Gammon + pineapple

[mews64]

Is the pineapple cooked when served with gammon?

[kikimon]

it does not matter. i prefer mine a little bit cooked either by grilling or put in the oven with the gammon. but i have also had it where it was just fresh put on it.

[nickmo]

And do you know why you have pineapple with gammon?..............

Pineapple has an enzyme that 'breaks down' the flesh of the pork so it is more tender. Try putting a piece of fresh pineapple on your skin for a few minutes. When you take it off, there is a lovely - and itchy - red ring in the shape of the pineapple slice. Dodgy cooking technique to serve-up tough meat to unsuspecting punters in days gone by as it makes the meat a bit more tender - so the customer pays more.............

If you quickly grill the pineapple - or use that blow torch you got for Christmas - I would say the result is a bit nicer as you caramalise the natural sugars in the fruit so get a better taste.

And don't forget the cherry in the middle of the ring if you want to do it properly 'a la steakhouse'!

[campbellking]

In our house it's always come straight out of the tin!

[don1]

I always thought that the whole idea of the pineapple was to offset the salty taste of gammon and therefore should be raw.

However I suspect this is one of those regional things.

[Narolines]

IMHO this combination does nothing for either the gammon or the pineapple! I always opt for the gammon au naturel or topped with a fried egg.......

[jrtv]

The gammon is best with grilled pineapple, eggs, new potatoes and fresh garden peas, yummy