Gammon guides

Gammon In Cola

Simmer the joint in full-sugar cola instead of water, then boil some of the cola down into a glaze and roast the joint for 20 minutes to finish.

Simmer in cola20 min per 450g + 20Then glaze 20 min at 200°C
Time
Simmer 20 min per 450g + 20 min. Glaze 20 min.
Heat
Gentle simmer, then 200°C (180°C fan, gas 6)
Done at
70°C
Method
Simmer in cola, reduce, glaze, roast

Weigh it. Pick a method. Done.

What you need

  • 1.5kg boneless gammon joint
  • 2 litres full-sugar cola
  • 1 onion, halved
  • 1 cinnamon stick or 2 star anise (optional)
  • 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp English mustard

Method

  1. Simmer in cola

    Put the gammon in a snug pan with the onion and spice. Pour over enough cola to cover, topping up with water if you run short. Bring it to the boil, skim, then simmer gently with the lid ajar for 1 hour 30 minutes.

  2. Make the glaze

    Lift out the gammon. Ladle 300ml of the cooking liquid into a small pan and boil it hard for about 10 minutes, until it's reduced to a few syrupy tablespoons. Stir in the sugar and mustard.

  1. Glaze and roast

    Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan, gas 6). Strip off the skin, score the fat and put the joint in a foil-lined tin. Spoon over half the glaze and roast for 20 minutes, adding the rest of the glaze halfway through.

  2. Rest

    Check that the middle reads 70°C, then rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

Gammon in cola sounds like a gimmick, and it isn't. The sugar and spice in the cola cut through the salt, the meat comes out tender, and the cooking liquid boils down into a dark, sticky glaze that does most of the work for you.

Which cola

Any full-sugar cola works, and supermarket own-brand is fine. Cherry cola works too, and so do ginger beer and dry cider, which are less sweet and a bit more grown up. The method is the same for all of them.

Getting the glaze right

Reduce the cola hard. If it's still thin when it goes on, it runs straight off the meat and burns in the tin. It's ready when it coats the back of a spoon and the bubbles turn big and slow.

Timing other weights

The simmering time is the same as for any gammon: 20 minutes per 450g plus 20. Use the calculator for your joint's weight, and always add the 20 minutes of glazing on top.

Straight answers

Can I use diet cola?

It's better not to. The sugar is what caramelises into the glaze, and sweeteners can turn bitter when they're boiled. Use the full-sugar kind.

Does gammon in cola taste of cola?

Not really. It tastes sweeter and slightly spiced, a bit like a treacle cure. People who don't drink cola usually still like it.

Can I use the cola stock for soup?

It's too sweet for most soups. Throw it away, or use a little to glaze roast vegetables.

Can I make gammon in cola in a slow cooker?

Yes. There's a full method on the slow cooker gammon page.

Updated 10 November 2026