Can you still buy ham that doesn't require refrigeration?  It seems that all the hams in the grocery stores and meat markets require refrigeration.  If I remember my history lessons correctly, the whole purpose of making hams was because it was a way of preserving meat without refrigeration.  Curing the pork with smoke, salt and sugar was all that was necessary to keep the ham from spoiling.  I used to be able to buy ham that didn't need refrigeration off the shelf from Cub Foods or Super One.  I still pack ham when I go to Quetico.  I just freeze it before I leave and then give it some insulation and it does fine.  But I would prefer ham that doesn't require refrigeration.

So does anyone know where you can buy ham that doesn't require refrigeration.

The only ones I know of are the traditional "country hams" you can buy hanging in the cloth bags - the process of making these traditional hams predates refrigeration.  Big and expensive.  You can actually eat these uncooked (salty!), or you can soak them in water for hours or days and then cook them.

Anyway, doesn't sound like the stuff you used to find.  You can get tuna, oysters, clams, chicken, etc. in vacuum-sealed foil pouches in the "canned meat" aisle, I wonder if they have diced ham yet?

You should be able to find a source for smoked ham on the net.  I think you can even order one from Cabelas? seems like they have a lot of smoked food items in thier Christmas Gift catalog.  Don't remember who it was, but I once had a chat with someone who had ordered a smoked ham from some catalog - said it was dry and tougher than hell.

Shelf stable ham is available at retail grocery. You might want to check with a specialty meat shop if your grocery store doesn't carry it any more.

The Beaver

westwood,
try this place:www.countrysmokehouseinc.com
i think they might have what your looking for?
they specialize in wild game processing.
last spring i brought 2lbs of venison/jalepeno snack sticks and 1 1/2 venison jalepeno summer sausage on my may trip in the Q.
i had the summer sausage for lunch, with the little round cheeses in wax and whole wheat pita bread.
makes a quik and mighty tasty lunch!!
ate snack sticks anytime and also diced into beans and rice or whatever i was having if the fish didn't cooperate >:( >:(.
they send things out by UPS and are pretty fast.

Thanks for the info.  I will check out the website for hams.

Why look elsewhere?  There's plenty of hams right here on this website!

Snow Dog, thanks for the laugh!!!