By request, The Annual Christmas Ritual of Cursing the Gammon!

Phew!
It wouldn't be Christmas ? without it!

I'm staring at our gammon which has been soaking overnight and sending out taunting vibes from under the tea towel. We're doing a smaller one this year so not only do I have to rummage in the bin for the wrapper but also calculate a reduced cooking time because it's just small enough to go in the pressure cooker

Thanks for giving me the willpower to get off my a**e on with it.

Put it in the slow cooker overnight - sorry to spoil the game!

Bake it?

Oh no , I wasn't going to soak the gammon till tomorrow, merlot! does that mean I'm too late and will have to throw it away??.
I WILL DO IT RIGHT NOW,

Soak it??? - is that what I am supposed to do?!

Easy peasy, I do not like gammon so no cooking of it.

I gave up soaking, I cook 25 mins to lbs in cider or apple juice with some added spice like cinemmon sticks and few cloves I use in large casserole dish, then finish by baking for last 15 mins in hot oven once I have removed skin and put on glaze. Family all love it done this way, and no mess for me to have to clear up.

lol, makes me glad I no longer have to cook a huge piece of gammon, can get away with smaller one these days.
I don't soak mine, just do similar to Hilltopgran but simmer in water. Finish off in oven with mustard and honey glaze, yum.
I will cook mine tomorrow.

luckygirl how long do you slow cook your gammon?

Am doing a smaller one on Boxing Day.No soaking, it goes into an enamel casserole long dish with lid, some water and apple juice and a sprinkle of herbs.Into oven to cook, and that's it.
However Phoenix if the annual cursing is a happy ritual for you, don't use any other method. ?Cheers! I always use wine when I cook, sometimes it even goes into the food.

Hello all!

That was actually written and posted on GN many years ago, I now bung it in the slow cooker, but still forget to time it properly

I'm with Luckygirl on this one. No brainer.

You are right, phoenix, we need this to start off Christmas!

And when you have done all that you have to remove the skin , score the fat in lovely diamond shapes. Put in the cloves. Brush on something sticky and bake. Havn't even defrosted yet. Hey ho ???

I've read you no longer need to soak the joint due to the preperation method changing. I haven't soaked mine for a few years now.
I have never baked mine, I just simmer in water for 2-3 hrs. I did use the Nigella Coca cola method one year but couldn't taste the difference. However, this year D's SO wants to honey glaze and roast it after. I'm letting him get on with it

I'm doing two as usual, one for Christmas Day at DD's and one for Boxing Day at home.

Soak, boil, drain, derind, score, glaze, roast, aaaand repeat.

I love it really.

Slow cooker while I drink the sherry .

Another slow cooker fan here, I buy a joint the same size and shape as the pot. Cook on low heat all day or night whatever the weight. Simples!

Will cook Nigella's Coca Cola Gammon tomorrow. Tried it last weekend with half sized joint and guests loved it so will do twice as much. I will only curse it if it turns out horrible, phoenix in honour of my convent girl beginnings. (I am vegetarian but the men in the family love all things to emanate from a pig!)

I am doing two this year - one for us and one for DD. I'm cursing myself for thinking that was a good idea! I will put hers in the slow cooker but will have to braise mine in the oven as it won't fit anywhere else. I don't soak mine either.

Well, I've managed to complete the boiling without any curses so I've rewarded myself with a small large sherry.

I now have a large jug of ham stock to deal with and a freezer which is full to bursting so many curses while I dig out some shallow rectangle plastic continers (the kind you get with a Chinese takeaway) and try to ram them into various crevices.

DH is telling me to just pour it down the sink but my frugal upbringing will NOT allow me to waste all that yummy goodness for making future soups.

I ordered one from Dukeshill. Do so every year. Is there a terribly smug emoticon ?