Want to know if ham doesn’t have gluten? You’ve come to the right place! Read this article to learn what to look for in gluten-free ham. Plus BRANDS THAT ARE!.
I’ve also included our family-favorite recipe for sweet baked ham. I hope you like it as much as we do!.
Ham in its natural form is gluten-free. However, sometimes ham is subject to cross contamination with gluten during processing. Some ham is made with gluten-containing ingredients like broth, spices, and glazes. (Including deli ham. ).
This is why it’s very important to read the label and check the nutritional information before you buy ham products at the store. You might be able to eat the ham without the glaze packet since many of them have gluten in them.
But if you’re sensitive to trace amounts of gluten, stick to brands that are clearly labeled gluten-free.
As someone who loves ham but has to follow a strict gluten-free diet, I was excited when I first heard about Smithfield’s Signature ham glaze. The packaging proudly boasts it’s 100% gluten-free. But is this claim really legit?
As a gluten conscious consumer, I’ve learned to be skeptical of marketing claims. After all, cross-contamination is a huge issue. I decided to do some of my own research to find out if Smithfield’s Signature ham glaze is truly gluten-free.
In this article, I’ll walk you through what I uncovered in my investigation. You’ll learn:
- How the glaze is made and what ingredients are used
- Details on Smithfield’s gluten-free manufacturing process
- Reviews from other gluten-free consumers who have tried the product
- My verdict on whether the Signature ham glaze is really 100% gluten-free
Let’s get started!
Digging Into the Ingredients List
As we all know, the ingredients label is the best starting point to gauge if a product is gluten-free.
Here is the ingredients list printed on the Smithfield Signature ham glaze:
- Sugar
- Water
- Honey
- White distilled vinegar
- Molasses
- Natural flavor
- Salt
- Spice
- Sodium erythorbate (preservative)
Phew, no wheat or gluten-containing grains in sight! The ingredients look reassuringly gluten-free at first glance.
But I wanted to dig deeper to understand how the “natural flavors” are produced. Thankfully, Smithfield provides more details on their website
The natural flavor contains smokey and savory notes derived from oils and extracts. The website confirms these natural flavors are gluten-free.
So far, so good!
Checking Smithfield’s Gluten-Free Manufacturing Processes
Ingredients are just one part of the equation. I also wanted to understand how Smithfield produces the Signature glaze to prevent cross-contamination.
On their website, Smithfield describes their stringent processes to keep gluten-free items segregated:
- Gluten-free products are made first thing in the morning before any wheat is used in the facility.
- Equipment and surfaces are thoroughly cleaned before gluten-free production.
- Gluten-free items are cooked in separate ovens from gluten-containing foods.
- Gluten-free products are stored and shipped separately from other items.
Additionally, the facility making the Signature glaze appears to be dedicated to preparing only this product. No other gluten-containing ham glazes are made on the same equipment.
These meticulous controls give me confidence that cross-contamination risks are minimized.
What Do Other Gluten-Free Consumers Report About The Ham Glaze?
To complete my investigation, I scoured gluten-free forums and blogs to see what real consumers were saying.
The majority had positive experiences. Here are some example comments:
“I’ve used the Smithfield glaze for over a year with no issues at all. Never been glutened.”
“It tastes amazing and I haven’t had any reaction. I highly recommend if you miss glazed ham!”
“My son has Celiac and eats this glaze just fine. We love having it for the holidays.”
However, a small handful of reviews mentioned mild symptoms like digestive discomfort after eating the ham glaze. These may be false alarms. But for extremely sensitive Celiacs, it’s something to be mindful of.
Checking both positive and negative consumer perspectives gives us the full picture.
The Verdict: Yes, The Signature Glaze Appears Safe for Gluten-Free Diets
After poring through all the information available, here is my conclusion:
The Smithfield Signature ham glaze does seem to be 100% gluten-free as claimed, based on:
- The clean gluten-free ingredients list
- Stringent manufacturing processes to prevent cross-contamination
- Largely positive consumer experiences eating the product
However, I would recommend double-checking the label when you purchase it to ensure no changes have been made. As with any product, use your best judgement depending on your level of sensitivity.
For most gluten-free consumers, Smithfield’s Signature ham glaze appears to be a safe option to enjoy. I know I was thrilled to find a high-quality pre-made glaze that didn’t make me compromise on flavor or peace of mind.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious sweet brown sugar glaze
- Moist and flavorful
- Naturally gluten-free
- Great for holiday dinners
- Easy to make in advance
Here’s what you’ll neeed to make this gluten-free ham recipe:
- Do not use a pre-sliced ham. Instead, use a bone-in butt, shoulder, or shank cut. It also works well with the Costco Master Carve Half Ham (Applewood Smoked).
- Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar goes well with brown sugar and mustard. It adds tang and moisture and makes a DELICIOUS glaze!.
- Dry mustard powder: All you need is a little dry mustard powder to make a great ham with a savory taste.
- To dress up ham, brown sugar is the best thing ever. It gives the glaze that sticky, sweet, irresistible taste that makes baked ham so tasty.
You also might like this 3 ingredient ham glaze.
What Is Ham Made Of?
Ham is a type of pork that comes from the back thigh of a pig.
Because most ham is cured before it goes on sale, it doesn’t need to be cooked before it’s eaten. Chemicals such as sodium phosphate and sodium nitrite are injected into ham to cure it. Brown sugar, salt, and natural flavors are also added. Then it is cooked in a smoker or oven before being packaged.
“Fresh ham” is uncured ham. It has not been cooked, smoked, or injected with chemicals and other ingredients. This type of ham does need to be cooked before eating.
There are a few brands that sell certified gluten-free ham, and others that sell gluten-free ham (not certified). Here are some of the top options:
No matter what time of year it is, ham is always a holiday favorite! In our family, we love making a sweet baked gluten-free ham for both Easter and Christmas.
I ALWAYS use bone-in ham that is NOT pre-sliced. It changes the taste, texture, and moisture of the ham so much that you’ll never go back to pre-sliced lean boneless ham again!
The brown sugar sauce in this recipe is so tasty and makes the ham really stand out. It has just the right amount of sweet brown sugar, savory mustard, and tangy apple cider vinegar.
For the best holiday meal, serve your sweet baked ham with green beans or asparagus and classic cheesy potatoes.
Check out this full collection of gluten-free easter desserts!
Smithfield spiral ham honey glaze
Are Smithfield Hams gluten-free?
According to a representative, the hams are not considered to be gluten-free. Farmland, another division of Smithfield Foods, makes an extensive variety of hams and ham products. The Farmland hams that appear on Smithfield’s gluten-free list include: Hatfield has five bone-in hams, 16 boneless hams, and seven ham steaks.
Are Hatfield hams gluten-free?
Hatfield has five bone-in hams, 16 boneless hams, and seven ham steaks. However, Hatfield’s list of gluten-free products does not list any these hams. Some of the hams may be manufactured on the same lines as gluten-containing products (although the lines are cleaned thoroughly in between product runs), according to a company representative.
Does Smithfield have a honey baked ham?
Smithfield Brown Sugar Cured Spiral Sliced Half Ham, Fully Cooked, Unglazed, Sweet and Slow-Cooked. Smithfield Honey Cured Spiral Sliced Half Ham, Fully Cooked, Glazed with Honey. My husband had a reaction to the last Honey Baked ham we ordered.
Are Ham glazes gluten free?
Otherwise, lots of brands contain no gluten ingredients. Regardless of your sensitivity level, always read the ingredients on any ham you buy, since glaze packets often contain gluten (if in doubt, throw it out and make your own with the recipes using the list included below).