city ham
Store-bought wet-cured ham — milder than country ham.
Updated September 21, 2026
city ham pronunciation
/SIT-ee ham/
Meaning
The pink, juicy grocery-store ham most holiday tables know. It's wet-cured in brine (often injected), usually fully cooked, and a lot milder than dry-cured country ham. Southern cooks say city ham when they need to tell it apart from the salty smokehouse kind.
How folks use it
- “We're doing city ham this Easter — the kids won't eat country ham.”
- “That spiral-sliced city ham heats up easy for Sunday dinner.”
Origin and etymology
City ham is wet-cured commercial ham, named in contrast to country ham's dry salt cure and long aging. The label caught on in the South where both kinds sit on the table and folks need a short way to say which one. Outside the region, people often just call it ham.
Frequently asked questions
How is city ham different from country ham?
City ham is brined, moist, and mild. Country ham is dry-cured, saltier, and aged longer.