Celebrating the best Australian-grown ham

Source: Australian Pork Nov 29 2015

A feature of lunchboxes to the stunning centrepiece of a festive feast, Australian ham is the great all-rounder and this week it’s centre of celebrations. Australian Ham Week, which runs from 29 November until 5 December, celebrates and promotes the best 100% Australian ham.

Australian Pork Limited Marketing Manager, Mitch Edwards, said not all hams available are made from local pork.

“More than 56% of people are unaware that ham can be made using imported pork,” Mr Edwards said.

“Australian ham tastes great, is safe, quality assured and supports our local farmers.

While ham is a year-round favourite, this time of year a glazed ham takes pride of place in festive meals. “It just isn’t Christmas without Australian ham and the best ham is made using Australian pork,” Mr Edwards said.

“While I enjoy the ham sliced straight from the bone, you’re bound to impress your friends and family if the Christmas centrepiece is a stunning glazed ham.”

As part of Ham Week, a number of restaurants are offering specially created dishes and butchers and retailers are offering taste testings. The Australian Ham Awards are a central part of Ham Week celebrations, with judges assessing hams to find the best traditional bone-in, boneless and nationally available hams. This year’s judges were Fleischmeister Horst Schurger, who has a Master’s degree in Butchering and Smallgoods from the Master College in Monchengladbach, Germany, and chefs, Simon Bestley and Paul McDonald. They assessed more than 140 entries for a range of criteria, including appearance, texture, aroma and taste.

The Best Australian Ham and Best Traditional Bone-In Ham titles were awarded to Sunshine Meats, Milperra, NSW. The judges described it as a “ham-some ham” with an excellent appearance, perfect texture, excellent flavour balance and perfect aftertaste. Andrew’s Choice from Laverton North, Victoria, took out the Best Boneless Ham title.

The judges named he IGA Bone In Leg Ham the Best Nationally Available Ham.

The judges said the ham had a nice shape, tender meat texture and a gentle aroma.