75-YEAR-OLD FAMILY TRADITION
Ray and Geneva Goad opened their first Ray's Restaurant, at the end of WWII. Ray became the innovator of the fast food breakfast and the very first to serve country ham and sausage biscuits. Ray's Breakfast Biscuits have become the foundation of much of America's breakfast menu today. Ray's name and legacy are now being preserved by his family, with Ray's natural air-cured Blue Ridge Mountain Country Ham, in the authentic style preserved by the traditional methods originated on the family farms of Appalachia. Thin Sliced for tenderness and shelf-safe vacuum packed for your convenience.
TIME PROVEN NATURAL FOOD PRESERVATION
Curing Country Ham harks back to the way food was preserved on the family farms of Appalachia before electricity and refrigeration. Born of necessity and handed from one generation to another, it has been elevated to a culinary art form. The family tradition of butchering hogs in the late fall allowed for them to cure ham before the cold winter months by rubbing them with salt, and sugar, and other spices to begin a curing process.
A TASTE FROM ANOTHER PLACE IN TIME
Today those traditions are being kept alive in in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Only a few families have continued to perfect dry curing with modern food science techniques that enhance the natural curing process by duplicating the annual seasons of Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall that creates the distinctive taste that can only be described as Ray's Country Ham.
NOTES ON TASTE
Country hams are drastically different from their more common cousin, the wet-cured ham. One of the most distinctive flavors of Country Ham is its salty taste, which is to be expected. Ray's blends this with the unique flavors found only in Blue Ridge Mountain Country Ham.
- DESCRIPTION: Each order contains three (3) 12-oz packages of Country Ham, including two center cuts and end pieces per package. The ham is vacuum-packed, shelf-stable with or without refrigeration, and expertly trimmed of excess fat. Thinly sliced for quick preparation, it sears perfectly in a hot, heavy skillet in about one minute per side until it reaches an internal temperature of 155°F. This 3-pack is convenient for both use and storage.
- A TASTE FROM ANOTHER PLACE IN TIME: Rays Country Ham is more than just ham—it’s heritage. Crafted with century-old curing methods, our salt-cured, air-dried ham reflects traditions from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Every slice delivers the deep, savory richness of authentic country ham. For over 75 years, Rays has been a Southern favorite, offering an unmistakable flavor that stands the test of time. Taste true Blue Ridge craftsmanship in every bite.
- RICH, BOLD FLAVOR – TRADITIONALLY CURED While many products labeled “country ham” may be unexpectedly mild, Ray’s preserves the deep, savory flavor that made Ray Goad’s legendary Country Ham Biscuits famous. Hand-rubbed with a classic blend of salt, pepper, and brown sugar, this Blue Ridge Mountain dry-cured and aged ham delivers the salty, robust taste that Country Ham lovers expect. If you’re seeking a genuinely authentic Country Ham experience, this is the flavor you’ve been craving.
- WHO WILL LOVE THIS HAM: Devoted Country Ham lovers who miss that true, salt, and dry-cured taste will feel at home with Rays Country Ham. This ham is for you if you grew up in the Southeast, where Country Ham & Biscuits are a staple at the breakfast table, family picnics, and funerals. It’s also a heartfelt gift of remembered flavors of traditional ham curing. Sharing good food is more than nourishment; it’s how we connect, reflect, and celebrate the ties that bring us together.
- FIRST-TIME BUYERS: WHAT TO EXPECT: If you’ve never tried authentic Country Ham, prepare for a bold, salty taste combined with a deep, savory flavor that differs from typical sweet "city" hams. If you prefer a milder flavor, soak the slices in a dish of cold water for 10 minutes to reduce the saltiness. However, this ham is for those who appreciate a traditional Southern salt and dry-cured ham, with the robust, savory character that has made Country Ham a beloved favorite for generations.
- COOKING & STORAGE (OWNER’S MANUAL INCLUDED): You’ll receive an Owner’s Manual with cooking instructions—helpful soaking tips, quick skillet-frying methods, and optional red-eye gravy recipes. Once opened, wrap and refrigerate or freeze for future meals. This flexible format ensures you can enjoy hearty portions of real Blue Ridge Mountain–cured ham when the craving strikes.
- A TIMELESS SOUTHERN TRADITION DELIVERED Ray Goad was the first to serve Country Ham Biscuits for breakfast in a Fast-Food restaurant, continuing a 75-year family tradition of dry-cured, aged country ham from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Now, you can enjoy this bold, old-fashioned flavor at home—a cherished tradition, perfected and conveniently available for those who crave and truly appreciate authentic Country Ham. .
- DESCRIPTION: Each order contains three (3) 12-oz packages of Country Ham, including two center cuts and end pieces per package. The ham is vacuum-packed, shelf-stable with or without refrigeration, and expertly trimmed of excess fat. Thinly sliced for quick preparation, it sears perfectly in a hot, heavy skillet in about one minute per side until it reaches an internal temperature of 155°F. This 3-pack is convenient for both use and storage.
- A TASTE FROM ANOTHER PLACE IN TIME: Rays Country Ham is more than just ham—it’s heritage. Crafted with century-old curing methods, our salt-cured, air-dried ham reflects traditions from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Every slice delivers the deep, savory richness of authentic country ham. For over 75 years, Rays has been a Southern favorite, offering an unmistakable flavor that stands the test of time. Taste true Blue Ridge craftsmanship in every bite.
- RICH, BOLD FLAVOR – TRADITIONALLY CURED While many products labeled “country ham” may be unexpectedly mild, Ray’s preserves the deep, savory flavor that made Ray Goad’s legendary Country Ham Biscuits famous. Hand-rubbed with a classic blend of salt, pepper, and brown sugar, this Blue Ridge Mountain dry-cured and aged ham delivers the salty, robust taste that Country Ham lovers expect. If you’re seeking a genuinely authentic Country Ham experience, this is the flavor you’ve been craving.
- WHO WILL LOVE THIS HAM: Devoted Country Ham lovers who miss that true, salt, and dry-cured taste will feel at home with Rays Country Ham. This ham is for you if you grew up in the Southeast, where Country Ham & Biscuits are a staple at the breakfast table, family picnics, and funerals. It’s also a heartfelt gift of remembered flavors of traditional ham curing. Sharing good food is more than nourishment; it’s how we connect, reflect, and celebrate the ties that bring us together.
- FIRST-TIME BUYERS: WHAT TO EXPECT: If you’ve never tried authentic Country Ham, prepare for a bold, salty taste combined with a deep, savory flavor that differs from typical sweet "city" hams. If you prefer a milder flavor, soak the slices in a dish of cold water for 10 minutes to reduce the saltiness. However, this ham is for those who appreciate a traditional Southern salt and dry-cured ham, with the robust, savory character that has made Country Ham a beloved favorite for generations.
- COOKING & STORAGE (OWNER’S MANUAL INCLUDED): You’ll receive an Owner’s Manual with cooking instructions—helpful soaking tips, quick skillet-frying methods, and optional red-eye gravy recipes. Once opened, wrap and refrigerate or freeze for future meals. This flexible format ensures you can enjoy hearty portions of real Blue Ridge Mountain–cured ham when the craving strikes.
- A TIMELESS SOUTHERN TRADITION DELIVERED Ray Goad was the first to serve Country Ham Biscuits for breakfast in a Fast-Food restaurant, continuing a 75-year family tradition of dry-cured, aged country ham from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Now, you can enjoy this bold, old-fashioned flavor at home—a cherished tradition, perfected and conveniently available for those who crave and truly appreciate authentic Country Ham. .
