Is Turkey, Pork or Ham Better for Christmas? A Butcher’s Honest Comparison

Rendinas Butchery — Your Clean Food Specialists

Choosing the perfect centrepiece for Christmas lunch is one of the biggest decisions of the season. And every year, customers ask us the same question:

“Should I serve turkey, pork or ham for Christmas?”

The truth?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — but there is a perfect choice depending on your budget, time, taste preferences and how many people you’re feeding.

This guide breaks down the pros, cons, flavour profiles, cooking requirements and best-suited occasions for each so you can make the right choice for your family.

Let’s get into it.

🎄 Shop our Christmas range

🎅 1. Turkey: Best for Tradition, Presentation & Feeding a Crowd

⭐ Perfect for:

• Big families

• Traditional Christmas spreads

• Guests who love lighter, leaner meats

• Impressive table presentation

Why choose turkey?

Turkey is the hero of classic Christmas lunch — especially for those who want the traditional “big roast” moment.

Rendinas’ options include:

• Free Range Fresh Rolled Turkey Breast

• Stuffed Turkey Breast (Sweet or Savoury)

• Full Free-Range Pasture-Raised Turkey

🎁 Benefits

• Feeds a large number of people

• Mild, crowd-pleasing flavour

• Rolled breasts cook evenly and quickly

• Stuffed options remove the guesswork

⚠️ Things to consider

• A full turkey requires the longest cooking time

• Can dry out if not prepared correctly

• Needs fridge space and proper thawing

• More expensive per kilo than pork

Best choice if you want:

A traditional centrepiece that looks beautiful on the table.

2. Pork: Best for Crackling, Flavour & Great Value

⭐ Perfect for:

• Families who want a showstopper

• Anyone who loves crispy crackling

• Balanced flavour and affordability

Rendinas’ Christmas favourites:

• Free Range Loin of Pork (Rind On)

• Rolled Pork Shoulder (Boneless)

• Pork Scotch Roast

• Traditional Porchetta Roast

🎁 Benefits

• Famous for the crispiest crackling

• Juicy, flavourful, and versatile

• Excellent value per kilo

• Perfect for roasting or long slow-cooking

• Ideal for both lunch and leftovers

⚠️ Things to consider

• Requires dry skin and high heat for proper crackling

• More preparation needed (scoring, drying, salting)

• Richer flavour — not everyone prefers it

Best choice if you want:

A flavour-packed roast with guaranteed crackling that doesn’t break the budget.

3. Ham: Best for Ease, Versatility & Entertaining

⭐ Perfect for:

• Families who want a no-fuss Christmas

• Entertaining large groups

• Serving both cold and hot meals

• Making the most out of leftovers

Rendinas offers premium:

• Naturally Wood-Smoked Ham on the Bone

• Boneless Wood-Smoked Ham

• Half or Whole Options

• Paired beautifully with Rendina Ham Glaze

🎁 Benefits

• Pre-cooked — quick and foolproof

• Can be served hot or cold

• Incredible flavour (especially bone-in)

• Feeds large groups easily

• Leftovers last for weeks with proper storage

⚠️ Things to consider

• Not ideal for those wanting a traditional “roast from scratch”

• Whole hams can be heavy and require fridge space

Best choice if you want:

An easy, delicious option that suits all ages and keeps giving for days.

🎄 So… Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick comparison to make it easier:

🎁 Our Butcher’s Honest Recommendation

If you want tradition: Go turkey.
If you want flavour + crackling: Go pork.
If you want easy entertaining: Go ham.

And if you truly want the ultimate Christmas spread?
Many families choose two meats — usually ham plus either turkey or pork — to offer variety.

Ready to Reserve Your Christmas Centrepiece?

Rendinas is now taking Christmas orders, with all premium free-range, organic and wood-smoked options available for pre-order.

Secure your Christmas meats early before they sell out.

 🎄 Shop our Christmas range