Unlike modern "wet-cured" hams that are injected with brine (water and chemicals), Broadbent’s uses a traditional dry rub and patience. This draws moisture out, concentrating the flavor and resulting in a much richer, more savory experience.

Don't panic! This is a natural part of the long-term aging process (similar to fine cheeses). Simply scrub it off with a stiff brush and a little vinegar or water before preparation. It does not affect the quality of the meat inside and is a normal occurrence with dry-cured meats.

Our dry-cured products (Country Ham, Bacon, and Sausage) are cured using traditional methods that allow them to be shipped without refrigeration. While they may arrive warm to the touch, they are perfectly safe to consume. Simply follow our recommended storage methods upon receipt.

City Hams are perishable and will be shipped frozen with special packaging. These hams should be kept frozen until ready to use.

Please Note: Our Sausage is shipped frozen. During the hotter summer months, we may require special shipping to ensure the product arrives to you in good condition.

Upon arrival, we recommend refrigerating your products to maintain peak flavor and texture. Whole, uncut country hams can be hung in a cool, dry place, but pre-cooked meats can be placed in the refrigerator upon receipt. Our Sausage is best kept frozen.

Please Note: City Hams are perishable and need to be kept frozen.

Yes and No. Our Uncooked Country Ham and Smoked Bacons are fully shelf stable and do not require refrigeration. We still recommend refrigerating these products for the best storage option.

Our Pre-Cooked Country Ham needs to be refrigerated upon recipe, and our Smoked Sausage is best kept frozen.

City Hams are perishable need to be kept frozen.

Our Uncooked Country Ham and Smoked Bacons will retain peak quality for up to 3 months unrefrigerated, 6 months refrigerated, and 12 months frozen.

Our Pre-Cooked Country Ham will retain peak quality for up to 3 months in refrigeration, or 9 months frozen.

Our Smoked Sausage will retain peak quality for up to 9 months frozen, or 2-3 months refrigerated.

Please Note: If the product packaging is no longer air tight, the product will need to be used immediately or frozen for the allotted time listed above.

That’s the "dry-cure" magic! Country ham is preserved with a heavy salt rub. All country ham will be salty by nature.

To try and reduce the saltiness, we recommend soaking your ham slices in cold water or buttermilk for 1-2 hours. We recommend soaking your whole ham in cold water for 24-48 (changing the water occasionally) before cooking.