Gammon vs. Pork — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Gammon is a cured hind leg of pork that's usually cooked before consumption, while pork refers to any meat from a pig in various cuts and forms.
Difference Between Gammon and Pork
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Key Differences
Gammon specifically refers to a hind leg of pork that has been cured through salting, brining, or smoking. Pork, in a broader sense, encompasses all meat derived from a pig, regardless of the cut or preparation method.
While gammon is always a specific cut and cure, pork can include various cuts like loin, ribs, and belly. Pork is a versatile ingredient, whereas gammon has a distinct flavor profile due to its curing process.
Cooking methods for gammon often involve boiling or baking, sometimes followed by glazing. Pork, on the other hand, can be cooked in numerous ways, including grilling, roasting, and frying.
Gammon is traditionally served as a main dish, often during holidays or special occasions. Pork, being more general, is used in a wide array of dishes from casual to gourmet cuisine.
The term "gammon" is more common in British English, while "pork" is universally understood and used in various culinary traditions worldwide.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Cured hind leg of pork
Meat from any part of a pig
Preparation
Typically cured and cooked
Various methods and cuts
Cooking
Often boiled or baked
Grilled, roasted, fried, etc.
Usage
Main dish, often in special meals
Wide range of dishes and cuisines
Commonality
More specific, British English
Universal, used globally
Compare with Definitions
Gammon
Cured pork leg
The gammon was the centerpiece of the holiday meal.
Pork
Bacon
Bacon is a popular form of pork.
Gammon
Brined ham
She soaked the gammon before cooking it.
Pork
Ribs
Pork ribs are a staple at many American cookouts.
Gammon
Boiled ham
We boiled the gammon before glazing it.
Pork
Pig meat
They served various pork dishes at the barbecue.
Gammon
Traditional dish
Gammon is a classic British Christmas dish.
Pork
Pork chops
He grilled pork chops for dinner.
Gammon
Ham which has been cured or smoked like bacon
Gammon steaks
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for the meat of a domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC.Pork is eaten both freshly cooked and preserved.
Gammon
A victory in backgammon (carrying a double score) in which the winner removes all their pieces before the loser has removed any.
Pork
The flesh of a pig or hog used as food.
Gammon
Nonsense; rubbish
‘That's gammon,’ he said, ‘how much real money did you stump up?’
Pork
Government funds, appointments, or benefits dispensed or legislated by politicians to gain favor with their constituents
"However much [the voters] may distrust Congress and dislike pork, the advantages of being represented by an incumbent with seniority are hard to deny" (Richard Lacayo).
Gammon
Defeat (an opponent) with a gammon.
Pork
To eat ravenously; gorge oneself. Used with out.
Gammon
Hoax or deceive (someone)
You're gammoning me!
Pork
To become fat. Used with out.
Gammon
A victory in backgammon reached before the loser has succeeded in removing a single piece.
Pork
(uncountable) The meat of a pig; swineflesh.
The cafeteria serves pork on Tuesdays.
Gammon
Misleading or nonsensical talk; humbug.
Pork
Funding proposed or requested by a member of Congress for special interests or their constituency as opposed to the good of the country as a whole.
Gammon
Gammon See Shelta.
Pork
Law enforcement, those who side with criminal prosecution
Gammon
A cured or smoked ham.
Pork
The flesh of swine, fresh or salted, used for food.
Gammon
The lower part of a side of bacon.
Pork
Meat from a domestic hog or pig
Gammon
To defeat in backgammon by scoring a gammon.
Pork
A legislative appropriation designed to ingratiate legislators with their constituents
Gammon
To deceive or mislead
"[He] gammoned a countryman out of a good round sum of money" (Charles Dickens).
Pork
Sausage
The breakfast included pork sausages.
Gammon
To talk misleadingly or deceptively.
Gammon
To fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a ship.
Gammon
A cut of quick-cured pork leg.
Gammon
(backgammon) A victory in backgammon achieved when the opponent has not borne off a single stone.
Gammon
(rare) Backgammon (the game itself).
Gammon
(nautical) A rope fastening a bowsprit to the stem of a ship (usually called a gammoning).
Gammon
(dated) Chatter, ridiculous nonsense.
Gammon
A middle-aged or older right-wing, reactionary white man, or such men collectively.
Gammon
To cure bacon by salting.
Gammon
(backgammon) To beat by a gammon (without the opponent bearing off a stone).
Gammon
To lash with ropes (on a ship).
Gammon
To deceive; to lie plausibly to.
Gammon
The buttock or thigh of a hog, salted and smoked or dried; the lower end of a flitch.
Gammon
Backgammon.
Gammon
A victory in the game of backgammon in which one player gammons another, i. e., the winner bears off all of his pieces before his opponent bears off any pieces; as, he won the match with three gammons in a row.
Gammon
An imposition or hoax; humbug.
Gammon
To make bacon of; to salt and dry in smoke.
Gammon
To beat in the game of backgammon, before an antagonist has been able to get his "men" or counters home and withdraw any of them from the board; as, to gammon a person. In certain variants of the game one who gammons an opponent scores twice the normal value of the game.
Gammon
To impose on; to hoax; to cajole.
Gammon
To fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a vessel by lashings of rope or chain, or by a band of iron.
Gammon
Meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)
Gammon
Hind portion of a side of bacon
Gammon
Smoked pork cut
The smoked gammon had a rich flavor.
Common Curiosities
Is gammon always made from hind leg?
Yes, gammon specifically refers to the hind leg cut.
Is all gammon smoked?
No, gammon can be either smoked or unsmoked.
Can pork be eaten raw?
No, pork should always be cooked to a safe temperature.
Should gammon be soaked before cooking?
Soaking can help reduce saltiness, depending on the curing process.
Is pulled pork made from a specific cut?
It's often made from the shoulder or butt.
Is gammon a type of ham?
Yes, it's a type of ham, usually requiring cooking before eating.
Can pork be slow-cooked?
Yes, many cuts are well-suited to slow cooking.
Are pork belly and bacon the same?
No, bacon is cured and often smoked, while pork belly is the raw cut.
Can pork be used in stews?
Yes, various cuts of pork are great in stews.
Is gammon popular outside the UK?
It's more common in the UK, but similar cuts exist elsewhere.
Are there lean cuts of pork?
Yes, pork tenderloin and loin chops are lean options.
Can gammon be eaten cold?
Yes, if it's been fully cooked, it can be eaten cold.
Does gammon need to be glazed?
Glazing is optional but adds flavor and visual appeal.
Can leftover gammon be frozen?
Yes, cooked gammon can be frozen for later use.
Is pork loin the same as pork tenderloin?
No, they are different cuts; tenderloin is smaller and more tender.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
