Ham It Up! Pellet Smoked Picnic Ham

Pellet Smoked Picnic Ham tastes delicious and is a nice treat for a large gathering. Keep in mind that what some sellers call a “picnic ham” does not qualify as ham at all. True ham comes from the hind leg of the pig, while a “picnic ham” comes from the front shoulder. If you plan to buy a fresh ham, make sure that it will not have the pink color you are used to in most pork. It will taste the same as the ham you grew up with impacted with the smoke you love. The cooking method is entirely different with a cured ham, you are merely re-heating an already cooked product. You have to fully cook a fresh ham so you will need to cook it for a lot longer but the time will be well spent. Do not use this method for a fresh ham. Ham technology can get a little confusing at times, with dry-cure, wet-cure, country, or city. You will likely find wet-cured city hams at your grocery and be able to follow along with our recipe. This will feed you for days.

Smoked Picnic Ham Preparation

• Wash the ham thoroughly. Make shallow scores about ¾” apart with a sharp knife on all sides of the meat in both directions in a checkerboard pattern.
• Melt a cube of butter in the microwave and stir in 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of orange juice. Mix well. Use this mixture to glaze the entire ham.
• Smoke this in a shallow pan for 3-5 hours at 165°F (74°C). Splash with orange juice several times during the process.

Scalloped potatoes and a green vegetable like broccoli accompany this very well as well has root vegetables and riesotto