Last updated: October 15, 2026
We want you to enjoy every slice. Spanish ham, cured meats and cheese are traditional foods that ask for a little care: a very sharp knife, a steady stand, good storage and attention to allergies. Please read this page before you use what you buy from us, and share it with anyone you are sending a gift to. These instructions are part of our Terms of Sale (see §15).
1. Knives and carving
A ham knife (cuchillo jamonero) is long, thin and extremely sharp. That is what makes thin slices possible, and it is also why it can cause serious cuts. This applies to every knife, whether you bought it from us or already had it.
- Always cut away from your body and away from the hand that holds the ham. Keep your free hand behind the blade, never in front of it.
- Wear a cut-resistant glove on the hand that is not holding the knife. Professional carvers in Spain do; we strongly recommend it.
- Carve only with the ham fixed firmly in a stable ham stand on a flat, dry, non-slip surface.
- Carve slowly, with short strokes. Do not carve when you are tired, in a hurry, or after drinking alcohol.
- Never try to catch a falling knife. Let it fall and step back.
- Keep knives out of reach of children. Children should never carve. Store the knife in its sheath or a knife block, never loose in a drawer.
- Do not use a ham knife to cut bone, open packages or pry. Ask a butcher to cut the bone.
- Wash the knife by hand, blade away from you, and dry it straight away. Do not leave it in a sink full of water where you cannot see it.
- A dull knife slips. Keep it sharp with a steel or have it sharpened, and handle it with the same care afterwards.
- If you cut yourself, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth. For a deep cut, a cut that will not stop bleeding, or loss of feeling, seek medical help right away (call 911 in an emergency).
Knives are sold with the manufacturer’s instructions and warranty, if any. Read them before first use.
2. Ham stands (jamoneros)
- Assemble and use the stand exactly as the manufacturer’s instructions say, and check that every screw, clamp and head is tight before you place the ham.
- Use it on a stable, level surface, away from the edge of the counter or table and out of the way of children and pets.
- Make sure the ham is clamped firmly before you start, and check it again between carving sessions.
- Keep your fingers clear of clamps, hinges and folding parts when you open, close or adjust the stand.
- A whole ham or shoulder weighs 8 to 17 lb (3.5 to 8 kg). Lift it with both hands, close to your body, and get help if you need it.
- Do not use the stand for anything other than holding a ham or shoulder.
3. Cured meats and cheese
- Read the label. Ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the package you receive come first. The product page is a guide; the label is the reference.
- Allergens. Some products contain or may contain milk, eggs, tree nuts (such as almonds and hazelnuts), peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, sesame, sulfites and other allergens. If you or anyone who will eat the food has an allergy, check the label each time and contact us before ordering if you have questions.
- Cured, not cooked. Jamón, chorizo, lomo, salchichón and similar products are dry-cured and ready to eat; they are not cooked. Some cheeses may be made with raw (unpasteurized) milk; the label says so. If you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or are buying for young children or older adults, ask your doctor whether these foods are right for you.
- These foods are naturally high in salt. If you follow a low-sodium diet, check with your doctor.
- Ham rind. A white or greenish surface mold and small white crystals on a cured ham are normal. Remove the skin and the outer yellow fat before carving; do not eat the rind.
- Storage. Refrigerate perishable items (cheese, sliced ham, refrigerated sausages) as soon as they arrive and follow the “use by” or “best before” date. Once opened, keep sliced products covered and refrigerated and eat them within the time on the label. A whole bone-in ham can be kept at cool room temperature while you carve it; cover the cut face with baking paper and a clean cloth.
- If a product smells, looks or tastes wrong, or arrives warm when it should be cold, do not eat it: take photos and contact us within 24 hours of delivery.
- Enjoy in moderation. Cured meats, cheese and sweets are rich, salty and fatty. Eat them in reasonable portions; large amounts can upset your stomach.
- Once delivered, storage is in your hands. We are responsible for the condition of your order until it is delivered. After that, food that is left out of the refrigerator, kept past its date, stored in a way the label does not allow, or eaten after it shows signs of spoiling is no longer something we can control.
4. Canned and pantry goods
- Do not eat from a can that is bulging, leaking, badly dented on the seam, or that spurts when opened. Throw it away and tell us.
- Can lids and edges are sharp. Open them carefully and keep fingers away from the edge.
- Olives may contain pits unless the label says “pitted”. Whole nuts, olives with pits and hard sweets such as turrón can be a choking hazard for young children.
- Once opened, move leftovers to a clean container and refrigerate them.
5. Cooking (paella kits and recipes)
- A paella pan gets very hot and stays hot. Use oven mitts, keep handles turned away from the edge, and keep children away from the stove or burner.
- Use the pan only on a heat source that is suitable for it, and follow the instructions of your stove or burner. Never leave hot oil unattended.
- Cook rice and any added meat or seafood thoroughly and refrigerate leftovers promptly.
6. Made-to-order items (Ensaimada and Roscón de Reyes)
- The bean and the figurine of a Roscón de Reyes come in a separate small bag and are never baked inside. They are small parts and are not food: keep them away from children under 3. If you decide to hide them in the roscón, tell everyone at the table before serving.
- These items are made in a Florida cottage food operation. Check the ingredients and allergens on the product page and the label before ordering; both contain wheat and eggs.
7. Cold packs and packaging
- Cold packs, ice packs and absorbent pads in your box are not food. Do not open, eat or give them to pets; dispose of them as the pack says.
- Boxes may contain staples, tape and plastic. Keep packaging away from small children.
8. Pets
Do not give ham bones, rind or cured meats to dogs or cats. Cooked or cured bones can splinter, and these foods are very salty. If your pet eats any, call your veterinarian.
9. Wine pairings
Some of our pages suggest a Spanish wine or cava to enjoy with a product. These are suggestions only: we do not sell alcohol. If you drink, you must be 21 or older; drink responsibly, do not drink and drive, and do not drink if you are pregnant or carving with a sharp knife.
10. Guides, recipes and videos
Our carving guides, recipes, videos and articles are general information to help you enjoy our products. They are not professional, medical or nutritional advice. Results depend on your tools, skill and kitchen. Follow them using your own judgment and the safety instructions on this page and on the manufacturer’s packaging.
11. Gifts
If you send a product as a gift, please share the allergen, storage and safety information with the person who receives it, especially when a knife or stand is included or the gift is for a child, someone who is pregnant, or someone with allergies. You can send them a link to this page.
12. Your responsibility and ours
You are responsible for using, storing and serving the products safely and as described here, on the label and in the manufacturer’s instructions, and for supervising children and anyone else who uses them. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Spain at Home is not responsible for injury, illness or damage caused by misuse, carelessness, failure to follow these instructions, the label or the manufacturer’s instructions, alteration of a product, or use of knives or other tools that we did not supply. Nothing on this page limits any right you have under the law that cannot be waived, or our responsibility where the law does not allow it to be limited. See §15 of our Terms of Sale.
California residents: see also our Proposition 65 notice.
Questions or a problem?
Email hello@spainathome.com or call +1 (954) 982-5403. If a product made you sick or you were injured, seek medical care first, then tell us so we can look into it.
UPPENDI CORPORATION, doing business as Spain at Home 3200 NW 62nd Ave, Unit #1001, Margate, FL 33063, USA