Canadian Bacon vs. Ham: What's the Difference?

What is the difference between Canadian bacon vs. ham? While these two meats look and taste similar, they have a lot of differences. They both have different origins and are two different cuts of meat. While both these meats are common grocery store items it can be easy to confuse them due to their similar appearance. 

Discerning Canadian bacon vs. ham may not be obvious, but the differences are important to note in certain recipes. While Canadian bacon is popular on pizza, baked ham is popular at holiday dinners and sliced ham is great on a sandwich. Want to learn more about these two popular preserved meats? Let's settle the Canadian bacon vs. ham debate once and for all. 

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• What Is Canadian Bacon?
• What Is Ham?
• Is Canadian Bacon Ham?
• What Are the Similarities Between Canadian Bacon vs. Ham?
• What Is the Difference Between Canadian Bacon vs. Ham?
• Can Canadian Bacon Be Substituted for Ham?

What Is Canadian Bacon?

The name Canadian bacon was first coined by Americans when the thick meaty slabs were imported to New York from Canada. Fun fact, Canadian bacon is actually an American term and is not called by that name in Canada. This tasty meat is known by a few different names including Canadian bacon, rashers and back bacon. 

It's taken from the back of the pig resulting in a less fatty cut of meat. In comparison, American bacon, also known as streaky bacon, comes from the underside of the pig along the belly, making it much fattier. Canadian bacon has a flavor profile that is much more similar to ham than bacon, which may be where the confusion arises between the two. 

This meat comes from the same cut of pork that is often used to make pork chops, giving it a heartier, less greasy flavor than traditional “American” bacon. Though Canadian bacon is technically a breakfast food item, it is a versatile ingredient to use in the kitchen and can be added to elevate many different types of dishes beyond the breakfast table.

The process of making Canadian bacon vs. ham is very different. To make Canadian bacon, the back bacon is sliced into rounds and brined. This preparation process is similar to other kinds of meats like peameal bacon, Irish bacon and English bacon.

The brine is made from a mixture of water, salt, sugar and other seasonings. The bacon is submerged and left in the refrigerator to cure. Canadian bacon is traditionally a breakfast food and is usually sold fully cooked, making it a convenient morning-time protein source.

What Is Ham?

Ham comes in many different forms and is used in a variety of dishes. Ham is a cured meat product that comes from a pig. This cut of meat comes from the hind flank of the big and is generally less fatty than other cuts of pork. Ham can be sold cooked or uncooked and is preserved in a variety of different ways, including wet-curing, dry-curing and smoking. 

The curing process of ham often makes the sodium content much higher than that of Canadian bacon. Ham can be prepared in numerous ways and has many regional specialties. Preservation of the pork leg or ham has been a part of human culinary practices for centuries. Many historians argue that preserving ham dates all the way back to the 4th or 5th century, when it was invented by the Etruscan civilization in ancient Italy.

The production process of Canadian bacon vs. ham is very different. Dry curing ham is a special process that traditionally uses only salt to preserve the cut of meat. Today, dry curing is often done with nitrites such as sodium nitrate or potassium nitrite that prevents the growth of bacteria on the meat while it cures. Curing can be a long process, with specialty hams such as prosciutto di parma taking over a year to fully cure.

Is Canadian Bacon Ham?

The simple answer is no. While ham can come in many different flavors and regional styles, Canadian bacon is not one of them. 

When discerning Canadian bacon vs. ham, the former also has a different curing process. Canadian bacon is brined, while ham is usually smoked or cured with salt and other preservatives. Canadian bacon comes from the back of the pig while ham comes from the leg.

What Are the Similarities Between Canadian Bacon vs. Ham?

The taste of Canadian bacon vs. ham is quite similar. They both have a hearty pork flavor that pairs well with many different dishes. From breakfast foods like eggs Benedict to Hawaiin pizza, both Canadian bacon and Ham are widely used in American cuisine. 

What about the preparation methods of Canadian bacon vs. ham? These are similar, at least in the fact that they are both preserved in some way. Ham is traditionally dry-cured with salt while Canadian bacon is commonly brined and sold in thick medallions.

What Is the Difference Between Canadian Bacon vs. Ham?

Now that we’ve covered the similarities between Canadian Bacon vs. ham let's dive into the differences between these two types of meat, including tastes, origin, preservation methods and nutritional value.

The difference in taste between Canadian bacon vs. ham can be quite distinct. Because Canadian bacon is cut from the loin and not smoked but brined it will often have a milder pork taste that is more delicate. This versatile flavor can be used in a variety of recipes including eggs benedict, breakfast sandwiches and on meat lovers pizza. 

Ham on the other hand is smoked or cured giving it a saltier more robust flavor that stands up well on its one in many dishes like the popular chopped Italian sandwich. Additionally, their preservation methods differ: Canadian bacon is brined, while ham is cured or smoked.

The origin of Canadian bacon vs. ham is also a key point of difference. Ham can be traced back to Italy, where famous hams such as prosciutto were invented. Canadian bacon on the other hand probably originated in Western Europe as it is very similar to British breakfast ham and Irish ham. The term Canadian bacon is an American marketing ploy to let the consumer know where the meat was imported from. 

The biggest and most defining difference between Canadian bacon vs. ham is where from the pig they are cut. Canadian bacon comes from the back area of the pig, near the pork loin. This cut of meat isn’t very fatty and is often called back bacon in other parts of the world. Ham, on the other hand, is cut from the back leg of the pig.

The nutritional value of Canadian bacon vs. ham can differ significantly. Ham has a higher sodium content than Canadian bacon due to being preserved with salt. If high blood pressure is an issue for you, Canadian bacon may be a better option for your health.

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Can Canadian Bacon Be Substituted for Ham?

If you are in a pinch in the kitchen, there are many recipes in which Canadian bacon can replace ham. Since Canadian bacon is commonly sold as ready-to-eat discs, it can be a quick substitute for ham in a multitude of situations. The flavors of Canadian bacon vs. ham can be very similar, which is handy if you need to substitute one for the other.

Want to make a gooey ham and cheese grilled sandwich but don’t have any ham on hand? Substituting Canadian bacon in this recipe works just fine. Canadian bacon can also be used in any recipe with sliced deli ham or cubed ham, as the flavor profile will be very similar.

The only recipes in which Canadian bacon would not be a great fit would be recipes involving a whole roasted ham such as a Christmas dinner ham. Common recipes where Canadian bacon and ham are interchangeable include a Croque Madames, ham and cheese breakfast croissants and stuffed chicken breasts.

The history of how Canadian bacon vs. ham came to be is a fascinating exploration of culinary history. These two preserved meats both have a unique backstory and special production processes that distinguish them from one another. A study of Canadian bacon vs. ham presents a microcosm of the wider world of food, of how even the smallest, most subtle differences between ingredients can have an enormous impact on how we enjoy our meals. 

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