Ham, a form of pork, is sold bone-in, partially boned, and boneless. Country-style ham such as Virginia is cured with salt or brine, then smoked and aged. Ham is also sold boiled or cooked and canned. It can be ground or cut into steaks. Look for ham with a high proportion of lean meat. Ham hock, the narrow ankle section cut from a ham, is used to give a variety of dishes a smoky flavor.
Honey-baked ham refers to any of a number of commercial varieties of cooked, ready-to-eat American hams that have included honey in the curing process to give the meat a special sweetness. A good-quality sugar-cured ham may be substituted.