to 12 people | Availability: Melissa Cookston’s Memphis BBQ ships Monday through Friday of each week
For sustainability, flavor, and value, we love the D'Artagnan Berkshire Pork Bone-In Spiral Ham, and having the bone included means you can make a mean soup or pot of beans after. Hickory Farms' award-winning HoneyGold Spiral Sliced Ham is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to stretch their money's worth.
What to Look for in Mail-Order Hams
Size and Serving
Our picks serve anywhere from eight to 22 people, and the right amount for your dinner will depend on your guest count. It’s generally better to have leftovers than to not be able to feed your guests, though, so we recommend ordering a little more than you expect to serve.
Flavor
The exact ham you like will probably depend a lot on what you have the most nostalgia around. Do you like the rich sweetness of honey-glazed ham? The enhanced meatiness of smoked ham? Would Italian spices, like rosemary and sage, add to your experience or detract from it?
Leftover Applications
This will also depend a lot on your preferences. Something like the Harry & David option that comes pre-sliced will be extremely easy to repurpose into sandwiches. However, if it’s spiral cut, it may hold up better in the fridge as it’s waiting to be used in leftovers.
FAQs
What is a spiral ham?
Spiral ham has generally been sliced by a butcher into a spiral shape. It’s become popular for its ease of carving at the holiday table.
How many pounds of ham do you need per person?
If you’re doing a boneless ham, plan on around 1/3 pound per person. If you’re doing a bone-in ham, go with 1/2 pound per person.
Can you refreeze ham if it partially thaws in transit?
As long as it’s only partially thawed, the USDA says it’s fine to refreeze ham that’s been partially thawed in transit.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Writer and professional eater Christine Clark is a nationally recognized food expert and locally recognized eater of good things. She was a vegetarian in college and now refuses to live life without a steady stream of pork products. She has a cheese podcast and is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society.
Allison Wignall, who updated this article, is a writer who focuses on food and travel. She’s always in the kitchen trying to recreate recipes from around the world. Her work has been featured in publications, such as Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.
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