Should You Boil Ham in the Plastic? Examining the Safety and Effects

Preparing a holiday ham often starts with boiling the cured, smoked meat before baking or glazing. Ham frequently comes packaged in an outer plastic wrap or netting. But should this plastic stay on when boiling the ham? Or does it need to be removed first for safety and quality reasons? In this article, we’ll look at the potential risks benefits, and best practices around boiling ham with or without the original packaging.

Why Some Leave Plastic On When Boiling Ham

There are a few reasons why some cooks choose to leave the plastic outer wrapping. or netting on during the boiling stage

• Assumed harmless – Many assume if it’s sold that way, boiling in plastic must be safe.

• Retains shape – The wrapping keeps the ham compact, contained, and prevents it falling apart in the pot.

• Holds glaze – Some glazes or cook-in bags help the ham retain moisture. Removing seems unnecessary.

• Saves time – Not having to cut away wrapping saves the step of unwrapping before cooking.

• Cooks into food—The plastic and seasonings inside cook-in bags are meant to blend into the ham.

• Unclear instructions – Lack of direction from manufacturers leads some to just boil ham as is.

• Common practice – Seeing others boil ham in packaging normalizes it as typical and okay.

Reasons the Plastic Should Be Removed Before Boiling

However, there are also some very good reasons why food safety experts recommend removing all outer wrappings before submerging ham in boiling water:

• Chemical leaching – Heat can cause plastic wrap and bags to leach chemicals into the food.

• Trapped bacteria – Sealed plastic can harbor and breed bacteria next to the food’s surface.

• Toxic fumes – Heated plastics release potentially toxic fumes that absorb into the ham.

• Choking hazard – Plastic wrapping could detach and pose a choking risk if accidentally ingested.

• Glazes wash away – Water soluble glazes on the plastic dissipate rather than flavoring the meat.

• Misshapen results – The ham may boil into an irregular shape and not uniformly cook in the plastic.

• Cutting danger – Sharp bones could pierce plastic and cause leakage of hot water and contamination.

• Manufacturing tools – Wrappings are just designed to help package, not cook, the ham.

FDA Guidance on Boiling Meat in Plastic

The official stance from food safety bodies is to always remove packaging before cooking. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

• Plastic bags and wrap are designed for storage and transportation only, not cooking.

• Heating plastics can cause chemicals to migrate into food, especially with fatty, acidic, and salty foods like ham.

• Pre-cooking plastic films, bags, and nets should never be immersed in cooking water or oils.

• Cook-in-bag products are specially formulated plastics approved for high heat exposure during cooking.

So unless the packaging is explicitly labeled “ovenable” or “cook-in bag”, the plastic should be removed before boiling or otherwise heating the ham.

Dangers of Boiling Ham in Plastic

Beyond the FDA guidance, studies have confirmed the potential risks of boiling meat wrapped in plastic:

• Chemicals like BPA and phthalates from plastic leach into the surrounding water and food.

• Salt, acid, and fat pull even more plastic compounds like adipates and styrene into the ham.

• Heating plastics not formulated for high heat create benzene and other hazardous compounds.

• These migrated chemicals have been linked to cancer, hormonal issues, and developmental problems in humans.

• Toxic plastic fumes released into the air can be inhaled or absorbed into the cooling ham after cooking.

So while an occasional slip up might not cause immediate harm, regularly boiling ham in plastic enhances risk of chronic health issues over time.

Proper Protocol for Boiling Ham

To safely prep ham for boiling, be sure to:

• Remove all outer plastic wrapping, nets, packaging, and absorbent pads.

• Use a clean knife or kitchen shears to cut away any cook-in-bag plastics or glaze coatings.

• Wash ham thoroughly in cool water to remove any residual plastic bits or glaze.

• Place unwrapped ham in a large pot and cover completely with fresh water.

• After boiling, only use plastic again to cover leftovers for storage. Never re-heat or cook ham in the original plastic.

Can You Bake Ham in the Plastic?

Similar concerns apply to baking ham in plastic at high heat. The FDA cautions against this practice unless the packaging states it is oven-safe to the baking temperature. Regular plastic bags and wrap should always be removed before baking to prevent:

• Melting, burning, and smoking plastics

• Leaching of chemicals into the fat and meat

• Dangerous plastic vapors circulating in the oven

• Ham absorbing toxic compounds released from the breaking down plastic

Follow package directions closely and only bake as directed. And if in doubt, remove the plastic before heating to be safest.

Is Eating Boiled Ham in Plastic Dangerous?

While microwaving and high heat cooking pose the biggest risks, even consuming ham boiled in plastic isn’t recommended. Potential dangers include:

• Ingesting small melted bits of plastic cling wrap or netting

• Eating chemicals leached into the ham during prolonged hot water exposure

• Absorbing hormones, carcinogens, or developmental toxins from the plastic

• Irritation of digestive system from plastic chemicals, additives, and polymer particles

So for optimal health and safety, separating the plastic before any heating is ideal.

Signs of Unsafe Ham Boiled in Plastic

Be wary if plastic-cooked ham shows these red flags:

• Odor – Smells like chemicals, burning oil, or melting plastic

• Discoloration – Unnatural or uneven coloration

• Greasy – Oil leached from the plastic leaves a fatty film

• Shriveled – Deformed, shrink-wrapped appearance

• Crystals – Weird hard plastic bits fused to the ham

• Smoke – Evidence of burnt or melted plastic

If you see any of these, it is safest not to eat the suspect ham.

Key Takeaways

To avoid health hazards, always remove plastic wrap, netting, bags, and outer packaging before boiling or otherwise cooking raw ham. Only use plastics intended for cooking by following package instructions closely. When in doubt, take off all plastic first for peace of mind. While an occasional slip up likely poses minor risk, regularly boiling ham in plastic increases harmful exposure over time. For optimal safety and quality, start each holiday ham by discarding the plastic before it hits the cooking pot.