Do you still soak supermarket ham?

[helloxhristmas]

Just that really - I haven't soaked a small gammon for years. I've got a 4kg smoked gammon from Waitrose. Is soaking still a thing? My mum insists it must be for 24 hours. I'd like to use the stock for soup if that makes a difference, don't want it to be too salty.

I've rinsed mine, and it's now soaking. Cooking it this afternoon - coca cola ham is the best!

I've never soaked mine. Boiled in coke, job done. I've never noticed it to be salty.....

Snap @SoddingWeddings

I always just boil mine for ten/fifteen mins first then put it in the slow cooker, does the same job as soaking it.

The one time I forgot it was really salty.

I've got mine in the slow cooker with cider, stock, carrot, garlic, onion and apple. I'm going to finish it with a maple syrup & mustard glaze but will it be okay to do that tomorrow?

I'm thinking bang it in the oven for half an hour with the glaze on?

This is my first time cooking a ham!!

No I never do but then I boil it first before finishing in the oven. I never find it too salty

No like pps bring to boil, pour water away and then roast / put in slow cooker etc

I’ve got mine in the oven, instructions say 2 hours 50 minutes. I only asked for a £5 piece, but got delivered a piece costing £17.50, but paid £5 as it was subbed. I hope it’s going to be ok, going to give half to my brother.

I did the bring to the boil with a potato and then change the water. SO disappointed though as I bought my gammon from M&S this year rather than Sainsburys and it has disintegrated into several pieces - never had that happen before.

Yes we do, otherwise it’s far too salty.

I bought a small 1kg supermarket piece and just soaked it for 2 hours, changing the water once part way through. I put it in the slow cooker for 6hrs with a chopped onion, cloves, bay leaves and peppercorns. Then found a recipe online for a glaze...and it has turned out lovely! Best ham I have ever cooked, and not salty at all!

@DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes

Is it salted or unsalted? I don't soak because I always by unsalted.

Is unsalted ham a thing? I thought it was the salting that turned it from pork into ham?

If I have frozen it I soak it overnight to defrost

I have just done tomorrow’s, placed in pan of water and brought to boil to get rid of excess salt. Emptied more water, onions,, cloves herbs etc, boiled again then final bit in oven

Not something I've ever heard of myself, but, as BarbaraofSeville says, if it were needed, I'm pretty sure it would be on the directions printed on the gammon's wrapping.

I remember doing that years ago because my mum told me to but the one I have I have just boiled it and now it's in the oven roasting with honey on it.

@DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes

Is it salted or unsalted? I don't soak because I always by unsalted.

It's ham so it will be salted.

Yes, I would always soak a ham otherwise it would be too salty.

@DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes

Is it salted or unsalted? I don't soak because I always by unsalted.

Do you mean smoked or unsmoked? Or are you buying pork?

Nope. Haven't needed to do that to a gammon for years. I boil it for an hour with onion, bay leaf etc. Then roast it with a glaze. Not too salty.

People soak ham? I've always just cooked it

I'm surprised at the number of people who don't soak ham TBH. I thought everyone knew to do that. Maybe supermarket ham doesn't need soaking, but ham from the butcher definitely does because it is way too salty otherwise.