What is hogget?
Unlock the secrets of hogget. Learn its distinctions from lamb and master the art of cooking it perfectly
Hogget is a sheep aged between one to two years. Opting for hogget or mutton means the sheep have had the time to mature at pasture, and it shows, as the meat has more fat and a greater depth of flavour. Hogget is available year-round, and increasingly chefs and home-cooks are opting for this over lamb (its younger counterpart), as it's a more sustainable option that tends to be cheaper.
What age is a hogget?
Hogget is a sheep between one to two years old.
What does hogget taste like?
Just like mutton, the sheep have had time to fatten up and mature at pasture. It has a punchier flavour than lamb, but gentler than mutton. It can take bolder, stronger flavours, such as red wine and woody herbs.
What's the difference between hogget, lamb and mutton?
• Hogget is a sheep between one- and two-years-old. Mutton is two years plus in age, and lambs usually are around 6 months to 1 year.
• Hogget is punchier in flavour and has more fat than lamb.
• Hogget is milder in flavour than mutton.
• Hogget does not need to be slow-cooked to be tender. For example, just like you’d slow cook the tougher cuts in lamb, such as leg and shoulder, the same should be done with hogget. Treat prime cuts of hogget, like chops and steak, just like lamb and serve pink.
Is lamb or hogget best for Easter?
The UK raises some of the best lamb, and they are mainly farmed free-range. The breeds farmed here are hardy and suit the terrain well – they can wander and graze freely most of the time. Springtime lamb refers to lambs born in the spring, but it's best enjoyed in the late summer and autumn, after they’ve had the chance to enjoy a summer fattening up on the lush grass. Buying lamb around Easter time means the lambs are born out season in the winter and are kept mainly indoors. If you’d still like to buy it for your Easter lunch, hogget or mutton are great alternatives. For your Easter celebrations, try and buy local from British suppliers, or you’ll find a lot more lamb available later in the year, at the end of the summer and beginning of autumn.
Where to buy hogget
Try and buy local from British suppliers. You can find it online, at farm shops or if you ask your butcher, they should be able to order it for you.
How to cook hogget
You can replace lamb with hogget in most recipes without needing much alteration. Just like you’d slow-cook the tougher cuts of lamb, such as leg and shoulder, the same should be done with hogget. Treat prime cuts of hogget, like chops and steak, just like lamb and serve pink.
Why not give our roast hogget recipe a try?
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