Canadian Bacon vs. Ham: 5 Differences, Explanation, How To Eat

It tastes and looks like ham, but it’s not. If you ask a Canadian what Canadian bacon is, they might not be able to give you the right answer.

Or, if you want to try Canadian bacon while you’re in Canada, you may be disappointed because it’s very unlikely that you’ll find it on any menu.

Let’s clear things up by looking at the differences between Canadian bacon and ham. That’s why we’re here, after all.

What Is Canadian Bacon?

All commercial bacon, including Canadian bacon, is cured in a basic brine. Sometimes Canadian-style bacon is smoked, but it is always cut into rounds and served.

It can usually be found in the supermarket near the American-style bacon in the section for breakfast foods.

What Is Ham?

Ham is a type of cured pork meat that comes in a lot of different flavors. The phrase can mean either a whole piece of cooked or uncooked meat from a pig’s leg that has been cured or a processed product, like pieces of cured pork put together by a producer.

How To Eat Canadian Bacon And Ham

How To Eat Canadian Bacon

Even though you can eat Canadian bacon cold, it tastes best when it is heated. You can cook it in a pan, on a grill, or in the oven.

It tastes great in a fried egg sandwich and is filling enough to eat as a light dinner with potatoes, peppers, and corn.

How To Eat Ham

Ham that has been cured, smoked, or baked does not need to be heated up before eating. Ham can be used to make breakfast scrambles, casseroles, antipasto platters, and open-faced sandwiches that are all delicious.

Canadian Bacon vs. Ham

Canadian bacon and ham are both made from pigs. Depending on how they are made, they may look the same, but they are very different. Here are some ways in which the two meats are different:

• The main difference between the two is that Canadian-style bacon comes from the back of the pig and is cut like a loin. Ham comes from the back legs, or buttocks.
• There are both thick and thin slices of Canadian bacon. Ham can be bought in cubes, large slabs of meat, or even slices. Canadian bacon and ham can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, but Canadian bacon is usually eaten for breakfast, just like other kinds of bacon.
• Ham is either cured or smoked, but Canadian bacon, as well as peameal bacon, Irish bacon, English bacon, British bacon, and American bacon, is brined.
• When it comes to nutrition, ham has more sodium and carbs than Canadian bacon, but Canadian bacon has more protein and less cholesterol.

5 Popular Canadian Bacon or Ham Dishes

Canadian bacon and ham can be cooked in many different ways, from grilling to frying, and can be eaten in many different dishes, such as an English breakfast. Here are some Canadian bacon or ham recipes:

1. Eggs Benedict: Fry a thin slice of Canadian bacon in a small amount of oil until it’s crispy, then sprinkle it over your eggs Benedict.
2. Ham sandwich: Add a slice of ham or Canadian bacon to a sandwich, like a deli sandwich or a grilled cheese sandwich, to make a ham sandwich.
3. Omelet: There are a lot of different ways to make an omelet (or omelette), and many of them include breakfast meat. Ham that has been chopped or cut into cubes is another choice.
4. Pasta carbonara: Add Canadian bacon to this Italian dish to give the creamy carbonara sauce a salty, savoury layer.
5. Pizza: Canadian bacon and ham are popular pizza toppings that give the other ingredients a salty, meaty taste.

Is Canadian Bacon Ham?

People were confused about whether Canadian bacon was just ham because the taste and look of both were similar. On the other hand, Canadian bacon is more like ham than it is like streaky cheese.

But there are a lot of differences. Canadian bacon and ham are made in different ways, come in different sizes, and have different nutrients.

Bacon vs. Ham Health

Ham also has a lot of protein and potassium, which are both important for important body functions like managing fluids and building muscles and bones.

Canadian Bacon vs. Bacon Nutrition Facts

Canadian Bacon vs. Ham Pros and Cons

Canadian Bacon Pros and Cons

Pros of Canadian Bacon

• Canadian bacon has a lot of fat, especially oleic acid, which is good for the heart and overall health.
• Raw Canadian bacon can last up to a week in the fridge, while cooked bacon can last up to ten days.
• Since Canadian bacon has fewer calories than ham, it is less likely to make you gain weight.

Cons of Canadian Bacon

• People sometimes eat bacon with other unhealthy foods, like bacon with eggs and butter or bacon with a lot of mayonnaise. This increases the number of calories eaten and makes it easier to gain weight.
• If you eat Canadian bacon that hasn’t been cooked, you could get infections like tapeworms or trichinosis.

Ham Pros and Cons

Pros of Ham

• Ham has a lot of calcium and vitamin C, which are both important for the body to work.
• Ham also has amino acids like carnosine, which are not only antioxidants but also help keep you from getting old.

Cons of Ham

• Ham and other processed meats have a lot of salt. Also, eating a lot of sodium might make you more likely to get high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease.
• Ham contains cancer-causing chemicals, and the risk of these chemicals increases when the ham is heated over a high flame.

FAQs

Which is Better: Canadian Bacon or Ham?

Is Canadian Bacon Actually Ham?

No, Canadian bacon is not the same as ham. It is cut differently, has different nutrients, and looks different.

Why Is Ham Called Canadian Bacon?

People often call ham “Canadian bacon” because it tastes and looks very similar to Canadian bacon.

What Is Closest to Canadian Bacon?

The best substitute for Canadian bacon is “center-cut ham slices,” which are thicker than Canadian bacon but taste the same.

Conclusion

The most important difference between Canadian bacon and ham is how they are made. Ham is made from the back of the pig, which includes the buttocks, shank, and legs. Canadian bacon is made from the pig’s spine.

This extraction is what makes these two kinds of meat different from each other. Both are good for you in different ways and offer different nutrients. Ham can be bought whole, in chunks, or in slices, but Canadian bacon can only be bought in slices.

In terms of nutrition, Canadian bacon is better than ham because it has less fat and more protein.