
A historical main dish from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Never soak ham in tepid or hot water, as it will toughen the meat. If ham or bacon is allowed to stand by the fire after it has been broiled or fried, it will speedily toughen, loosing all its grateful juices. Cold boiled ham is very nice for broiling, and many prefer it to using the raw ham.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Cut your ham into thin slices, which should be a little less than one quarter of an inch thick
Trim very closely the skin from the upper side of each slice, and also trim off the outer edge where the smoke has hardened the meat
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If the ham is very salt lay it in cold water for one hour before cooking, then wipe with a dry cloth
Never soak ham in tepid or hot water, as it will toughen the meat
Broil over a brisk fire, turning the slices constantly
It will require about five minutes, and should be served the last thing directly from the gridiron
Place on a warm platter, with a little butter and a sprinkle of pepper on the top of each slice
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Cold water soaking draws out excess salt through osmosis without denaturing proteins, which would happen with warm water and toughen the meat. Constant turning over high heat creates a caramelized crust while preventing moisture loss—the short cooking time (about 5 minutes) keeps the thin slices from drying out. Immediate serving prevents proteins from contracting and expelling their flavorful juices as the meat cools.
Ham slices can be trimmed and prepared up to 1 day ahead. Store between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If soaking is needed, do so within 1 hour of cooking for best texture.
Broiled ham is best served immediately and does not store well after cooking, as it will toughen and lose moisture. If you must store leftovers, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Use cold in sandwiches rather than reheating, as reheating will further dry out the meat.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
Ham slices can be trimmed and prepared up to 1 day ahead. Store between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If soaking is needed, do so within 1 hour of cooking for best texture.
Broiled ham is best served immediately and does not store well after cooking, as it will toughen and lose moisture. If you must store leftovers, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Use cold in sandwiches rather than reheating, as reheating will further dry out the meat.