Difference Between Ham & Canadian Bacon
French fries came from Belgium, English muffins are an American invention and Canadian bacon is unheard of in Canada. The closest Canadian equivalent is back bacon, which is a whole, cured, un-smoked pork loin rolled in ground dried peas or, in modern times, cornmeal. Canadian bacon is quite similar to ham; both types of pork are usually cured and smoked. There are, however, a few notable differences between the two types of meat. Does this Spark an idea?
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Composition
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Canadian bacon comes from the loin cut, which runs along the pig's back, just below the layer of fatback. Ham, on the other hand, comes from the primal cut of the same name, which includes the shank, leg and butt cuts. While you can find ham in its whole form, in slices and in diced chunks, Canadian bacon is almost exclusively sliced. Ham often contains sugar or honey; Canadian bacon does not.
Nutrition
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Canadian bacon has fewer calories per gram than ham; it's also lower in fat, cholesterol and carbohydrates, and has a higher protein content. Ham is a little lower -- although still extremely high -- in sodium than Canadian bacon, and contains more calcium and vitamin C. Canadian bacon has a slightly lower level of saturated fats, although the difference between the two is very small. Ham often has a sugar or honey glaze; this can add both carbohydrates and calories. Some "Canadian-style" bacon may contain corn syrup.
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Uses
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Ham appears both in hot dishes like split pea soup and cold dishes like the classic ham and cheese on rye sandwich. Canadian bacon is usually served hot, although it's safe to eat it cold unless the package specifies that it's uncooked. People usually eat ham as a lunch or dinner entrée, while Canadian bacon, perhaps because of its appropriation of the term "bacon," has a strong association with breakfast. It often appears in breakfast sandwiches; it can also replace the bacon in the traditional bacon and eggs American breakfast.
Marketing
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Food companies market Canadian bacon as a healthier, lower-fat alternative to regular bacon, which comes from the belly of the pig. Although ham can sometimes replace bacon as a breakfast food, it's not commonly marketed as a "healthy alternative" to anything. And, of course, marketers and advertisers hope that the adjective "Canadian" will conjure up associations of lumberjacks eating hearty breakfasts in sugar shacks in the mind of the customer.
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References
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