Mysteries of Pittsburgh: How to Make a BBQ Chipped Ham Sandwich by Cleo Coyle (2024)

FAQs

Is chipped ham a Pittsburgh thing? ›

In the Pittsburgh region, sandwiches of "ham barbecue" or "barbecued chipped ham" are commonly served at home and available at lunch counters. The chain Isaly's helped to popularize chipped chopped ham.

All About Chipped Chopped Ham

It starts with a loaf (yes, loaf) of chopped ham, which is made of ham, ham trimmings, and seasonings ground up and formed into a mold. Chopped ham was a more economical choice than traditional cooked ham, which is what made it so popular in the post-World War II era.

Generations of the Isaly family sold dairy products door to door from wagons and carts but soon switched to retail stores bearing their name. By the 1930s, the Isaly name was famous locally for such products as chipped ham, “Skyscraper” ice cream cones and the famous Klondike bar.

WHAT IS “CHIPPED”?: Ham that is “sliced” wafer thin, so thin that you can almost see through it.

Chipped chopped ham starts with a formed ham loaf (chopped ham, pork trimmings, herbs, spices) which made it cheaper than better cuts and “post-war popular” in the 1940s. The chopped loaf then gets shaved paper-thin on a slicer, which gives the meat a decidedly buttery feel on the palate.

In short? Once you open a package of ham, or if it comes open — like if it was sliced at the deli counter— you can safely eat your leftovers for up to five days.

Barbecued chipped ham sandwiches are a quick solution to dinner. The BBQ sauce is simple and made from scratch on the stovetop. The ham mixture can also be frozen.

Aptly named, boneless ham doesn't contain any bone at all.

The iconic chipped ham (sometimes marketed as “chipped-chopped ham”) still is available and popular. The brand was recently sold to Conroy Foods in O'Hara Township, which — as “Isaly's LLC” — is starting to revive several flavors of Isaly's ice cream as well.

There are at least three Isaly's still in operation in southwestern Pennsylvania in the areas of West View, Turtle Creek, and East Allegheny (city neighborhood of Pittsburgh), all retaining most of the classic interior.

Is chipped ham the same as shaved ham? ›

What is it? A compressed ham loaf that is very thinly sliced or shaved. Although it is not the most expensive or healthiest ham, chip chop (chipped chopped) ham does make a tasty and easy BBQ sandwich.

The modern word ham is derived from the Old English ham or hom meaning the hollow or bend of the knee, from a Germanic base where it meant 'crooked'. It began to refer to the cut of pork derived from the hind leg of a pig around the 15th century.

Why is sliced deli ham always inexplicably wet? Because it is pumped full of water to increase the weight without increasing the amount of actual ham. Cheap ham is cured in a salt water bath with various additional salts like sodium phosphate, which results in it retaining a lot of water.

1/4 - 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham. 1/3 - 1/2 lb. of meat per serving of bone-in ham.

Pal's Chipped Ham has deli fresh, thinly sliced 96% fat- free ham, mayo, fresh lettuce and crispy pickles, and is available now at Pal's!

If you have only tried beef jerky, you have been missing out. Ham jerky is a great snack to have on hand for you and your family. It is salty, chewy, packed with protein, and delicious enough to curb your cravings without too many calories.

It is near the town of Sandwich. In 1931 the parish had a population of 63. On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Northbourne. There is a signpost nearby which points to both the hamlet and the town, thus appearing to read "Ham Sandwich".

There are at least three Isaly's still in operation in southwestern Pennsylvania in the areas of West View, Turtle Creek, and East Allegheny (city neighborhood of Pittsburgh), all retaining most of the classic interior.