Roast gammon guide

Roast gammon
guide

Roast Gammon
GUIDE

Gammon deserves better than being saved just for Christmas. Taken from the pig’s hind leg and cured in much the same way as bacon, it’s a brilliantly versatile cut. Serve it up as a crowd-pleasing centrepiece for a Sunday roast, or cook one at home and enjoy thick slices of ham throughout the week.

Shop British gammon

How to cook gammon

You should typically aim for 170g-200g raw gammon per person. A 750g joint will serve 4 and a 1kg joint will serve about 6.

How to roast a gammon

Oven 180ºC | Fan 160ºC | Gas 4

You can either roast or boil a gammon joint (or use a combination of both techniques).

If you’re only roasting, cover the joint loosely with foil, then remove the foil 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time to allow the fat to crisp up; you can also add a glaze of your choice at this point.

You want to roast your gammon for 30 minutes per 500g, plus an extra 30 minutes.

Barbacoa gammon with black bean & mango salsa

How to boil a gammon

In a pan, cover with cold water or other liquid, and flavour with cloves, peppercorns or bay leaves.

Cover, bring to the boil, skim, then simmer for half the time (30 minutes per 500g, plus 30 minutes), until the joint reaches 75ºC. Once rested, your joint is ready to eat.

Alternatively, drain, retaining the liquid for a stock, remove any bindings and rind then roast wrapped in foil for the remaining cooking time. Unwrap, score, glaze then continue to roast uncovered for the last 20-30 minutes.

Give your gammon the Dr Pepper treatment

Cola gammon has had its moment, but we're making a case for Dr Pepper. Its unique mix of fruity, spicy flavours brings a sweet, sticky twist to gammon that's hard to resist. Better still, you can enjoy every bite knowing all our own-label gammon is now free range.

Shop baking

SHOP the recipe

Waitrose Free Range British Unsmoked Gammon Joint

per kg

4.5 out of 5 stars(100)

Item price£13.53 each est.Price per unit£12.30/kg

Dr Pepper 2L

2litre

3.5 out of 5 stars(3)

Any 2 for £3.50 Mix & Match

Offer Price per unit87.5p/litre

Item price£2.25Price per unit£1.13/litre

Cooks' Ingredients Star Anise

12g

4.5 out of 5 stars(18)

Any 2 for £3 Mix & Match

Item price£1.80Price per unit£150/kg

New lower price

Waitrose Echalion Shallots

per kg

4.5 out of 5 stars(162)

Was 26p

Item price25pPrice per unit£3.80/kg

New lower price

Essential Oranges

4 out of 5 stars(142)

Was £1.70

Item price£1.50Price per unit30p each

Roast gammon recipes

Gammon can be served as a whole joint, glazed in something sticky and delicious, or once cooked can be added to pies, mac ‘n’ cheese and even savoury tarts.

See & shop gammon recipes

How to check your roast gammon is cooked

Use a digital meat thermometer to check that your gammon joint has reached 75ºC. Rest the gammon for 10-15 minutes before carving for the juiciest meat.

What wine to serve?

Gammon works well with both red and white wine. A Riesling is an excellent match if you have a sweet, fruity glaze, while red lovers will enjoy a velvety, berry-rich Beaujolais from our range of French wines.

We're proud of our pigs

All our pigs are reared to higher welfare standards by British farmers who share our values. All our piglets are born outside, and pigs reared for our Essential pork have comfortable, light and airy barns lined with fresh straw.

Find out more about the welfare of pigs reared for us.