Gammon steak is one of those meals that fills the whole house with a proper Sunday-dinner smell, but you can have it on the table in under 15 minutes on a random Tuesday. Here's how to cook it three ways, plus the one trick that stops it curling up in the pan.
Do this first (it's the secret)
See that strip of fat running round the edge of the steak? Snip through it in two or three places with kitchen scissors before it goes anywhere near the heat. Gammon fat tightens as it cooks, and if you don't cut it, the whole steak buckles up in the middle and cooks unevenly. Ten seconds now saves you a curled-up dinner later.
How to cook gammon steak in a pan
The classic, and the quickest. Get a frying pan properly hot with a little oil.
- Cook over a medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
- You're after a deep golden colour and a bit of caramelisation on the fat.
- A 1kg steak (our standard) will be cooked through in that time, but if yours is thicker, give it another minute a side.
How to cook gammon steak under the grill
Great if you want to do a few at once. Get the grill hot first.
- Grill for 5 to 6 minutes each side, turning once.
- Keep it a notch below the top of the grill so it colours rather than burns.
How to cook gammon steak in the air fryer
Our favourite for a fuss-free midweek version, no splattered hob to clean.
- Preheat to 180°C.
- Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- No oil needed, the fat does the work.
Do you need to soak gammon first?
For a big gammon joint, sometimes. For a single steak, almost never. If you know your gammon runs very salty you can sit it in cold water for an hour, but honestly, for a quick steak we'd skip it and just go easy on any added salt.
What to serve with it
Gammon, egg and chips is the law, and we won't argue. Beyond that, a pineapple ring (don't knock it till you've tried it), a honey and mustard glaze brushed on for the last minute, or a spoonful of parsley sauce all do the business. Any leftovers make a ridiculously good sandwich the next day.
Get your gammon
Our thick-cut gammon steaks are butcher-prepared and delivered fresh to your door, or browse the full pork range for more.