# Canadians: What do you call Canadian bacon? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483 "2017-03-05T17:02:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/41 "2017-03-06T16:44:08Z")
As a Canadian and fan of all foods porcine, here’s my take: What’s shown as Jones ‘Canadian Bacon’ in the OP is simply ham, in Canada. The smaller perfectly round disks are no different in texture or taste than the [Boar’s Head Black Forest deli ham](http://boarshead.com/products/detail/11005-black-forest-beechwood-smoked-ham) I buy regularly for sandwiches. Peameal bacon is quite different in taste, texture and appearance. American style bacon (rashers) are a whole other thing still. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/42 "2017-03-06T19:56:37Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Actually the only thing I’ve not heard of in this thread is “gammon.” Looks like ham, even though Wikipedia says the timing is different. Gammon is similar to ham, but typically more lightly cured. It’s often purchased as gammon steaks - that is, sliced into steaks before cooking by grilling or frying. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/43 "2017-03-06T20:10:21Z")
I’ve never seen Kraft Canadian Cheese, nor have I heard of gammon. The rest are all fair game. ETA: What Americans call American Cheese, we in Canada, refer to as processed cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/44 "2017-03-06T20:42:01Z")
I agree with **Leaffan** - I’ve never seen Kraft Canadian Cheese - it’s just “processed cheese” or “cheese slices”. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/45 "2017-03-06T21:11:49Z")
Delicious; in any of its forms. As a pretty much lifelong western Canadian: streaky/regular/side=“bacon” Canadian/rasher= “back bacon” Gammon= “smoked ham” peameal bacon is back bacon rolled in either peameal or cornmeal and is a staple for us when we go camping. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/46 "2017-03-07T00:24:03Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ve never seen Kraft Canadian Cheese… > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I agree with **Leaffan** - I’ve never seen Kraft Canadian Cheese - it’s just “processed cheese” or “cheese slices”. I remember Kraft Canadian cheese slices from my childhood. I haven’t seen them since I was about ten years old though. As **NP** points out, now they’re just called “processed cheese” or “cheese slices.” ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/47 "2017-03-07T08:08:05Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > Thanks for the pics, **Enola Gay**. I have been wondering what Americans mean by Canadian bacon for a while now. Never occurred to me that CB meant anything other than just bacon. They look like ham steaks to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/48 "2017-03-07T21:38:48Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > they’re just called “processed cheese” or “cheese slices.” ‘possessed cheese’ we called it in the army. Suited it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/49 "2017-03-08T01:56:38Z")
> [@Cugel](#): > > Never occurred to me that CB meant anything other than just bacon. They look like ham steaks to me. They do to me too. Here’s descriptions of the bacon we have in New Zealand: > [@](#): > > There are generally 4 different cuts of bacon, names vary between countries but here they are called streaky, middle, middle eye and shoulder. Rind/less options are also sometimes available. > > Streaky bacon is a belly cut, and is sliced into long thin strands. It crisps well when cooked and is perfect for wrapping around chicken, asparagus, figs etc… It is the bacon with the highest fat content which many equate with flavour. > > Middle Eye bacon is just loin with no belly and is a lean cut of bacon. > > Middle bacon is the middle eye bacon with the streaky bacon tail all in one. It is cut from the whole loin, including the belly. It is a popular choice of bacon for serving with eggs for breakfast. > > Shoulder bacon is self explanatory, it is economical and has a high meat to fat ratio. It is perfect for using in soups, pastas, risottos etc… What we call streaky bacon is American bacon. It is NOT cooked until crisp, well at least not in my house! Bacon should be still slightly soft and deliciously running with bacon grease. Google images of “hellers bacon range” to get an idea of the different types. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/50 "2017-03-08T02:58:14Z")
What we call “Canadian bacon” in America is basically cured and smoked pork loin. I’ve never seen peameal bacon here in the US. Peameal bacon, in my experience, isn’t smoked. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/51 "2017-03-08T04:04:59Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > … > > Bacon should be still slightly soft and deliciously running with bacon grease. WRONG!!! The only way to eat bacon is when it’s nice and crispy so it melts in your mouth! ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/52 "2017-03-08T22:17:05Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > WRONG!!! The only way to eat bacon is when it’s nice and crispy so it melts in your mouth! But then one has to use fingers to pick it up. If you try cutting and forking, it explodes in a dozen pieces. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/53 "2017-03-08T23:06:02Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > But then one has to use fingers to pick it up. That is correct. That’s a feature, not a bug. (That said, I prefer my bacon the way you cook it. I’m not an extra crispy kind of person.) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483/54 "2017-03-09T14:29:10Z")
“American” bacon is always a finger food. Anyone who sticks a forking utensil in it is a pretentious porker. The only exception is when it is crumbled and mixed with the grits and eggs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-what-do-you-call-canadian-bacon/781483.md?page=2)