The best and worst Australian Christmas hams of 2024 are named – proving why price is NOT always an indicator of quality
The best supermarket ham in Australia has been named by three experts, and one of the cheapest hams came out on top.
Choice consumer experts chose 10 Christmas hams available from IGA, Woolworths, Coles and Aldi and blind tested them for taste, texture, appearance and smell.
The expert panel included in-house economist Fiona Mair, freelance nutrition consultant Brigid Treloar, and in-house economist and jury member Jan Boon, all of whom have more than 30 years of experience in the food industry.
The professionals found there was a ‘dramatic’ difference between certain hams – and that price is not an indicator of quality.
The lowest-ranked ham scored 58 percent and cost $15.50 per kilo, while an IGA ham costing $12 per kilo topped the test with a score of 79 percent.
IGA’s Seven Mile Premium Double Smoked ham ($12/kg) came out on top, with experts praising the food’s ‘dark skin, smoky aroma and pleasant, reasonably balanced flavour’.
Aldi’s Specially Selected Premium Triple Smoked half-bone ham ($13.49/kg) followed closely with a score of 76 percent and admiration for its ‘pleasant smokiness’.
Two affordable hams at $8/kg also finished in second place, with experts praising IGA’s naturally smoked ham bone with a ‘pleasant saltiness that lingers’ and Woolworths’ half-bone ham bone which has a ‘mild and pleasant ham flavour’.
The best supermarket ham in Australia has been named by three experts
Two affordable hams at $8/kg also finished in second place, including Woolworths half-bone ham bone, which has a ‘mild and pleasant ham flavour’
What are the worst supermarket Christmas hams of 2024?
On the other hand, a purchase from Coles was rated as the ‘worst’ ham tested with a rating of just 58 percent.
The Coles Finest Free-Range Triple Smoked Leg Ham portion costs $17.
The other two worst-rated options are the Woolworths Gold Triple Smoked Free Range Half-Leon Ham ($15.50) and the Coles Christmas Beechwood Smoked Half-Leon Ham ($8), both at 66 percent.
What are the best supermarket Christmas hams of 2024?
IGA’s Seven Mile Premium Double Smoked Ham ($12/kg)
IGA’s Naturally Smoked Ham Bone ($8/kg)
Aldi’s specially selected premium triple smoked half leg ham ($13.49/kg)
Half leg ham bone from Woolworths ($8/kg)