Gift Ideas for Christmas
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7 tips for buying your Christmas ham
Itâs the centerpiece of the Christmas table, so when youâre peering into the supermarket chiller or ordering from the butcher, choosing the perfect ham can feel like a daunting task.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing one to bring home with you.âŻ
1. What type of ham to buy
Youâve got some decisions to make when it comes to the type of Christmas ham youâre going to buy.âŻ
Cooked on the bone (COB) ham is the traditional Christmas ham. If youâre buying a half ham, youâll have the choice of the shank or fillet end. The shank is the part with the bone sticking out that gives the ham that traditional look. The fillet end is the round part that gives more meat. If youâre deciding whether to get a whole ham or half, consider how quickly youâll be able to eat it all. You only have about a week to eat an opened ham before it will go off, so it can be a good idea to get two halves. That way you can eat one half during the week of Christmas and save the other for January.
Champagne ham has had the bone removed and only has the hock left on, so itâs easier to carve.
Pressed ham â also known as continental ham â has had the bones removed and has been pressed, so itâs also easy to carve.
2. Check the pork percentageâŻ
The label on a packaged ham will say what percentage is actually meat. Hams are injected with brine, to keep them moist, and additives. The brine injection level for manufactured hams is usually between 10% and 35% of the ham's weight. A manufacturer that wants to produce a cheap ham will add more water to bump up the weight.
3. Know how to tell if itâs New Zealand pork
By far, most of the hams bought in New Zealand this Christmas will be from pigs reared overseas. New Zealand imports pork from about 25 countries. Itâs frustrating for New Zealand pig farmers because this ham can come from farms that donât have to meet the same animal welfare standards as we have in this country. As a result, overseas meat is often cheaper.
If buying New Zealand pork is important to you, look for:âŻ
words on the packaging like âNew Zealand porkâ or âborn and raised in New Zealandâ
4. Have a good look at the ham
If youâre going to be glazing your ham, look for one that is covered in a finger-thick layer of fat. This will give you the thickness you need to make good score lines. âŻ
New Zealand Porkâs website also advises looking for a ham that has a meaty texture rather than one that looks wet or rubbery. It says the hamâs skin should be smooth with even colouring. âIf the knuckle is sunken, it may be overcooked. If the rind is buckled or uneven, it may be a sign of dryness.â âŻ
5. Ask a lot of questionsâŻ
If youâre ordering your pork from a butcher, you probably wonât be able to compare hams like you would at the supermarket. So, make sure you ask lots of questions, now that you know what youâre looking for. âŻ
You could ask:âŻ
Is the ham made from New Zealand born and farmed pork?
What will be its injection percentage?
What flavours will it have?
You could even ask if thereâs a glaze the butcher thinks would work particularly well with those flavours.⯠âŻ
6. Know what size youâll need
If the ham is the only meat on your Christmas menu, New Zealand Pork advises allowing 1kg of ham for five people. Or if youâve got other meat options, 1kg will feed about six to eight people.
7. Know the best hams in New Zealand
The best hams of the year were awarded at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards earlier in the year so you can check out which ones got medals. Some of them are only available in the city the butcher is based, but a Farmland boneless ham available nationwide won a gold award and Woolworths bone-in and boneless hams picked up bronze.
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Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens arenât seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days â the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, whoâs made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
From National MP--CHRIS BISHOP----'Twas the night before taxes'
âTwas the night before taxes, and all through the nation,
Hard-working Kiwis were still feeling Labourâs inflation.
While their payslips were hidden with care,
They prayed Hipkins and ChloĂ« wouldnât take their âfairâ share.
When out by the Beehive there rose such a shout,
The Greensâ TikTok was not getting enough clout.
âWe need more taxes!â ChloĂ« said with a flair,
âFor justice! For progress! For⊠Iâll think of the rest later, I swear.â
Hipkins quickly agreed, as Chloë and the Greens held the key,
He knew he couldnât win without their guarantee.
But before he could breathe, Te PÄti MÄori came with a glare,
Holding a wishlist of taxes that reached mid-air.
And so the trio assembled, a most troublesome sight,
Ready to dream up new taxes till the early midnight.
But no need to worry, National set things right,
We delivered tax relief that finally eased the bite.
And with new roads, schools, and hospitals underway,
Our infrastructure is getting stronger everyday.
Fixing the basics and building the future, as weâve said,
So every Kiwi family can finally get ahead.
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