No, Turkey Legs Are Not Made with Ham

I’m a food writer, so every day there’s another ludicrous TikTok video to debunk. This time, in response to the age-old question: Are turkey legs ham? They certainly are not. But as with all things TikTok, let’s take a deeper dive.

@queenerinthe1stTurkey legs is ham!!!♬ original sound – QueenErin The1st

To be as fair as possible to this woman who has no knowledge of either pig or turkey anatomy, maybe it’s fair that she’s suspicious. Once upon a time, turkey was nothing but a big, tasty bird with mild, inoffensive meat that made good sandwiches. But when America collectively discovered, to everyone’s shock, that bacon (bacon!) was unhealthy, then low-fat, high-protein turkey saw an opening to make some supermarket moves. With smoky flavor and special processing, turkey could become “bacon,” and the lines between pork and poultry were permanently crossed.

Yes, it’s confusing. But here are the facts on whether or not turkey legs are ham so you can save befuddled folks at the state fair and stop TikTok turkey disinformation in its tracks.

What is a turkey leg at the fair?

The turkey legs at the fair are turkey legs. The meat is first soaked in a curing solution, which adds flavor and keeps it juicy as it cooks. Then, the legs are smoked, which gives them their distinct color and taste.

Are turkey legs ham?

No, turkey legs are not ham. They are the legs of a turkey, whereas ham is the butt of a pig. Yes, ham is the actual butt of the pig, with some cuts including a portion of the thigh as well. Maybe the real question here shouldn’t be about turkey’s duplicitousness and should be why Americans hardly ever eat smoked turkey legs outside of theme parks and historical reenactments.

For most of us, the only turkey legs we eat are the kind that we fight over at Thanksgiving, which are oven-roasted and a succulent shade of beige. Meanwhile, smoked turkey meat has a pinkish color because it’s cured with salt, spices and nitrates before smoking. And wouldn’t you know it, that cure is very similar to the one used when making ham!

So there you have it, folks: Turkey legs are not ham. Now you can sleep easy.