FOOD NEWS
Ham Vs Canadian Bacon: What's The Difference?
BY AUTUMN SWIERS
Ham and Canadian bacon are two popular sliced meats, and while they may look identical at a glance, they're quite different, from the type of cut to the curing techniques.
Ham comes from the hog's hind and is cut from the shank to the rump to produce an ultra-meaty cut. It’s cured, aged, or smoked to give the meat flavor before packaging.
Cured ham is the most common type, made by injecting the meat with brine and cooking it to an internal temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit for a tender texture and meaty flavor.
For flavor, additions like mustard, brown sugar, or cloves can be added to the brine, or, in the case of smoked ham, wood chips can impact the flavor.
Unlike American bacon, which is sourced from the belly, Canadian bacon is sourced from the pork loin, a relatively lean cut of meat, which is then brined and cut into rounds.
Generally, while ham is a large category encompassing a variety of flavors and preparation methods, Canadian bacon is more specific in taste, preparation, and use.
Canadian bacon is mostly eaten at breakfast, and despite the name, it isn't actually Canadian. It goes by many names, including Irish bacon and English bacon.