Is HoneyBaked Ham gluten-free? What about HoneyBaked turkeys? Here’s what you need to know about the gluten-free options at HoneyBaked Ham stores.
Like many of you, I grew up having Honeybaked ham for the holidays. It’s a simple recipe that everyone loves, so it was odd to learn that the glaze on both the ham and the turkey, even though they are gluten-free, was made with gluten, making it unsafe for people on a gluten-free diet.
Honeybaked changed their glaze in 2008 to get rid of gluten and soy, which made the hams and turkeys safe for people who can’t have gluten. However, not all stores carried the gluten-free versions. By 2009, all stores sold gluten-free hams and turkeys, but there was still some confusion among people who are gluten-free. To set the record straight, the home office called each division to make sure they had switched to the allergen-friendly glazes, which they had. (Their modified food starch is corn based and the caramel color doesn’t contain gluten).
Note: HoneyBaked’s corporate office told us that ALL of their glazes are now gluten-free, but one of our readers found a ham that did not have the new glaze on it. We called their office to talk about this, but we think our readers should read all of the ingredients in the glaze that comes with their ham or make their own glaze.
Honeybaked’s ham and turkey can now be eaten by people on a gluten-free diet at any time of the year, and they don’t have to worry about people eating it at work or social events.
The holiday season is synonymous with honey baked ham. Its sweet, salty, smoky flavor is a cherished tradition for many families’ holiday meals. But in recent years, some consumers have begun to question whether these beloved hams contain controversial nitrates. Let’s unwrap the truth behind this iconic holiday ham.
A Brief History of Honey Baked Ham
The HoneyBaked Ham Company opened its first store in Detroit, Michigan in 1957 Founder Harry J Hoenselaar pioneered a unique spiral-slicing ham-glazing process that locked in moisture and flavor. HoneyBaked Ham rapidly expanded across the country, cementing itself as the premier brand for ready-to-eat holiday hams.
Today, HoneyBaked Ham Company operates over 400 retail stores, e-commerce sites, and bakery-cafes nationwide. It sells over 20 million hams per year for holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The company’s signature bone-in ham is smoked over a blend of hickory and oak woods for up to 24 hours, achieving its melt-in-your-mouth texture.
The Role of Nitrates in Cured Meats
Nitrates have been used for centuries to cure and preserve meats like ham, bacon, and deli meats When nitrates interact with meat proteins, they inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that cause botulism, listeriosis, and other illnesses This allows cured meats to be stored safely at room temperature.
Nitrates also give cured meats their characteristic pink color and unique salty, tangy flavor. Over time, nitrates break down into nitric oxide which reacts with myoglobin in meat to form the pink pigment nitrosomyoglobin.
Today, nitrates and nitrites remain common ingredients in most cured and processed meats. They make foods like hot dogs, salami, corned beef, and yes – even honey baked ham – safe to eat.
The Nitrate Controversy
In recent decades, some studies have linked nitrates to potential health risks:
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Cancer – Nitrates can react with amino acids in the body to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic compounds. However, vitamin C and other antioxidants prevent this reaction.
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Blue Baby Syndrome – When consumed in extremely high doses, nitrates may reduce oxygen transport in infants under 6 months, causing blue baby syndrome. This is extremely rare.
As a result, there are growing consumer concerns about nitrates/nitrites in foods. Some companies now offer “no nitrate or nitrite added” deli meat, bacon, and ham.
However, these products often use natural sources of nitrates like celery powder. And without nitrates, they may pose higher risks of bacterial contamination.
The Verdict: Yes, Honey Baked Ham Contains Nitrates
The ingredient list for HoneyBaked’s signature spiral-cut ham includes “sodium nitrate”. This is a man-made nitrate salt added to cure the meat. Other curing agents like salt, sodium phosphate, erythorbate, and lactate are also present.
Per the USDA, a 3-ounce serving of HoneyBaked ham contains 720mg of sodium. Much of this comes from sodium nitrate and other salts/preservatives.
While this sodium content may seem high, it’s on par with other cured holiday hams. Nitrates allow the ham to be shelf-stable and add characteristic flavor.
Should You Be Concerned About Nitrates in Ham?
For most people, the small amounts of nitrates consumed from occasional holiday ham are not a significant health threat.
To put it in perspective, vegetables like lettuce, spinach, beets, and celery naturally contain far more nitrate per serving than cured meats. Your saliva also contains nitrate converted from nitrites in food.
Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamin C and antioxidants helps prevent nitrosamine formation. Avoiding excessive sodium intake reduces risks as well.
Pregnant women, infants under 6 months, and people with certain medical conditions may need to limit nitrate/nitrite intake. Check with your doctor about specific guidelines.
Overall, don’t deprive yourself of treasured family food traditions. The key is moderation. Save the ham for special occasions rather than regular meals.
Seeking Nitrate-Free Options
If you wish to avoid added nitrates, check labels carefully when buying holiday ham. Here are some better options:
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Organic uncured ham – Does not contain man-made nitrates, but may have “natural” sources like celery powder.
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Country ham – Dry-cured using only salt, without added nitrates/nitrites. Has a very salty, intense flavor.
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Prosciutto – Italian-style dry-cured ham that generally does not contain added nitrates.
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Cook your own – Buy a fresh uncured ham roast and cook it yourself. Add your own glaze.
Homemade ham or nitrate-free alternatives won’t have quite the same flavor, texture, or pink color. But they allow you to skip the controversial ingredients.
The Takeaway: Enjoy Honey Baked Ham in Moderation
Honey baked ham has been a beloved holiday tradition for over 60 years because of its signature sweet glaze, smoky aroma, tender meat, and pretty pink color. This iconic flavor and quality is achieved through curing with nitrates.
While some may worry about the health impacts of nitrates, the amounts found in holiday ham are small. When consumed in moderation alongside a balanced diet, you can safely relish HoneyBaked’s time-honored hams during the holidays.
So this Christmas, don’t feel guilty slicing into a glistening honey glazed ham studded with cloves. Just be mindful of your overall sodium intake and enjoy this special treat during the holidays. Because the memories of fun gatherings with family are really what matters most.
How to Safely Heat a Honey Baked Ham to Keep It Moist and Flavorful
FAQ
Is Honey Baked Ham considered a processed meat?
Is there ham without nitrates?
Are HoneyBaked hams cured or uncured?
Does spiral sliced ham have nitrates?
Does HoneyBaked Ham contain nitrates?
HoneyBaked Hams contain nitrates, so they are not uncured. If you prefer uncured ham, you should avoid HoneyBaked Hams. Uncured ham can be cooked in the same way as ham with added nitrates.
Do uncured hams contain sodium nitrates?
Hams labeled ‘uncured’ have not had any sodium nitrates or nitrites added to it. However, there may be some naturally occurring nitrates or nitrites in the ham. There are no purposely added preservatives. There is research suggesting that excessive nitrates and nitrites can lead to cancer.
Does uncured ham have nitrates?
Uncured ham is still processed, but it does not contain any unnatural or synthetic forms of nitrates or nitrites. Instead, natural salts and flavorings are used to preserve the meat, keeping it simpler and free from synthetic chemicals.
Can you cook a cooked ham without nitrates?
An uncooked ham labeled as such in the store typically does not contain added nitrates. To cook an uncured ham, you can soak it in a brine ahead of time, add a rub when you place it in the oven, and apply a glaze at the end of cooking, as suggested in this recipe on Food Network’s site.