Unexpected winner! IGA's Christmas ham outscores all in CHOICE taste test
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Christmas shopping can be a very stressful and expensive time for some, especially since the cost-of-living crisis has put many Australians in an incredibly tight spot.
But for those looking to make their festive seasons special but within their budget, there is one collective sigh of relief.
This is because, according to consumer group CHOICE’s Christmas ham taste test, IGA's Christmas ham half leg can be bought at a relative bargain—just $8 a kilo. It also came out on top in their competition for the best-tasting ham.
The ham earned first-place praise for its aroma, flavour, and robust appearance scoring 73 per cent, with CHOICE's Editorial Director, Mark Serrels, declaring it the ‘perfect ham to add to your Christmas shopping list'.
'IGA has delivered a delicious and budget-friendly product,' he said, emphasising that it was definitely possible to have a ham that was both delicious and great for your wallet.
Coming in second was Woolworths' Gold Triple Smoked Leg Ham, the most expensive of the eight hams tested—at $16 per kilo. This ham was lauded for its smokiness and sweetness characteristics and scored 72 per cent.
In stark contrast, the worst score of the eight hams tested was Coles' Finest Gold Triple Smoked Free-Range Quarter Leg Ham. This $15-a-kilo ham tanked, with a dismal score of 21 per cent.
'Not only did our judges describe it as unpleasant and dry,' Serrels said.
'It also costs a whopping $15 per kilo! It’s safe to say this Coles product's price did not equal performance.’
It's far better to opt for Coles’ cheaper Christmas Beechwood Smoked Half-Leg Ham, which is priced at $8—it scored a decent 56 per cent, beating out its more expensive sibling.
According to Coles, the cheaper ham won the gold medal at the Royal Tasmanian Fine Food awards last year, while the more expensive one placing second in the 2023 Good Food Guide to supermarket Christmas hams.
‘CHOICE is entitled to its opinion, but the most important feedback we receive is from our customers,’ said a spokesperson from Coles.
If your supermarket of choice is ALDI, also keep an eye out for their Specially Selected Triple Smoked Half-Leg Ham, which scored 63 per cent against the CHOICE judges' standards. This ham costs $13.99, more expensive than IGA's offering.
On the other hand, if you're willing to dish out $7.99 per kilo for ALDI's Festive Selection Australian Half-Leg Ham, be warned—it scored just 49 per cent.
CHOICE acknowledged that supermarket hams aren't likely to hit the same quality mark as ones bought directly from a butcher, which can cost upwards of $20-25.
But CHOICE's kitchen expert, Fiona Mair, has a few practical tips for bringing supermarket ham's flavour up a notch.
First of all, keep the fat layer on to help keep it moist during cooking. Additionally, she recommends glazing the fat to give the meat a sweeter flavour and being careful to avoid overcooking.
'I recommend placing the ham on a rack in a baking tray, adding water to the baking pan then covering it with foil for most of the cooking time. Remove the foil for the last 40 minutes to caramelise the fat,' Mair said.
If, despite your best ham-plating efforts, you still end up with dry meat, don't worry. Mair suggests accompanying it with a special gravy or sauce like mustard or cranberry.
When it comes to your Christmas hams this year, just remember that you can have delicious food that won't break the bank.
What do you think of this story? Have you tried some of the Christmas hams mentioned above? Which ones are your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
But for those looking to make their festive seasons special but within their budget, there is one collective sigh of relief.
This is because, according to consumer group CHOICE’s Christmas ham taste test, IGA's Christmas ham half leg can be bought at a relative bargain—just $8 a kilo. It also came out on top in their competition for the best-tasting ham.
The ham earned first-place praise for its aroma, flavour, and robust appearance scoring 73 per cent, with CHOICE's Editorial Director, Mark Serrels, declaring it the ‘perfect ham to add to your Christmas shopping list'.
'IGA has delivered a delicious and budget-friendly product,' he said, emphasising that it was definitely possible to have a ham that was both delicious and great for your wallet.
Judges from CHOICE ranked eight Christmas hams, with IGA’s half-leg ham coming out on top. Image: CHOICE
Coming in second was Woolworths' Gold Triple Smoked Leg Ham, the most expensive of the eight hams tested—at $16 per kilo. This ham was lauded for its smokiness and sweetness characteristics and scored 72 per cent.
In stark contrast, the worst score of the eight hams tested was Coles' Finest Gold Triple Smoked Free-Range Quarter Leg Ham. This $15-a-kilo ham tanked, with a dismal score of 21 per cent.
'Not only did our judges describe it as unpleasant and dry,' Serrels said.
'It also costs a whopping $15 per kilo! It’s safe to say this Coles product's price did not equal performance.’
It's far better to opt for Coles’ cheaper Christmas Beechwood Smoked Half-Leg Ham, which is priced at $8—it scored a decent 56 per cent, beating out its more expensive sibling.
According to Coles, the cheaper ham won the gold medal at the Royal Tasmanian Fine Food awards last year, while the more expensive one placing second in the 2023 Good Food Guide to supermarket Christmas hams.
‘CHOICE is entitled to its opinion, but the most important feedback we receive is from our customers,’ said a spokesperson from Coles.
If your supermarket of choice is ALDI, also keep an eye out for their Specially Selected Triple Smoked Half-Leg Ham, which scored 63 per cent against the CHOICE judges' standards. This ham costs $13.99, more expensive than IGA's offering.
On the other hand, if you're willing to dish out $7.99 per kilo for ALDI's Festive Selection Australian Half-Leg Ham, be warned—it scored just 49 per cent.
CHOICE acknowledged that supermarket hams aren't likely to hit the same quality mark as ones bought directly from a butcher, which can cost upwards of $20-25.
But CHOICE's kitchen expert, Fiona Mair, has a few practical tips for bringing supermarket ham's flavour up a notch.
First of all, keep the fat layer on to help keep it moist during cooking. Additionally, she recommends glazing the fat to give the meat a sweeter flavour and being careful to avoid overcooking.
'I recommend placing the ham on a rack in a baking tray, adding water to the baking pan then covering it with foil for most of the cooking time. Remove the foil for the last 40 minutes to caramelise the fat,' Mair said.
If, despite your best ham-plating efforts, you still end up with dry meat, don't worry. Mair suggests accompanying it with a special gravy or sauce like mustard or cranberry.
When it comes to your Christmas hams this year, just remember that you can have delicious food that won't break the bank.
What do you think of this story? Have you tried some of the Christmas hams mentioned above? Which ones are your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
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