Which joint to buy for sliced ham?

bizzylizzy

I seem to be spending a lot on packets of sliced ham, even though I always get offers. I have read on here that some people buy a bacon/ham/gammon joint, cook it and freeze in slices. Does this work out cheaper? And which joint do you buy?
I am nervous of spending out for a lump of meat that isn't very nice.
This is to use with salads and in sandwiches.

maman

bizzylizzy wrote: »

I seem to be spending a lot on packets of sliced ham, even though I always get offers. I have read on here that some people buy a bacon/ham/gammon joint, cook it and freeze in slices. Does this work out cheaper? And which joint do you buy?
I am nervous of spending out for a lump of meat that isn't very nice.
This is to use with salads and in sandwiches.

Definitely cheaper and far more tasty. I buy my gammon joints in Aldi or Lidl for (from memory as I haven't bought one for a while) £3.99 per kg. I cook them in the SC so minimal energy costs there. The stock makes the most wonderful soup too.

When cold, I slice it up and freeze what I don't need immediately. I tend to use it for meals rather than sandwiches so cut it quite thickly. If you want it as thin as some shop-bought hams you might need an electric carving knife.

Fruball

I use the gammon joints in mrT or mrS. They are perfect for cold sliced meat for sandwiches and salads etc.

Definitely a big money saver.

pixiedust09

I was wondering about this aswell, so this thread has really helped.

meritaten

Aldi do a nice size gammon joint for £4.99. I have one in fridge at mo to cook for tommorows supper - this will make supper for two, enough slices for sandwiches for next day and half left to give to son for their (two adults, one child) supper!
the meat is really lovely if you ignore Aldis cooking times - I do mine at a fast simmer for an hour and half.

I haven't done this but I guess using a meat slicer and slicing the whole joint would save at least the cost of the joint of buying the equivalent cheap ham. and it is much better for you.

EstherH

I bought a small gammon joint on our local market which cost me £2.99 and weighed 500g. I cooked it in the slow cooker and then put it in the fridge overnight. That made it easier to slice up. I then had enough for a gammon, chips and egg meal, sandwiches and some to put in pasta. I have paid three pounds for a small amount in the SM when it has been cut quite thick, and all I've got out of that is a few sandwiches so now unless I get off cuts from somewhere like FF for sandwiches and pasta, cooking my own is the way to go. Esther x

zippychick

we do have an older thread which will help

have a read and ill merge this later

Zip

allybee101

Don't bother with the ready cooked ones from MrA - tough, chewy and a strange sweet flavour.

seabright

I buy the 3 for £10 ones in Sainsbury's or Tescos. I put one in the slowcooker overnight, just on it's own, on low, and it's ready in the morning.

I usually do it on Friday night, then we have ham for weekend snacks plus meat for carbonara

boredjellybean

just out of interest does this freeze well sliced? it'd be handy to have some I could keep for sandwiches when the kids get bored mid week

meritaten

yes - it freezes beautifully! I pack a sandwich worth between squares of baking parchment, put a stack in a freezer bag. take out whatever I need - and it takes about a minute on defrost in microwave.