Ham belongs to the Finnish Christmas table. We asked the experts why ham is so popular, what new things could be tried with regards to ham this Christmas.
An estimated 5–6 million kilos of ham will be sold in Finland this Christmas as well.
Ham is and will remain the staple of Finnish Christmas tables, even though in the big picture pork consumption has decreased in recent years.
The dominance of ham at the Christmas table is largely influenced by traditions, the importance of which is especially emphasized at Christmas.
– At Christmas, we want to cherish Christmas customs and tastes familiar from childhood. Baking ham is one of the Christmas rituals. On the other hand, putting the ham in the oven is also easy in the Christmas rush, says the product group manager Eva Juva From the atrium.
Head of Meat Business at HKFoods Mikko Järvinen is on the same lines. Traditions guide food choices, especially at Christmas.
– Last year, we asked consumers what they think belongs on the Christmas table. 71 percent of respondents wanted Christmas ham on their table. Next came a box of carrots, which belonged to the Christmas meal according to 68 percent. Just under 13 percent missed a turkey at Christmas, says Järvinen.
Size reduced
However, something has changed – namely the size of the Christmas hams.
In the past, authentic and anatomical ham weighing 10–12 kilos graced many tables. After that, the number one ham became a boneless ham with a kick, which looks like an anatomical ham, but in which the kick is only a decoration.
According to Järvinen, the recent trend has been towards smaller and completely boneless hams. HKFoods sells the most 3-5 kg hams.
– The supply of ham has diversified. Whole, anatomical ham is still sold to some extent. On the other hand, potkallin julja kinkku is still the largest article as a single product, but all different and completely boneless hams combined are already the biggest whole in terms of volume, says Järvinen.
According to Juva, Atria’s best-selling ham is the seven-kilogram ham.
– However, there is also demand for smaller hams, says Juva.
Christmas tables have become more diversified
But why have the sizes of hams decreased?
According to a consumer survey commissioned by Atria, more than 60 percent of Finns enjoy a Christmas meal in a group of 2-5 people – which means that the size of table parties has not significantly decreased at least.
– The popularity of smaller hams is due to the fact that the Christmas table has become more diversified. There are plenty of starters and, for example, fish, so you don’t need that much ham. Nowadays, quality replaces quantity, says Juva.
Järvinen also sees that the supply of Christmas tables is now more plentiful than before.
– The sale of smaller hams is not due to the decline in the popularity of ham, but to the fact that the Christmas table has become more diversified overall, says Järvinen.
Most buy ham frozen. All Over Press
At Christmas, the most important thing is feasting
For most people, Christmas is a time of indulgence and relaxation. Then good food is enjoyed in the company of loved ones according to the long formula and with a good conscience. This is also confirmed by HK’s consumer research conducted last year.
– The survey asked what were the 1-2 things that made the respondent appreciate Christmas. 58 percent answered that the opportunity to feast and eat well. 52 percent of the support was gathered by the opportunity to spend more time with the family, says Järvinen.
Christmas doesn’t include thinking about the well-being trends that are now on the surface either. Although doctors, scientists and nutrition experts regularly warn about the dangers of red meat, salt and fat, at Christmas the warnings are referred to with a glove.
– At Christmas, we want to put taste and pleasure first, in everyday life we can then make other kinds of choices, says Juva.
Although, for this Christmas, Atria has brought a pig’s inner roast sold in a ready-to-fry package to the ham market, with only a little surface fat, i.e. bacon, and very little salt.
– The product received good ratings in the tests, and women especially liked it. However, the real popularity of the product will only become clear after Christmas, says Juva.
According to Juva’s and Järvinen’s experience, the decision to save on Christmas expenses or the fear of, for example, a sudden rise in the price of electricity, do not affect the purchase of Christmas ham.
– According to a survey we conducted last year, people preferred to save on Christmas presents than on food. Food was saved by avoiding wasted food, says Juva.
The taste of ham is sacred
If the position of the Christmas ham at the Christmas table is unchanged, so is the taste of the ham. You don’t exactly tear or play with ham.
– Ham is quite a sacred thing. It must taste the way it has always tasted, says Juva.
This also largely contributes to the fact that both Atria and HKFoods sell the most frozen hams. Of course, freshly salted hams also have their buyers.
– Here, too, tradition has an effect. If your parents have always bought frozen ham, then you don’t really dare to try anything else. And after all, ham is a pretty big investment that you don’t want to take risks with, says Järvinen.
Putting the ham in the oven on the eve of Christmas Eve and the smell of the ham slowly spreading from the oven is the start of the actual Christmas celebration in many homes. After baking, the ham is then glazed and brought to the table.
– According to our research, 51 percent of people eat ham without frosting. To me, who has always frosted, that seems absolutely absurd, but that’s just the way it is. The most popular of the toppings is the breadcrumb topping with or without mustard, says Järvinen.
What’s at the experts’ table?
And what kind of ham is on the Christmas table of our experts? Shall we go traditional or tear it up?
– We have a ham weighing about seven kilos, which I think is a festive sight on the Christmas table. I cook the ham in a baking bag in a real baking oven and glaze traditionally. In a baking oven, meat stays more succulent than under electric resistances, says Juva.
Järvinen also prefers festive ham on his own Christmas table. He cooks the ham frozen and frosts it with corn flakes.
– Corn flakes icing is created in the same way as breadcrumb icing, i.e. egg, mustard and corn flakes instead of breadcrumbs. You can also get corn flakes gluten-free if you need it.
Many people like to overcook the ham, i.e. they want the meat to be tender. All Over Press
Try something new
Although many people think that ham is best as it is and prepared in the traditional way, you can always vary a little.
According to Järvinen, many have already changed, because the methods of making ham have diversified a bit in recent years. Still, we can’t talk about any actual new ham trends.
– One kind of trend or phenomenon could be that the ham is fried overcooked, i.e. the meat should be crumbly. The habit may have come through pulled pork and others. Of course, this divides people, as some still want the ham juicy.
Another current trend is related to reducing food waste. According to Järvinen, we have learned to use ham more holistically and more recipes are being invented for ham leftovers all the time.
– I myself have started to leave a little more of the ham behind, because it makes such fun star recipes. For example, the caramel pig is a classic.
Juva also says that nowadays we know how to avoid food waste more precisely not only by buying smaller hams, but also by preparing something completely different from the leftover meat after Christmas.
– According to our experience, right after the Christmas holidays, people feel like pizza or Mexican food, i.e. something completely different from traditional Christmas food.