Ham is a traditional country or Southern meat, made from a pork leg and "cured" or preserved so it will stay fresh and edible for months. Traditionally, hams are cured by rubbing salt and other spices into the fresh meat and smoking them at very low heat for a very long time. Sugar, honey, molasses and other ingredients are sometimes used, in addition to or in place of salt. Hams cure for months, but once fully cured need no other preservation and can be eaten without further cooking. Most people, however, grill or fry ham slices or bake whole hams.
