ham cubes

MeatYear-round. Cured and cooked ham is shelf-stable when properly packaged and refrigerated, making ham cubes available throughout the year, though consumption traditionally increases during holiday seasons.

Ham cubes are a good source of protein and B vitamins, particularly B12 and niacin. They are relatively high in sodium due to the curing process, and contain variable amounts of fat depending on the cut and variety used.

About

Ham cubes are small, uniform pieces of cured and cooked ham, typically measuring between ¼ and ½ inch on each side. Ham itself is the hind leg of pork that has been preserved through dry-curing, wet-curing (brining), smoking, or a combination of these methods, then typically cooked. The curing process involves salt, nitrates or nitrites, and sometimes sugar, which penetrate the meat and develop the characteristic salty, savory flavor and pink color. Ham cubes retain the texture and flavor profile of their parent ham, with a firm, slightly dense bite and a salty-savory taste, and are pre-cut for convenience in cooking applications.

Common varieties of ham used for cubing include city ham (wet-cured), country ham (dry-cured), spiral-cut ham remnants, and processed ham products. The cubes may come from bone-in or boneless hams and vary in fat content depending on the cut and curing method used.

Culinary Uses

Ham cubes are used extensively in soups, stews, casseroles, and rice dishes, particularly in comfort food and traditional cuisines. They appear frequently in split pea soup, bean soups, fried rice, jambalaya, and breakfast egg dishes. The pre-cubed form is valued for its convenience and even distribution throughout dishes. Ham cubes are also used in salads, pasta bakes, and as a garnish for vegetables. Their salty, umami-rich character makes them useful as a seasoning ingredient in addition to a protein component, adding depth to milder ingredients like beans or potatoes.

Forms & Preparations

Refrigerated diced cubes — Pre-packaged cooked ham cut into uniform small cubes, sold in vacuum-sealed or clamshell packages in the refrigerated meat section; ready to use directly in cooking.
Frozen cubes — Pre-cut ham cubes flash-frozen and packaged for extended shelf life; can be added directly to hot dishes without thawing.
Canned cubes — Cooked ham cubes preserved in a sealed can, often with added gelatin or broth; requires refrigeration after opening and has extended shelf stability.
Deli counter cubes — Freshly cut cubes of ham sliced to order from whole hams at specialty meat counters; offers flexibility in cube size and ham variety selection.
Home-cut from whole ham — Cubes cut manually from purchased whole or half hams; allows control over cube uniformity and selection of specific ham varieties.