Demystifying Shankless Ham: A Complete Guide to this Unique Cut

Ham has been the main dish of holiday meals for a very long time, all the way back to ancient Germanic times and up to the 19th century in Britain. And families today are still choosing this popular main feature to feed their holiday crowds. In fact, according to a survey on the most popular Christmas dishes, 62% of Americans choose ham, ranking it #11 on the list of most popular holiday dishes.

On its own, ham is a very flavorful meat, and it goes well with a lot of different side dishes. It’s versatile, allowing home cooks to use glazes, spices, and rubs of all kinds. Many families use ham as the second protein even if it is not the main course. Even better, ham can make a lot of meat for a lot of people. It also stores well and can be eaten as leftovers.

You’ve decided to serve ham this holiday season. This guide will help you choose the right ham for your needs, tastes, and the number of people you’ll be having over. Table of Contents.

Around the holidays, a glazed baked ham often takes center stage at festive feasts. But when shopping for ham, you may come across the term “shankless” and wonder – what does this actually mean? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll uncover everything you need to know about shankless ham, from its distinctive features to how it impacts flavor and preparation.

What is Shankless Ham?

Shankless ham refers to a ham or portion of ham that has had the shank (or lower leg bone) removed before curing and smoking. Removing the shank leaves the rest of the leg bone intact but creates a ham without the iconic tapered shape.

The shank itself doesn’t contain much meat. Taking it off provides a chunky, cylindrical ham ideal for carving neat slices or chunks. Both bone-in and boneless hams can be shankless.

Where is the Shank on a Ham?

On a whole, bone-in ham, the shank is the narrower section towards the bottom of the leg. It contains a single long bone and minimal meat. When left on, it creates that classic tapered ham silhouette.

If you picture a whole hog leg, the shank corresponds to the lower part of the animal’s leg below the knee. The meatier ham sections align with the thicker human thigh and hip areas. Removing just the narrow shank leaves the prime cuts behind.

Why Produce Shankless Ham?

There are a few reasons for removing the shank from ham

  • The shank doesn’t yield much edible meat, so discarding it allows better use of the rest of the leg

  • The rounded shape is simpler to carve than the tapered shank end. Uniform slices are easier

  • Shankless hams have a tidy, cylindrical form that may be more visually appealing to some.

  • Eliminating the tough shank meat reduces waste from uneaten pieces.

Does Removing the Shank Impact Flavor?

Removing the shank doesn’t really affect ham flavor, since it doesn’t contain much fat or meat. The rich taste comes mostly from the upper leg and hip where marbling occurs.

Of course, a bone-in ham imparts subtle bone flavor during curing. A shankless bone-in ham would retain this quality. Boneless hams rely entirely on the curing for their signature taste.

How to Cook Shankless Ham

Because the shank is mostly bone, its removal doesn’t change cooking times or temperatures. You can prepare shankless ham similar to an intact bone-in ham:

  • Bake at 325°F until the internal temperature reaches 140°F. Allow 15-20 minutes per pound.

  • In a slow cooker, add ham and 1/2 cup water. Cook on low 4-6 hours until heated through.

  • Grill indirectly over medium heat for 12-15 minutes per pound until 140°F.

  • Ideal for smoked ham – smoke at 225°F for 5-6 hours until 140°F internal temperature.

Always use a meat thermometer for doneness. Let rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Serving Suggestions for Shankless Ham

Thanks to its shape, shankless ham can be served in various ways:

  • Carve thin slices across the grain for dinner.

  • Cut thicker chunks for hearty sandwiches.

  • Dice for omelets, pizza, pasta, and more.

  • Make round discs for appetizers.

  • Stuff large chunks into potatoes or peppers.

The uniform shape also works well for portioning ham into nets or bags. Get creative with how you serve it!

Buying and Storing Tips

When buying shankless ham:

  • Check labels for “shankless” or visually confirm the tapered shank is removed.

  • Choose a size based on servings needed – estimate 1/3 pound per person.

  • Inspect aroma, color, and feel like any fresh meat.

For storage, follow guidelines for cooked ham:

  • Refrigerate 3-5 days in an airtight container.

  • Wrap tightly before freezing 1-2 months to prevent freezer burn.

  • Slice before freezing for easier reheating.

Nutrition Facts

Here are the nutrition facts for a 3 ounce serving of roasted shankless ham:

  • Calories: 160
  • Fat: 5g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 50mg
  • Sodium: 1,050mg
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Protein: 19g

Like any cured meat, it’s high in sodium. Watch intake if limiting salt.

Shankless vs Ham with Shank

Whether to get shankless ham comes down to preference:

Shankless Pros:

  • Easier carving into uniform slices
  • Ideal shape for dicing or chunking
  • Better meat yield from the leg
  • Visually appealing round form

Ham with Shank Pros:

  • Traditional tapered holiday ham shape
  • May retain slightly more bone-in flavor
  • Provides more visual fat marbling
  • Keeps ham anatomy intact

Both can offer delicious flavor. Choose based on budget, serving needs, and personal tastes.

Buying Shankless Ham on a Budget

While some shankless hams are pricey, here are tips for staying budget-friendly:

  • Buy on sale leading up to holidays.

  • Opt for less expensive partial shankless hams.

  • Choose bone-in over pricier boneless.

  • Skip pre-sliced to save dollars.

  • Purchase large sizes and use leftovers.

  • Stretch leftovers into soups, beans, and casseroles.

With smart shopping, you can serve up serious ham flavor without overspending.

Key Takeaways on Shankless Ham

To summarize, here are the key points on shankless ham:

  • Shankless means the lower shank portion is removed, leaving a chunky shape.

  • This allows for easier carving into uniform slices or chunks.

  • Flavor comes mostly from the meaty thigh and hip meat.

  • Follow typical bone-in or boneless cooking methods.

  • The shape makes it easy to slice, dice, or chunk for serving.

  • Pick based on budget and personal preferences.

Now that you’re a shankless ham expert, you can choose the perfect holiday showstopper or weekly dinner with confidence. Happy ham season!

what does shankless ham mean

How Much Ham Will Feed Your Group?

How big of a ham you’ll need will depend on how many people are in your group (and how hungry they are!). As a general rule, you’ll need about ½ pound of boneless ham or ¾ pound of bone-in ham per person.

If some of the mouths you’ll be feeding are children, cut your per-person estimations down by ¼ pound for those smaller appetites. On the flip side, if you’re feeding mostly adults or hungry teens, increase your estimations by ¼ pound per person. Additionally, if you’re serving other types of meats, factor this into your per-person calculation. You can find a handy calculator here to help you plan.

Example calculation for boneless ham

  • 10 adults x ½ lb. of ham each = 5 pounds of ham.
  • 8 small kids x ¼ lb. of ham each = 2 pounds of ham.
  • 3 big-appetite teens or adults x ¾ lb. of ham each = 2 ¼ pounds of ham.
  • Whatever size ham you select, make sure you refrigerate it within two hours of bringing it home to avoid bacteria growth and potential spoilage. Be sure to check the expiration date and if you are not going to use it prior to that time, it’s okay to freeze the ham.

How-to: Venison Shankless Whole Ham

FAQ

Does a shankless ham have a bone?

Our hickory wood-smoked skinless shankless hams are flavorful and juicy! We take pride in the quality of our bone-in hams and never use any fillers or binders. We slowly smoke our country hams over natural hickory wood smoke for an exceptional flavor.

What is shankless ham vs whole ham?

When you’re looking for a whole ham you may consider a skinless shank-less ham. As the name states the ham has been skinned and the shank has been removed leaving just the small leg bone. This makes the ham much easier to carve than a traditional whole bone in ham.

What is the difference between cured ham and regular ham?

Cured ham is processed with the use of salt, sodium nitrite, and other chemicals, while uncured ham is preserved with natural ingredients and methods, like salt, black pepper, celery powder, and spices.

What is a ham shank?

Imagine where the “hams” are at the top of your own legs, it’s the same. WHOLE HAM – A whole ham will typically weigh 18 to 20 pounds and includes both the “butt” end and the “shank” end. The “butt end” is the upper part of the ham, more “rump” and thus more fatty. The “shank end” is the lower end, more leg and less fatty.

What is the difference between a butt and a shank Ham?

The “butt end” is the upper part of the ham, more “rump” and thus more fatty. The “shank end” is the lower end, more leg and less fatty. The shank end has just one bone so is easier to slice. When I cooked half a ham recently, a nine-pound bone-in, shank-end ham yielded nearly eight pounds of cooked ham meat.

Which Ham is better ham or shank end?

The shank end is the end that is closer to the hoof. There is debate over which ham is better. On the surface it might appear the butt end will be easier to carve. The shape is more uniform. However I find that they have more gristle and fat.

How much does a whole Ham weigh?

WHOLE HAM – A whole ham will typically weigh 18 to 20 pounds and includes both the “butt” end and the “shank” end. The “butt end” is the upper part of the ham, more “rump” and thus more fatty. The “shank end” is the lower end, more leg and less fatty. The shank end has just one bone so is easier to slice.

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