Leg of Pork

A whole fresh ham is a leg of pork (its typical label in supermarkets) with nothing done to it—no smoking, curing, or aging. It weighs at least 12 pounds and often as much as 20 pounds, with most of it meat. The leg is also sold in halves, either the butt end or the shank end. If you like challenging yourself with meat preparation, you can buy a whole fresh ham and break it down into various roasts and cutlets just as you might do with veal.