Why is ham breaded?

[ODFOx]

That is all. What is the benefit or improvement of putting a layer of orange crumbs around ham?
If I buy sliced ham from the local supermarket I have to buy honey roasted or normal ham with a stuck on crumb.
I'm not keen on honey. So why? Why is adding a gluten free damp gritty coating around about half the circumference of a circle of reformed ham be better? In ancient times was crumbing a ham a thing? If so, why?
I'm presuming it's to do with proper hams instead of reformed circles, but still, where does it come from/what is the reasoning? Thanks

I don’t know but I too am avid to know the answer. I always assumed that it was to make it look pretty because the crumbs went on to the white fat, back when all ham was cut off an actual leg of pork and was called ‘boiled ham’.

Now, I think it is a symbol that the ham has been cut off an actual piece of meat rather than being ‘re-formed’. But who knows!

I'm not sure but where I am ALL the ham is smoked (maple or hickory). I'd take the weird orange crumbs over the sickly smoked any day.

Because Satan is among us. That's all.

Now, I think it is a symbol that the ham has been cut off an actual piece of meat rather than being ‘re-formed’

I don’t think it is - in sainsburys at least all of the breaded ham is formed. Finding ham that isn’t formed is absurdly difficult!

Good question, OP.

My somewhat cynical answer is that breading ham provides an opportunity for retailers to sell breadcrumbs for £20 /kg. It’s an ‘added value’ product, allegedly.

Was it originally for preservative/protective reasons? That's what I'd assumed

It’s not gluten free! It means I can’t eat the ham! DH’s Nan always orders it. I have no idea why.

@ThePontiacBandit

It’s not gluten free! It means I can’t eat the ham! DH’s Nan always orders it. I have no idea why.

The Tesco breaded ham I bought today to avoid the honey ham claims to be gluten free; in writing; and the coating tastes like damp polenta but is coloured orange. I had to cut it off all the way round each slice individually (the slices were stacked slightly offset in the packet) before making a picnic.

Why, oh why?

I was tho King this exact thing the other day in Tesco - it was either crumbed or honey roast, or awful 'wafer thin' stuff.

Suddenly I need to know this.

I usually buy Tesco finest ham, and that's pretty nice.
But the stuff with breadcrumbs makes me feel queasy.

I don't know either, but I bloody hate it!! Dh always buys the breaded shite & neither the kids nor myself will eat it. It's just a horrible damp, orange boarder 🤮 myself & the children much prefer a smoked ham to that abomination!

www.northernliving.co.uk/index.php/food-drink/361-the-origins-of-york-ham.html

According to this article it was probably to make the ham more attractive - not sure I fully agree that it has that effect though

@ThePontiacBandit

It’s not gluten free! It means I can’t eat the ham! DH’s Nan always orders it. I have no idea why.

Actually they very often are. I would say the majority of the time it's GF.

Can also vouch as a coeliac that a lot is GF these days in the breaded ham world. Doesn't mean I'm tempted to buy it though ! Grim

@eatsleepread

I usually buy Tesco finest ham, and that's pretty nice. But the stuff with breadcrumbs makes me feel queasy.

You men naice haha naice ham

Following with interest as I can't stand ham but my fussy DP will only eat the premium, breaded version...

A good butcher who sells ham knuckles is the answer to this. So much nicer than any packets or deli counter.

I agree OP. If I want bread with my ham I'll put it in a sandwich like a normal person, not be content with a few crappy little weird crumbs.

Most supermarkets offer a bewildering array of ham (that mostly tastes the same anyway), no? Oak smoked, honey roasted, Wiltshire cure, wafer-thin, blah blah blah...

I don't know why either. If we ever have ham the fat gets cut off so the crumbs don't get eaten anyway. Complete waste of time as far as I am concerned, but I assume there are plenty of others who eat it.

I would assume originally it had some kind of practical reason to do with preservation or something.

Has anyone Googled

Google has no clues.

I can't think of a reason and nor can DH.