Cooked (baked) Ham

[jkmunchkin]

I know this question has been asked before but the search function doesn't seem to be working for me, so I apologize for asking again.

Is baked ham gluten free? We are going to my husband's cousin's house for Easter and generally I wouldn't even eat baked ham, but I think it may be the only thing they are serving that I have any chance of eating. His cousin was nice enough to call me the other day and tell me what she was making.

I'm fine just eating before hand if the ham is not infact ok, but for several reasons I don't want to bring my own food (this time); I normally would.

[Lisa]

Can you ask if they can read the label and relay that information to you? Most hams that I have seen do not have gluten, and it will be clearly listed if it does.

Even Smithfield Honey Glazed Ham is gluten free now. The glaze no longer contains any gluten. Tysons Honey Sliced Ham is gluten free.

Here in the South all cured whole hams are gluten free, after they've swung in the smokehouse and turn green.

[Ahorsesoul]

I always take a few gluten free items for the table when I go to someones house to eat. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

it was nice of her to ask you.

I've been gluten free (with cheating) for years. Then the last two years I've gone totally gluten free. Made a vast difference.

[jkmunchkin]

Can you ask if they can read the label and relay that information to you? Most hams that I have seen do not have gluten, and it will be clearly listed if it does.

Here in the South all cured whole hams are gluten free, after they've swung in the smokehouse and turned green.

I don't really want to bother her to read the label. (Normally I would, there is a recent sensitive subject - and the reason they are doing Easter this year. I want to make as little fuss as possible.) Maybe I'll just ask her what brand it is.

Although after the green part... maybe I don't want to eat it anyway. Ewwww!!

[brigala]

I don't really want to bother her to read the label.

Maybe you can just ask her whether it's glazed or not, as well as the brand.

I've never seen a ham with gluten in it (not proof that one doesn't exist, of course), but I've seen lots of glaze mixes that come with the ham that contain wheat starch.

If it's any consolation, wheat starch is not *supposed* to have gluten in it, although I won't knowingly eat any. The gluten is in the wheat protein, not the starch, so theoretically if it's refined well enough it shouldn't have gluten; it's considered "safe" in Europe, I think. When I've seen wheat components in ham glazes, they've always been wheat starch. I throw the glaze packet away, but there might be a circumstance in which I might take a risk just cutting the glazed part of a ham off if I didn't know for sure what was in it, if I felt it was necessary for peace-keeping. Risk of actual gluten inside the ham is probably low.

-Elizabeth

[jerseyangel]

Hi Jillian--

If it's not glazed it's probally fine. If you can get the name, it should be easy to determine it's safety Maybe also ask if the hostess plans to add a glaze (if you feel comfortable asking)

[jkmunchkin]

I know she's not going to add a glaze because her husband is diabetic so she doesn't want to add the extra sugar.

Thanks all for the help!

[celiackitcat]

I was really excited because I was cooking Easter dinner this year and when I went to look for a ham to bake I found that the one's at Sam's Club had gluten-free prominently displayed on the label. I can't think of the brand but even the glaze that came with these hams was gluten-free. I also get excited to see things being labelled because it means more and more companies are taking it into account. I know the Sam's Club workers were probably laughing at me because on was on the phone with my grandma and got really excited telling her I could actually by a honey baked ham this year and would be able to eat it.

[Jenbirds]

Holidays visits while being gluten-free can be tricky, can't they?!

That said, I noticed you live in NY, and don't know if you're near a Wegmans. I consulted their Consumer Affairs Dept and ALL their baked hams are gluten-free. That's what we purchased for this Easter.

Good luck!

[jkmunchkin]

Holidays visits while being gluten-free can be tricky, can't they?!

That said, I noticed you live in NY, and don't know if you're near a Wegmans. I consulted their Consumer Affairs Dept and ALL their baked hams are gluten-free. That's what we purchased for this Easter.

Good luck!

Thanks but I think Wegman's is in Upstate NY. I'm by the city.

From everyone's responses it seems like I should be safe. I'm thinking I'll just ask the hostess the brand and do a quick internet search on the phone to check

If nothing else I know the carrot cake I'll be making & bringing is safe!

[samcarter]

I was really excited because I was cooking Easter dinner this year and when I went to look for a ham to bake I found that the one's at Sam's Club had gluten-free prominently displayed on the label. I can't think of the brand but even the glaze that came with these hams was gluten-free. I also get excited to see things being labelled because it means more and more companies are taking it into account. I know the Sam's Club workers were probably laughing at me because on was on the phone with my grandma and got really excited telling her I could actually by a honey baked ham this year and would be able to eat it.

Isn't that exciting when you see "gluten free" on a product that isn't from a special gluten free company? I was thrilled when I was informed Argo corn starch says "gluten free" on the package. And my baking powder as well.

We are going to my MIL's for Easter, and DH told her we would bring the ham. He likes to bring the ham, or turkey or whatever main dish for a holiday when we go visit. She called me and said, "I was hoping to talk you out of buying the ham," meaning, I want to buy it so I don't feel guilty about not buying it, and I told her, firmly, that since I have done all the reading of labels and know where gluten hides, it is EASIER and safer for me to pick out the ham. That way I don't worry about her having to read labels or call companies.

I think she's under the impression that celiac disease is just like my SIL's wheat allergy, that I just have to avoid bread and pasta and I'm fine. She also gets twitchy when I don't bring gluten free bread. I don't like most gluten free bread, and will be busy enough this weekend without baking a loaf of Pamela's bread, thank you. I can do fine with tortilla chips and tuna salad for lunch. Gah.