 | ||
Similar Pork, Sirloin steak, Back bacon, Rump steak, Lamb and mutton | ||
Gammon is the hind leg of pork after it has been cured by dry-salting or brining. It may or may not be smoked. Like bacon, it needs to be cooked before it can be eaten. It may be sold on-the-bone or without bone, or as steaks or rashers. It differs from ham in that ham is cured after being cut from the carcass but not cooked, and the curing process for ham may be different.
Gammon hock (or knuckle) is the foot end of the joint, and contains more connective tissue and sinew.
Joints of cooked gammon are often served at Christmas, or on Boxing Day.
Gammon is often purchased to be further cured into ham – this is carried out by immersing the joint in water, then adding sugar, salt, spices, and other ingredients, and bringing it to the boil.
The words gammon, ham and bacon are sometimes used interchangeably. Particularly in the US, the word 'ham' may refer to raw, uncured hind leg of pork.
The word 'gammon' is related to the French word jambon, meaning ham, which in turn is derived from Late Latin gamba, meaning leg.
