Types Of Dry-cured Hams Research Articles

Characterization the microbial diversity and metabolites of four varieties of Dry-Cured ham in western Yunnan of China

In this study, high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics analysis were conducted to analyze the microbial and metabolites of dry-cured Sanchuan ham, Laowo ham, Nuodeng ham, and Heqing ham that have fermented for two years produced from western Yunnan China. Results showed that at the genus level, the dominant bacteria in the four types of ham were Halomonas and Staphylococcus, while the dominant fungi were Aspergillus and Yamadazyma. A total 422 different metabolites were identified in four types of ham, mainly amino acids, peptides, fatty acids, and their structural analogs, which were involved in pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, caffeine, and tyrosine metabolism. The dominant microorganisms of the four types of ham were mainly related to the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids. This research enhances the identification degree of these four types of dry-cured ham and provides a theoretical basis for developing innovative and distinctive ham products.

Optimization and validation of an HS-SPME/GC-MS method for determining volatile organic compounds in dry-cured ham.

The formation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in dry-cured ham is a result of different biochemical and enzymatic processes. Moreover, accurately quantifying these VOCs is challenging since ham is a complex matrix, which contains compounds from various chemical families and a wide range of volatilities of different molecular masses. In this study, we systematically optimized and validated an analytical method for quantifying VOCs in dry-cured ham using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Optimal SPME conditions were determined through both an experimental procedure (one-factor-at-a-time) and response surface methodology (RSM), revealing that a 60-min equilibration at 70°C, a 60-min extraction at the same temperature, and a 4-min desorption time at 250°C provided the most favorable results. To enhance quantitation, twelve multiple internal standards (ISTDs) were employed to address and improve the quantitation of the 12 VOCs. Method validation covered aspects of linearity, limits of detection (LOD: 0.03-1.13 mg kg-1), limits of quantitation (LOQ: 0.09-3.41 mg kg-1), and working ranges (0.01-19.1 mg kg-1). The practical application of this optimized method was demonstrated by analyzing dry-cured ham samples (n = 4), sourced from the Slovenian market. The initial statistical evaluation indicates that different types of dry-cured hams can be differentiated (with an 83.1% of accuracy) according to their aromatic profile. However, a larger sample size would be required to provide a more comprehensive assessment.

1H NMR and multivariate data analysis of the differences of metabolites in five types of dry-cured hams

In order to distinguish the taste styles of dry-cured hams (Jinhua, Xuanwei, Country, Parma and Bama), we established a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy method to identify metabolites. Totally, 33 charged metabolites, including amino acids, organic acids, nucleic acids and their derivatives, sugars, alkaloids and others were identified. The abundant glutamate, lysine, alanine, leucine and lactate could be the major contributors of taste. Total variables were explained by PC1 (67.7%) and PC2 (16.0%) which showed that Parma and Xuanwei styles were close to each other (similar amino acids, peptide, organic acids and alkaloids contents). Bama style showed the highest PC1 and amino acids, organic acids and alkaloids contents. Country style was located on the left-most area of PC1 (the lowest amino acids, organic acids and peptide, but the highest sugars contents). Sensory evaluation revealed that Bama ham had the highest overall taste score, followed by Jinhua, Parma, Xuanwei and American Country ham. We concluded that the proportions and combinations of taste components explained the specific taste instead of any single component. These findings provided a better understanding of different metabolomics among hams.

Characterization of volatile compounds, physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of smoked dry-cured ham.

Volatile compounds from smoked dry-cured ham were isolated by using headspace-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Samples of biceps femoris were also evaluated for sensory physical and chemical characteristics. Eighty seven volatile aroma compounds of smoked dry-cured ham were identified. Chemical groups identified were aldehydes (35.6%), phenols (34.3%), alcohols (13.8%), terpenes (6.4%), aromatic hydrocarbons (2.6%), alkanes (2.2%), ketones (2.2%), esters (1.7%) and acids (0.7%). Except volatile compounds derived from lipolysis and proteolysis the second most abundant constituents were phenols that originate from smoking phase of the production process. The most abundant phenols were: 4-methylphenol, 3-methylphenol, 2-metoxy-4-methylphenol, 2-methylphenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 4-ethyl-2 methoxyphenol. Principal components analysis showed that NaCl and ash content positively correlated with the salty taste while fat content was correlated to marbling. Water content and aw value were negatively correlated with hardness of dry-cured ham while phenols were positively corelated with smoky aroma. Due to the different volatile composition and pronounced smoky aroma, smoked dry-cured ham can be distinguished from other types of dry-cured hams.

Comparative study between Serrano and Iberian dry-cured hams in relation to the application of high hydrostatic pressure and temporal sensory perceptions

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of high hydrostatic pressure (HPP) treatment on the sensory characteristics of two different types of dry-cured hams (Iberian and Serrano) on the perception of their sensory characteristics using static (quantitative descriptive analysis) and a dynamic (time–intensity) sensory methods. Differences in the temporal sensory perception of Iberian and Serrano dry-cured hams were originally found. Significant differences in the appearance profile and temporal perception of flavour were detected between Iberian and Serrano dry-cured hams. The effect of the HHP treatment was mainly observed on certain flavour attributes such as saltiness and cured flavour and texture attributes such as fibrousness and pastiness. The application of this technology on intact samples seems to alleviate the negative impact of HHP on the sensory properties of dry-cured ham.

Salt and intramuscular fat modulate dynamic perception of flavour and texture in dry-cured hams

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of salt and intramuscular fat (IMF) content on the sensory characteristics of two different types of dry-cured hams (Iberian and Serrano) using the time–intensity (TI) method. All studied TI parameters of flavour attributes (overall flavour, saltiness, cured and rancid flavours) were significantly (p<0.05) affected by variations in the salt and/or IMF content. However, regarding texture attributes only the maximum intensity (Imax) of hardness was significantly (p<0.05) affected by the salt content of hams. Compared to Iberian dry-cured hams, the dynamic perception of the flavour and texture of Serrano dry-cured hams was less influenced by variations in salt and/or IMF content. The dynamic sensory techniques may be helpful to guarantee the quality of dry-cured products subjected to strategies of salt and fat reduction.

Effects of evoked meal contexts on consumers’ responses to intrinsic and extrinsic product attributes in dry-cured ham

To achieve product success in the market, it is important to understand the interplay between sensory and non-sensory product attributes, since both dimensions must be optimised during the product development process. Contextual factors have been shown to affect the outcome of acceptance studies, and it is important that consumer responses to food products are studied in an appropriate eating context. The main objective of this study was to explore how evoked meal contexts affect consumer responses to a set of products in relation to intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Six types of dry-cured ham were described by means of sensory profiling and presented to 120 consumers in a central location test, first in a blind condition (intrinsic rating) and then in an informed condition (extrinsic rating). The measured responses were acceptance and probability of buying. The extrinsic product attributes presented were origin, ageing time and price. Moreover, two meal contexts were presented during both intrinsic and extrinsic rating: a traditional meal and a novel meal. The meals were introduced to consumers by means of written texts and pictures. The evoked meal contexts affected both the intrinsic and the extrinsic rating, with the strongest effect being observed for the extrinsic rating. Moreover, consumers were somewhat more discriminating when evoking a traditional meal than when evoking a novel meal. Accordingly, it is important to develop existing consumer testing procedures further, and to incorporate instruments allowing for possible effects of the consumption context.

High hydrostatic pressure and biopreservation of dry-cured ham to meet the Food Safety Objectives for Listeria monocytogenes

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of nisin application (biopreservation) combined with high hydrostatic pressure processing (HHP) on the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes CTC1034 intentionally inoculated (at ca. 10(7)cells/g) onto the surface of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced dry-cured ham. Two types of dry-cured ham, which had different water activities and fat contents were studied (a(w) of 0.92 and 14.25% fat and a(w) of 0.88 and 33.26% fat). Three batches were prepared for each type of product: (C) control, without nisin; (N) nisin directly applied (200 AU/cm(2)) and (F) nisin applied through active packaging, polyvinyl alcohol films with 200 AU/cm(2). Half of the samples were pressurized at 600 MPa for 5min. Counts of L. monocytogenes were periodically monitored throughout 60 days of storage at 8°C. The physico-chemical characteristics of the products enabled the survival of L. monocytogenes, but it was significantly reduced by the presence of nisin. The effect of biopreservation was greater when applied directly to the surface and in the product with lower water activity in comparison with the active packaging and the high water activity products, respectively. The immediate inactivation of L. monocytogenes by HHP ranged from 1.82 to 3.85 Log units, depending on the type of dry-cured ham. The lower the water activity, the less was the inactivation induced by HHP, both immediately and during storage. The reduction of L. monocytogenes immediately after HHP and during storage was more evident in batches with nisin applied directly to the surface of the product. The pathogen was not detected in some samples from day 5 of storage in the product with higher water activity. The effect of nisin applied through active packaging was lower than the direct application. The results of the present study indicated that HHP, as post-processing listericidal treatment, is more effective (both immediately and long term) than the use of nisin as an antimicrobial measure. However, the both hurdles combined (i.e. biopreservation and HHP) provided a wider margin of safety in the control of L. monocytogenes during the storage of RTE cured meat products.

Occurrence of ochratoxin A in raw ham muscle, salami and dry-cured ham from pigs fed with contaminated diet

Pork meat-derived products can contribute to the overall ochratoxin A intake, either by carry-over effect, or by environmental mould population cross-contamination. In order to assess the role of these different contamination routes, a study was carried out with pigs challenged orally with OTA contaminated feed at subchronical level. After slaughtering, thighs and minced meat from control and treated groups were transformed into dry-cured hams and salami, respectively, which were analysed for OTA determination after ripening. From collected data, the carry-over in muscle was generally low, whereas a significant contribution to the OTA contamination in dry-cured hams was due to toxinogenic mould population growing on their surface during ripening. Finally, a survey of different types of dry-cured ham (n = 110), from the Italian market, was performed, showing the occurrence of OTA on the surface portion in 84 out of 110 samples with a median value of 0.53 μg/kg and in the inner core in 32 out of 110 samples with a median value lower than 0.1 μg/kg.

Evaluation of different types of dry-cured ham by Italian and French consumers

The aim was to analyse the distribution of preferences between two group of consumers (100 consumers each) from different countries (Italy and France), in order to establish which type of dry-cured ham is most acceptable and to compare results across countries using preference mapping. A preference test was carried out on four types of dry-cured hams: Parma ham (P), Italian non-branded ham (I) and hams derived from pigs fed a diet containing sunflower oil (2.5%) (S) or extruded linseed (5%) (L). The consumers were requested to evaluate each single descriptor using a hedonic scale and assigning a score between 1 (dislike extremely) and 9 (like extremely). The four different dry-cured hams were sensorially well differentiated by the consumers of different nationalities. Italian consumers preferred P and S hams while French consumers preferred S, I and P hams in terms of overall acceptability and acceptability of aroma and flavour. L ham was negatively discriminated, compared to the other hams, by both consumer groups. A good differentiation between the dry-cured hams was obtained using the internal preference map method: P was discriminated from the other hams.

Influence of raw matter origin and production period on fatty-acid composition of dry-cured hams

We have here investigated the fatty acid composition in the muscle (Mm. biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus) of Vipava and Vipava-style hams made from fresh pork legs that originate from Slovenia, and from Germany and Italy, respectively. Dry-cured hams are produced under technology protected according to recognized geographical indications for Vipava ham, a salt-cured ham that is air-dried rather than smoked. The fatty acid compositions of samples were determined by gas-liquid chromatography following in-situ transesterification. On average, hams contained 6.89% of intramuscular and intermuscular fat, with the fatty-acid composition as 50.0% monounsaturated, 11.8% polyunsaturated (PUFA) and 38.0% saturated fatty acids. The origin of the raw matter has significant influence the PUFAs in hams, which were 2.0% lower in products from pigs of Slovenian (own) rearing. The important indicators of lipid nutritive value, as P/S ratio (0.31), content of n-3 (0.68%) and n-6 (9.02%) PUFAs, and ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs (14.1), are similar to those cited in the literature for other types of dry-cured hams from south European regions produced from pigs reared under intensive systems.

Colour and texture profiles of boneless reestructured dry-cured hams compared to traditional hams

Colour and texture, resultant of a complex process involving chemical, physical and enzymatic modifications, are important parameters for the acceptability of dry-cured hams. This study aimed to evaluate texture and colour instrumentally profiles of six types of dry-cured ham: two experimentally accelerated processed products, called CTC 3.5% and CTC 5.0% according to the initially added salt percentage; two imported (Spanish Serrano and Italian); and two Brazilian (Serrano type and Parma type) commercial products. The experimental process combined muscle-boning, transglutaminase addition, tumbling and moulding in stainless steel moulds, followed by drying and maturation. Evaluations were carried out using the Hunter colour system (A, 10º) and TPA (Texture Profile Analysis). The samples differed in lightness (lighter products - CTCs), and in red colour (higher a values - Italian and Serrano type). The more distinct texture profiles were seen in CTCs as compared to the Italian and Parma type samples, with the former having the highest values of hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness. The results showed the typical colour and texture characteristics of dry-cured hams, although each product had its own particularities likely due to differences in the raw material and processing techniques.

Mass spectrometric evidence for a zinc–porphyrin complex as the red pigment in dry-cured Iberian and Parma ham

Extracts containing red pigment complexes from the two types of dry-cured hams, Italian Parma and Spanish Iberian ham, were obtained using water and acetone as extraction solvents followed by a crude purification with C18 column filtration. The purified extracts were then analyzed spectroscopically by recording absorption and fluorescence spectra ( λ ex = 420 nm), which both indicate the presence of chemically identical red chromophores with properties similar to a complex of transition metals and protoporphyrin IX. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the positive ion mode confirms the presence of identical chemical compounds. ESI-MS in the negative ion mode detects a cluster of seven isotopologue ions (that of m/ z 623.2 as the most intense) with a pattern matching that of a Zn protoporphyrin IX complex. Based on mass spectral data it is concluded that a Zn–porphyrin complex constitutes a major chromophore in dry-cured Iberian ham as well as in Parma ham.

Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction for the Analysis of Volatiles in a Meat Product: Dry-Cured Iberian Ham

The application of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the analysis of dry-cured Iberian ham volatile compounds has been studied. To determine the optimal conditions to extract volatile compounds, several extraction times and temperatures conditions were tested. The majority of the 82 volatile compounds tentatively identified coincided with those reported for different types of dry-cured ham in the literature. In addition, SPME successfully extracted high molecular weight compounds, some of them being reported for the first time in this type of meat product. Both extraction time and temperature dramatically increased less volatile compounds' chromatographic area and consequently total area (P < 0.0001). Keywords: Dry-cured Iberian ham; solid-phase microextraction (SPME); gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; volatiles

Volatile compounds present in six types of dry-cured ham from south European countries

A study was conducted to compare the volatile fraction of six types of dry-cured hams from south European countries: (1) France: Bayonne and Corsican hams; (2) Spain: Iberian and Serrano hams; (3) Italy: Parma and Light Italian Country hams. The analysis of the volatile compounds was carried out using a dynamic-head space technique coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. One hundred and nine compounds were identified and analyzed: aldehydes (15), alcohols (14), ketones (17), esters (11), sulphur compounds (5), nitrogenous compounds (10), terpenes (18), n-alkanes (7) and aromatic and cyclic hydrocarbons (12). The possible formation pathways of these compounds are discussed. The results show that there are important differences among the six types of hams depending on the type of raw material and the technology used, the longer-processing time hams (Iberian and Corsican) being richer in volatile compounds.