Jorge Ruiz

Volatile compounds of dry-cured Iberian ham as affected by the length of the curing process

Volatile compounds from 10 dry-cured Iberian hams ripened for two different processing times, a prolonged traditional one (600 days) and a shortened process (420 days), were analysed by purge and trap coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Eighty-three compounds were identified which agreed with the major classes found in other ham types. The amount of methyl branched alkanes was much higher than in other dry-cured ham types, probably due to the feeding regime. The percentages of 2- and 3-methylbutanal were higher (p<0.0001 and p<0.0003, respectively) in the longer aged hams, whereas the amounts of some compounds from lipid oxidation decreased from 420 to 600 days aging. In agreement with these observations, 600-day hams had higher scores for those odour and flavour traits usually considered to be positive attributes and lower scores for rancidity. A positive and significant correlation between 2-methyl butanal and cured flavour was found.

Influence of sensory characteristics on the acceptability of dry-cured ham.

The influence of different sensory attributes on the acceptability of dry-cured Iberian ham was studied. Partial least squares regression analysis showed that juiciness and several flavour traits were the major attributes positively influencing acceptability of dry-cured Iberian ham, whereas yellowness of the fat, dryness and fibrousness showed a negative influence. Using stepwise multivariate regression, juiciness and flavour intensity were the two traits that better explained the acceptability of dry-cured ham, the linear model obtained showing a regression coefficient of 0.526. The regression coefficient of acceptability with juiciness and flavour intensity was higher using a piecewise linear regression model (R(2)=0.759) showing, therefore, a discontinuous relationship between these variables. However, results on product acceptability have been obtained using trained panellists and it might be possible that the use of a consumer panel would change these conclusions.

Volatile compounds in Iberian dry-cured loin

The volatile profile of Iberian dry-cured loin from four different Iberian pig lines (Entrepelado, Lampiño, Retinto and Torbiscal) and two feeding systems (OUT - fed on acorn and grass-vs.-IND - fed on high oleic acid concentrate) was studied using solid phase microextraction (SPME). 133 volatile compounds were identified and assigned to 16 chemical families. Alcohols were the major group, ethanol being the main compound. The high number of esters detected and the levels of ethanol and acetic acid found, points to an important role of microorganism activity in the formation of volatile compounds in Iberian dry-cured loin. Sulphur compounds, coming mostly from garlic, constituted an important group, with 14 compounds. Significant differences were found among loins from pigs reared in different feeding systems but not among Iberian pig lines. Dry-cured loins from OUT pigs showed higher levels of many compounds derived from lipid oxidation, such as octanoic acid (P=0.000), decanoic acid (P=0.018) or hexanal (P=0.014).

Lipid oxidative changes throughout the ripening of dry-cured Iberian hams with different salt contents and processing conditions

Hexanal content and TBARs were monitored in Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris muscles throughout the ripening of 46 dry-cured Iberian hams processed with different amounts of salt (6% vs. 3% w/w) and different processing systems (traditional vs. modified). Rancid odour and rancid flavour were sensorially analysed in the final product. Hams processed at higher temperatures during the drying stage, following a traditional system, showed lower values in this phase for hexanal content in both muscles (P 0.05). Evidently the effects of salt content and processing temperature, within studied ranges, on lipid oxidation are limited. In fact, increased processing temperature, during the drying stage, does not lead to greater oxidation in dry-cured ham, in spite of the well known pro-oxidant effect of temperature.

Protein and lipid oxidation in Longissimus dorsi and dry cured loin from Iberian pigs as affected by crossbreeding and diet.

Lipid and protein oxidation in Longissimus dorsi (LD) and dry-cured loins from pigs with different genetic (pure Iberian (IBP), Iberian female×Duroc male (IB×D) and Duroc female×Iberian male (D×IB)) and feeding backgrounds (free rearing on acorn and pasture (MON), concentrates high in oleic acid and supplemented with 250ppm of vitamin E(HOVE) and control concentrates (CON)) were investigated. Diet influenced the fatty acids profile from PL and α- and γ-tocopherol contents of LD. IBP-MON pigs showed the lowest malonaldehyde (MDA) values at 200min of iron induced muscle oxidation. Dry-cured loins from IBP-HOVE pigs had significantly (p<0.05) higher values of TBARS than those from the other batches. Neither the diet nor crossbreeding affected hexanal counts in dry-cured loins. Protein carbonyl content showed a similar trend to that observed for MDA values in LD, suggesting a protective role of tocopherol against lipid and protein oxidation. The positive and significant correlations between iron induced lipid oxidation in LD (200 min) and carbonyl content in LD and dry-cured loin (R(2): 0.55 and R(2): 0.52, respectively, p<0.01) support the relationship between lipid and protein oxidation.

Oxidative stability and fatty acid composition of pig muscles as affected by rearing system, crossbreeding and metabolic type of muscle fibre.

Muscle fibre type, fatty acid composition of phospholipids (PLs) and triacylglycerols (TGs) and susceptibility of muscle to lipid oxidation were studied in Biceps femoris (BF) and Tibialis cranialis (TC) muscles from Iberian and Iberian×Duroc pigs reared indoors and outdoors. Fatty acid composition of TGs was not affected by muscle fibre type and crossbreeding, but was strongly influenced by rearing system. In PLs crossbreeding slightly affected monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in BF muscle, whereas rearing system showed a great influence on fatty acid composition of PLs. Oxidative fibres showed a positive relationship with saturated fatty acid (SFA) and MUFA contents and a negative one with PUFA content of PLs. Susceptibility of muscle to lipid oxidation was strongly influenced by diet, animals reared indoors and fed on concentrates showing higher levels of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Iberian×Duroc pigs tended to show slightly higher values of lipid oxidation than pure Iberian pigs. With regards to muscle fibre type, BF had lower TBARS values than TC, although within muscle no relationship was found between muscle fibre type and lipid oxidation.

Development of meat and carcass quality characteristics in Iberian pigs reared outdoors.

A study of age-related changes in carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Biceps femoris (BF) of free-ranged Iberian pigs was carried out to check whether the slaughter age used in the traditional management system of Iberian pigs is adequate. There was a great increase in live and carcass weight during fattening, principally due to an increase in fat deposition, as could be deduced from the percentage of dissectible fat and the backfat thickness. However, intramuscular fat in LD and BF showed only slight changes during the fattening. Myoglobin content tended to increase throughout lifetime in both muscles, whereas water-holding capacity decreased in intermediate ages and showed the highest values in the oldest animals. Total collagen content did not vary during lifetime; on the other hand, insoluble collagen increased from 7 to 77% of total collagen. It can be concluded that the traditional management system of Iberian pigs can be improved by fattening the pigs at a younger age, without negative consequences on the meat quality.

Oxidative and lipolytic changes during ripening of Iberian hams as affected by feeding regime: extensive feeding and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation.

The effect of pig feeding in an extensive system based on acorn and pasture or in confinement with a control diet containing 5 mg α-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1) of feed and a 100 mg α-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1) enriched diet on evolution of lipid changes throughout ripening of dry-cured hams was investigated. Feeding regime significantly affected TBA-RS, peroxide value and hexanal content of Biceps femoris and Semimembranosus muscles. Muscles from pigs fed supplemented diet with α-tocopherol or fed extensively on acorn and grass showed significant lower (p<0.05) TBA-RS and peroxide value than ham muscles from pigs fed the basal diet at 210 days of processing. Both feedings reduced significantly (p<0.05) hexanal content at day 210 and day 700. Muscle slices from pigs fed on acorn showed significant higher scores (p<0.05) in aroma and flavour intensity, cured flavour and numerically lower rancid scores than those from control diet hams. ©

Effects of feeding in free-range conditions or in confinement with different dietary MUFA/PUFA ratios and α-tocopheryl acetate, on antioxidants accumulation and oxidative stability in Iberian pigs

The experiment was undertaken to provide information of the influence of feeding either free-range or in confinement with different dietary MUFA/PUFA ratios and α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation (40 vs. 200 mg/kg) on tocopherol content and susceptibility to lipid oxidation of muscle and microsomes in Iberian pigs. The grass provided to the pigs had a similar α-tocopherol concentration to that observed for diets supplemented with 200 mg/kg α-tocopheryl acetate, and acorns supplied fourfold higher content of γ-tocopherol than the experimental diets. The α- and γ-tocopherol contents of muscle reflected the tocopherol concentration of the diets. Mono and Medium diets produced a similar MUFA/PUFA ratio in neutral and polar lipids of pig muscle to those fed outdoors. The lowest TBARS numbers were found in muscle samples from pigs fed a MUFA-enriched diet in confinement. No significant influence of free-range feeding or dietary fat on drip loss was found. However, α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation reduced (P<0.05) drip loss. Dietary vitamin E supplementation decreased the membrane lipid oxidation by 18% after 120 min. However, free-range feeding decreased the extent of microsome oxidation by 20%, 56% and 82% after 120 min when compared with those groups fed in confinement with high, medium and low MUFA/PUFA ratios, respectively. The hexanal concentration of muscle showed a similar trend to that observed for microsome induced-oxidation, suggesting, that hexanal determination is a more accurate method to measure lipid oxidation in iberian pig muscle than the thiobarbituric acid test.

Study of the effect of different fiber coatings and extraction conditions on dry cured ham volatile compounds extracted by solid-phase microextraction (SPME)

Extraction of dry cured ham volatile compounds by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was optimized. Different fiber coatings (carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB)), times of extraction (15, 30, 60min) and sample preparation (ground samples and homogenates with NaCl saturated solution) were assayed. CAR/PDMS and DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber coatings extracted more than 100 volatile compounds and showed the highest area counts for most volatile compounds. CAR/PDMS coating extracted better those compounds whose Kovats index (KI) was lower than 980 (on average) and DVB/CAR/PDMS those with higher KI. Fifteen minutes of extraction provided a volatile compound profile with lower area counts for most compounds and qualitatively different to that obtained with 30 and 60min of extraction. Homogenates gave a different profile compared to ground samples, with lower total counts for most compounds but higher proportion of aldehydes, and presence of several compounds not found in ground samples.