What is Ham Shank?

The cured and smoked picnic portion of the front shoulder is sometimes called "picnic ham". This is not true ham. Remember, ham is a cut of meat from the hind leg, not the process of curing and smoking.If the label on a half ham reads "shank end half" or "butt end half", then it includes these meaty center slices.Shank ham is a processed cut taken from the bottom half of the leg. The shank end contains less fat, is not as meaty as the butt end, but it contains only one leg bone, making it easier to carve. It also has a slightly sweeter flavor and is perfect for cooking with beans.Pig Wings are also made from Ham Shanks that are trimmed leaving just a single bone surrounded with lean tender ham meat. With ham shanks the possibilities are endless.