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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. When it comes to a boneless option, look no further than Omaha Steaks Duroc Boness Country Ham—which also comes in two convenient sizes.
For many feasts—from Easter to Christmas and any celebratory big meal—ham is one, if not the only, centerpiece. While one can be purchased at the grocery store, there are also many options online, giving you more choices when it comes to size, flavor, and more. 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 ham bone after the ham is gone. Plus, there are countless glorious ways to use leftovers.
Buying a ham this way also means it is delivered right to your door, and most of the time, the pork comes fully cooked, and all that’s left to do is reheat it in the oven. We scoured the internet for the best places to order ham online for 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
Applewood-smoked
Pricier than some others
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.
Price at time of publish: $99 for a fresh 8-10-pound ham, $97.99 for a frozen 8-10-pound ham
Size: 8-10 pounds | Serves: 16-18 people | Shipping: Select delivery date when ordering, fresh requires delivery by January 9, 2023.
"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 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 over real hickory wood 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.
Price at time of publish: $59.99-$109.99 (but 50% off when purchased with another Omaha Steaks product)
Size: 2.5 and 5 pounds | Serves: 5-10 people | Shipping: Orders ship in 3-5 business days or less—but express, rush, and Saturday rush are available
“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 Budget
Rastelli's Boneless Carving Ham With Glaze
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Rastelli's
Cooks in a short amount of time
Comes with honey glaze packet
Feeds up to six people
Glazing required
This hardwood-smoked ham ships frozen and though it requires cooking, it takes less than an hour for it to be hot and ready. You'll have to put the honey glaze on yourself with about 30 minutes left, but that also allows you to throw on any other flavorings you'd like, too.
Perhaps what we love about it most, though, is the price. At 4 pounds, it feeds over a handful of people for less than some other hams out there, making for a budget-friendly celebration.
Price at time of publish: $69.00
Size: 4 pounds | Serves: 5-6 people | Shipping: Express 2-day shipping is included with this ham
"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 for Gifting
The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint Pit Smoked BBQ Ham
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The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint
Brined for 48 hours
Fully cooked
No special gift wrapping
The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is well-known for its meats and has been featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives"—but you don't have to make a trip down there to get one of its specialties. A double world champion, this BBQ ham marinades for two days in dark brown sugar, salt, allspice, cloves, celery, and bay leaves before it is smoked over pecan wood in a sticky honey glaze. While it is not wrapped specially for gifts, it is more flavorful than a regular honey-baked ham and makes a great and mouthwatering present.
Price at time of publish: $119.95
Size: 5-7 pounds | Serves: 8-12 people |Shipping: 2-day shipping, ships Monday through Thursday
"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 Bone-In
Williams Sonoma Kurobuta Bone-In Ham
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Courtesy of Williams Sonoma
Large
Fully cooked
Strong flavor
More expensive than others
This 12-pound ham not only serves almost 20 people but comes with the bone-in, allowing for more flavor. Kurobuta hams come from Berkshire, England, and are renowned for the dark, black color of the pigs, as well as the marbling, strong flavor, and juiciness of the meat.
Not only is this ham unline others, it also is fully cooked and ships frozen. Once it reaches your door, it stays fresh in the refrigerator for 3 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months if it is not opened. Allow 3-4 days for it to thaw and then heat it in a 325-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 3.5-4 hours. The internal temperature should reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It then needs about 15-30 minutes to rest before being ready to be served.
Price at time of publish: $270.95
Size: 12 pounds | Serves: 14 to 18 people | Shipping: Orders are processed and delivered between 2 and 7 days
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 most delicious 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.
Price at time of publish: $99.99
Size: 2 pounds of ham, 2 pounds of turkey | Serves: 5-6 people | Shipping: Express 2-day shipping is included
"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 main course, which could also be wonderful for breakfast, on sandwiches, in pasta, and more.
Price at time of publish: $102.99
Size: 9 pounds | Serves: 18 to 20 people | Shipping: 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
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 delicious soup or pot of beans after. But Rastelli's Boneless Carving 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 6 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 gathering table.
How many pounds of ham do you need per person?
If you’re doing a boneless ham, plan on around 0.33 pounds per person. If you’re doing a bone-in ham, go with 0.5 pounds 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.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best mail-order hams on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like size, glaze, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
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.
Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this story with the most up-to-date information.
Sources
- Andrew Hunter, Executive Chef at Niman Ranch
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