How to cook a gammon joint
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Our gammon recipe is so easy and perfect for any time of year...
- Prep Time 30 mins
- Cook Time 6 hrs
- Serves 8+
- Difficulty Level Easy
Preparation
- Total Time 6 hrs 30 mins
- Preparation Time 30 mins
- Cooking Time 6 hrs
- joint of gammon
- onion, sliced
- lemon, sliced
- peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves (optional)
For the glaze
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar
- 1 tbsp French mustard
- Soak the joint of gammon in cold water for a few hours (or overnight) to remove the salt (if you haven't got time to soak the gammon for a few hours, boil it for 30 minutes instead to remove the salt and then start the recipe)
- Transfer to a large saucepan or slow cooker (if using a slow cooker, cook on low for 6 hours), add fresh cold water, an onion, a lemon and a few peppercorns (and a couple of bay leaves if you have them)
- Bring to the boil slowly and simmer for 25 minutes per 500g
- Skim off any scum that comes to the surface as it is cooking
- Then leave to cool for a few minutes before lifting out
- Carefully peel off skin (without removing the fat) and cover with a glaze of demerara sugar and french mustard
You will need
Slow cooker - This shutter-proof and hob-proof one by Morphy Richards measures 33 x 25 x 20 cm – see more details here at Amazon.
Large saucepan - We really like this cerastone-coated one as it allows for healthier cooking with little or no oil and is 22cm. See more details here at Amazon.
Brush – perfect for painting on the glaze – see more details here at Wilko.
Tips
It's a British classic meal, we show you the best way to cook it. The cooked meat will last up to 5 days in the fridge and makes delicious sandwiches, especially smothered with english mustard.
25 minutes per 500g is equivalent to the following cooking times:
- 500g joint: 25 minutes
- 750g joint: 37 minutes
- 1kg joint: 50 minutes
Variations
- Instead of water, cook your ham in Coke, cider or stock
- If you want it to look fancy when you serve it up, you can cut diagonal shapes in the surface fat and add a clove into each diagonal before putting in a 220'C/Gas mark 7 oven for 20 minutes or until the glaze is caramelised
- For an alternative glaze; use honey, orange juice and mustard
- If you use water, save the stock for boiling vegetables
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Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 18 ratingsRate this recipe
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Has anyone tried this in coke, need advice asap. It's cooking now and the coke has like separated. So it's like clear liquid with like brown scummy bits floating in it. Something isn't quite right here :/ help someone please?
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Looks a great recipe, will use this over the Christmas period.
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
will be trying this for xmas
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Turned out perfect... thanks!
christine b(172)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Great with Pease pudding and veggies :-)
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Served with cabbage and new potatoes, Yummy :)
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Amazing
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Help! I've just bought two small joints of gammon as I couldn't get hold of a large one. I'm planning on boiling them both together - do I need to double the cooking time?
Susan N(37)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
It tasted really great and a joint makes many meals. You can slice it and freeze it and serve at a later date
Claire F(173)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Massive hit with my family! We had this on Sunday and it was yummy! I popped it in the slow cooker - such an easy meal to make. Everyone loved it, served it with chips and peas! Nom nom x
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
I am going to try this recipe out with the coke idea. It sounds great
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
I cook this all the time. I vary like the recipe with diet coke, apple juice, or as the recipe states. its a winner!
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
How much water or juice should be used please as am going to try this in the morning x
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
I love this recipe, it is spot on and tastes delicious
kerry v
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Lovely. We had this on Boxing Day.
Lucy H(258)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
This was totally delish and really easy. My family gobbled it up :)
Lucy H(258)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
This was totally delish and really easy. My family gobbled it up :)
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
So easy to do in slow cooker and if using water then can use as a base stock or for soup with leftover ham. A joint easily makes 3 meals, eg pie then soup so frugal too
Guest
Currently boiling gammon now, but it's late and needed for tomorrow would it be ok to just slow cook today and glaze tomorrow? X asap help
Guest
We have made this for the past couple of Christmas lunches, along with a turkey of course. We did it once wth coke and then with ginger beer. Both delicious.
Guest
this is lovely. i've had a few chinese dishes with pork in coke and they are tasty too.
Guest
Marie - you don't have to cover it completely - just use plenty - say to an inch or so below the top of the joint. Hope that helps - The Netmums Team
Guest
thanks Nicola. I'm trying it out today and going to have it over christmas if it turns out all right.
nora c(6)
when boiling add some brown sugar it sweetens it, lovely x
Guest
does anyone know if the water has to cover the gammon? i've got a massive slow cooker and it has taken 3 - 4 litres of water to cover the joint!
Sooz
Also nice boiled in orange or apple juice, or cherry coke!
Guest
Another great glaze to use is treacle, brown sugar and mustard after you have cooked the joint in coke, it works really well.
Guest
help how to cook gammon in slow cooker with coke.
Guest
Ginger beer sounds great am off to find that recipe on good food now as I know on the coke one (which is Nigella) you are meant to use full fat coke.
Guest
We do ours with ginger beer instead of coke - really nice! Recipe is from BBC Good Food.
Guest
We boil it in coke instead of water & it's delicious.
Guest
I bring mine to the boil with a dessert spoon of brown cane sugar and a generous helping of vinegar. I then empty the water (as it collects a lot of the scum), rinse the joint and then cook it for its proper amount of time. The smell is delicious and so festive on Christmas Eve.
Guest
We have tried this in the slow cooker with coke and it is really tender and yummy
Guest
Yummy yumy for Christmas eve and adds to the cold cuts for boxing day. boiling it in the slow cooker with coke makes it even sweeter - highly recommended x
Guest
brilliant recipe, really tasty, my family loved it
Guest
I did this receipe for my gammon this Christmas and it was lovely, will be looking for some more receipes to do in the new year. Thanks
Guest
I followed this recipe for our Xmas gammon and it was absolutely delicious. I would def. do it again next year.
Guest
We do this at Christmas and boil the ham in a 2 litre bottle of coke (Nigella styley). It doesn't sound very healthly but it is wonderfully glazed and so tasty. If you are really keen you can use the liquid left from the boil as a basis for soup (again according to Nigella) but I have never done that. Oh, just typing this is making me wish Christmas was here!
Guest
I worked out the other day its far cheaper and healthier to buy a ham joint instead of sliced processed ham. I make this at least twice a month and have found the most srcumptious glaze to place on top. Once the joint has boiled and ready place in a baking tin and remove skin (The outer brown layer) use a sharp knife for this as you want to leave a small amount of skin so that you can groove it diagonally making a diamond shape. In a bowl mix 4 tables spoons of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon English Mustard and 3 capfuls of rum (White or dark rum) Once mixed baste ham joint thoroughly making sure it soaks into the skin. Roast the joint for 1 hour regularly basting. Once dark and caramelised remove and wrap in foil.
Guest
We love this on Christmas eve - it makes the house smell lovely and is great served simply with potato salad and sweetcorn - or maybe with clapshot (potatos and neeps mashed together)..
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