Yes, It Is Sin To Waste Food, But This Cannot Be Helped. Cook's Ham

[launderess]

Well there was me doing a bit of grocery shopping last week and surprise, local supermarket had a sale on Cook's half (butt) ham. Not big really on ham or pork in general, but figured it would make a nice change from our usual lean meats such as chicken or fish.

Got the thing home and next day popped it into the oven for reheating as thing is already cooked. Also wanted to heat it up so could do a nice brown sugar and mustard glaze.

Fine, got dinner on the table, sliced out portions and then..... The thing was inedible; so much salt one couldn't believe. It took copious amounts of water both during dinner and much of the evening to get and keep the small amount of ham eaten down. Night wasn't much better as trying to sleep with that ham nearly refusing to "stay down" wasn't easy. Next day woke up feeling "ill" and dehydrated and drank what seemed like gallons of water all day.

Needless to say despite that rather large ham sitting in fridge nearly untouched, the next day it was something else for dinner.

Was raised as a child with the mantra about how it was a "sin" to waste food, starving people in Africa and so forth. But this ham is going into the rubbish bin. Don't even think the NYC rats will have it! *LOL*

 

[ea56]

Launderess,

Don't throw it away, take it back and get your money back! Sale or no sale, if it's not satisfactory you shouldn't have to lose money on something that you can't eat. And if this a purchase from a store that you normally do business with they should gladly refund your money. I don't know how it works in New York, but in California nobody would bat an eyelash at someone returning an item that is unsatisfactory. And if that store won't give you me a refund, that would be the last time I traded with them.

Alternatively, call Cook's and let them know what you think of their ham. They will almost certainly send you coupons for the purchase price.
Eddie

 

[launderess]

Thanks Eddie

Thought about taking the thing back, but it was on sale, is now cooked and (partially) eaten.

Yes, we shop at this supermarket often and have done so for yonks, so am sure the manager would likely work something out. But the thing only cost about $7.00, so may just "eat" the loss; keeping my powder dry for another battle *LOL*

 

[ea56]

You're welcome Launderess! But even if its been cooked, take it back! I'm sure if you are a regular customer at this establishment they will gladly refund you money. And the fact that it was on sale is immaterial, it wasn't free was it? I've taken partiallly eaten food back before and in fact I've even told my local Safeway about bad produce, meat or baked goods and not brought the remnants in as evidence and with a receipt they've gladly given me a refund. Most stores want the customer to be happy, and this is a small price to pay for goodwill. And afterall, its not like you're trying to get something for nothing, the product was bad and you didn't get your moneys worth.
Eddie

 

[wayupnorth]

You're right Eddie, and it is any retail establishment that wants to keep your business, big or small. I "tried" to return a "58 mini blind to Lowes on 3/10 that broke after about 6 months. The return clerk refused to take it back as she said my info in their system wasnt there. The rude woman said it was an old blind and she was a total b...h to me. I returned the 3/10 blind on 3/12 as it said "58 on the box, but was "52. The assistant manager took care of the exchange but I was so upset over the principal that I sent an e/mail to Lowes that I would never set foot in that store. I got an immediate e/mail back from corporate saying the management from the store would be in touch. 15 minutes later, the store manager called, credited me the amount on 3/13, reprimanded the clerk with an "if you do this again, you are out of here". Yes, I will go back to my Lowes. I am always the squeaky wheel to prove the principal. If it tastes bad, doesn't work, that's not your fault. They will make it right to keep you as a good customer or they wont stay in business, like LL Bean has always done.

 

[xraytech]

I have never had an issue with returns at Lowes. I've taken things back that were purchased 3 years earlier and unused.

Now Home Depot on the other hand I will NEVER step foot in again. I returned a faulty product within the 90 day return period with receipt. I had to fight and made a huge scene in the store to the point of nearly getting kicked out. Needless to say to shut me up and to get me from chasing away other customers they gave me a refund as should have been done in the first place.

Working in healthcare customer satisfaction is shoved down our throats daily that the patient/family gets what they want. Therefore I EXPECT it when I'm shopping and if I don't get it I am sure to be a squeaky wheel that doesn't hesitate to get loud and obnoxious if needed. I also complain to corporate and fill out surveys after I'm unsatisfied

 

[launderess]

Thanks guys!

Not sure if one has time to take the thing back. There is no room in fridge and tomorrow is rubbish day. If don't put it out tomorrow and supermarket refuses to take it back will be stuck with the thing until later in week. Could wrap it in several bags then chuck it into the rubbish, so will see.

Quite honestly am amazed that any ham could be so salty. Then again do not use salt at table, and rarely consume anything with high amounts of the stuff, well aside from the rare bag of chips with a tuna sandwich, so that's me for you.

Also am not a fan of sodium nitrate which all processed foods including this ham are filled with. That is perhaps along with the salt what likely set my body all funny feeling that night and next day.

Only bought the thing because without thinking assumed it was same as the hams served at family holiday dinners. But think those are "spiral cut" hams that are specially ordered.

 

[ea56]

Well if you don't have time to take it back, you could cut it into smaller chunks and freeze it. The you can take a piece out of the freezer when you might want to make some split pea soup, lentils, baked beans, a western omelet, anything that requires small amounts of ham. Since its so salty, take that into consideration and leave out any salt in the dish, or greatly reduce it. This way you won't be throwing away food and being wasteful and you'll eventually get your moneys worth out of your purchase. And you can still call or email Cook's and let them know what your opinion is of their product. Its a win-win.

Waste not, want not.
Eddie

 

[tolivac]

If the ham is that bad-take it back.I HATE ham anyway-but in this case too salted and too nitrated-why the thing might even burn!-with all that nitrate in it.That seems to be the thing today salt the food to the excess so the health nuts will complain about the sodium!Lets see we have "electric pickles" maybe an electric ham-put electrodes in it and put power to it and see if the ham makes a yellow sodium glow!But don't try it for real-did do that to a large pickle-for a few minutes it did make a nice yellow green glow before it burned up and tripped the breaker.

 

[petek]

Take your receipt back to the store and get a refund next time  your there. You don't need to return the bad food .  They certainly don't want to handle it either.. Just toss it.   

 

[tomturbomatic]

Could the building super use it to bait traps around the place? Were there any instructions that it was a salt-cured ham and should be soaked before cooking?  With that much salt, it was a health hazard and could have been reported to a consumer reporter. I once, as a kid, ate some salt-cured ham at the house of friends. It was a taste treat, but I remember them telling me how much water was used in the preparation with the soaking and boiling, to get the salt out of the meat and it was still pleasantly salty.

 

The Chinese have bought the most famous ham-curing company in the south and I would not bet on the quality any longer; hell they poison their own populace why should they care about ours? I think Talmadge Farms in Georgia produces or did produce salt-cured hams, but those are memories from long ago so I can't vouch for any of them.

 

I do know that smoked turkey breast tastes like ham and has virtually no calories, but Empire changed their production methods, ostensibly to eliminate chemicals and the stuff is dreck. The slices used to be thin and delicious and now they are thick with an unappealing texture and flavor and I encountered gristle for the first time in a slice. Maybe it's time I gave it up, but it was so good with so many different flavor add-ons like half sour pickle slices, tomato, onion and cucumber salad and, of course, wonderful Honey Cup mustard. Now I will have to find a new brand.

 

As to returns, if my mother ran into resistance, she would open her purse, remove a piece of paper and a writing instrument then examine the employee's name tag and verify the spelling before writing it down, explaining that she wanted to make sure she had it right before going to the manager. It changed employees' attitudes immediately. Today, that can be used before going online to corporate HQ. I waited 15 minutes at my local HD years ago while they paged the manager on duty who must have been sleeping or screwing someone because he never answered the page. I verified the store number and reported it to HQ. They sure have changed their front end operations with people directing customers to available self-serve registers and helping in many ways like scanning large items. I think that they learned from complaints from dissatisfied customers.

 

 

 

[dermacie]

I had a ham a few years ago at Christmas that was actually spoiled. It was one of those Honey Baked ones that you pick up at a special store. I bagged that piggy and brought it right back to them for my refund.

 

[tomturbomatic]

It's a shame to waste GOOD food.  Something that is inedible is not food. Food is meant to nourish the body. Anything that harms the body is not nourishing.

 

I have opened things that were bad and bagged them up and froze them to return the next time I went to the store. Luckily, I save the register tape.

 

[gizmo]

What is the policy at your supermarket?

I get the impression that consumer law is stronger for the customer here in Australia, but at least over here you wouldn't expect to have to return the bad item, just either (1) go back with the receipt and possibly some packaging including the bar code to prove purchase, and explain the situation, or (2) phone the manufacturer, ask for customer relations, and explain the situation.

Last night my partner and I spent the day in Ballarat, about two and a half hours drive from home. We did grocery shopping last and it had been a long day, dinner was going to be very late, so we added some potato chips (crisps) to our trolley and nibbled them in the car on the way home. About halfway through the pack my partner said "do you think these are stale?"
I thought they were borderline, possibly cooked in oil that was past best. They weren't terrible and we finished the pack but they weren't up to usual standard for what is usually a very good brand.

Today I phoned the manufacturer, I was friendly and polite, not grumpy, and explained I have bought their product several times before and always thought it was the best, but this time it wasn't as good as usual. They asked me for barcode, production date and other coded info on the pack, then asked me for address details. they are sending me a supermarket voucher for the value of the product.

It was easy, only took a few minutes and they have kept a repeat customer satisfied.

 

[lordkenmore]

Another possibility is to freeze the ham to serve when faced with guests you don't want. LOL

 

Unrelated to this ham, but Aunt Barbara praised cheap luncheon loaf for those times you have guests you really don't want:

 



[this post was last edited: 3/25/2017-02:49]

 

[travis]

The video was funny.

 

I am embarrassed for some of you that you value your time and energy so little to go pester the store about items that end up being disappointing.

 

Don't buy it again.  Lesson learned.  I usually suffer through a mistake item and don't buy it again.  After reading some of the comments, I'll add older homos to the dissatisfied group I previously thought was reserved for old women.

[this post was last edited: 3/25/2017-02:10]

 

[launderess]

Again thanks for all the tips and kind words of support.

Cut up the ham, put it into a large zip-lock bag to be frozen for later use. Now need to find space in either the main or secondary freezer.

Cannot abide the stuff for a main meal, but maybe a bit cubed and chucked into some soup will go down well. That and or tossed in small amounts into a quiche or salad.

 

[sudsmaster]

I like ham, and I like salt. That ham probably would have pleased me in a sandwich.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Launderess,

When you take some out to use it, give it a little simmer in water to remove a lot of the salt. Since it's already cut up, it should only take a few minutes. Then maybe grind it with a little mayo and relish for a throw-back ham salad for sandwiches!

I have a ham (shank, I think) in the freezer and ALWAYS give it a simmer for an hour or so before baking it with a glaze. It removes a lot of the salt as well as some of the smoke flavor that Rich doesn't care for in large quantities.

Good luck!

Chuck