Ramón Cava

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.

Lipid and protein oxidation, release of iron from heme molecule and colour deterioration during refrigerated storage of liver pâté

In the present work, lipid and protein oxidation, increase of non-heme iron (NHI) content and colour changes occurring during refrigerated storage (90 days/4 °C) of liver pâtés from Iberian and white pigs were studied. Iberian pigs were reared outdoors and fed on natural resources (grass, acorns) while white pigs were intensively reared and fed on a mixed diet. Lipid and protein oxidation were, respectively, measured by determining TBA reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyl groups. Pâtés from Iberian pigs had better oxidative stability at all stages of storage, having lower amounts of TBARS and carbonyls compared to those from white pigs (p<0.05). NHI increased during refrigerated storage of liver pâtés, with those from white pigs having a higher amount of NHI at all stages of storage (p<0.05). During refrigerated storage, L(*)-values tended to increase while the evolution of a(*) and b(*) depended on the group and did not seem to be related to the oxidative processes.

Texture and appearance of dry cured ham as affected by fat content and fatty acid composition

Abstract The relationship between texture and appearance characteristics and the moisture, intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid composition of dry cured Iberian ham was studied using principal component analysis. Intramuscular fat content positively influenced the proportion of oleic acid ( R =0.5578), and exhibited a negative relationship with linoleic and arachidonic acids ( R =−0.5215 and −0.5770 respectively). IMF content also had a positive influence on some texture and appearance traits of ham, such as oiliness, brightness, juiciness and marbling. However, it was negatively related to dryness, fibrousness and hardness. Moisture displayed no relationship with juiciness, dryness or any other textural or appearance trait. Therefore, within the ranges of fat content and moisture found in the present study, IMF content has a stronger influence on the texture of ham than the degree of dehydration.

Effectiveness of rosemary essential oil as an inhibitor of lipid and protein oxidation: Contradictory effects in different types of frankfurters

The effect of increasing levels (150, 300 and 600ppm) of rosemary essential oil on lipid and protein oxidation and the increase of non-heme iron (NHI) content during refrigeration (+4°C/60 days) of frankfurters produced with tissues from Iberian pigs (IF) or white pigs (WF), was studied. Frankfurters with no added essential oil were used as controls. Iberian pigs were free-range reared and fed on acorns and pasture whereas white pigs (Large-white×Landrance) were intensively reared and fed on a mixed diet. Large differences were detected between types of frankfurters (Iberian vs white) in terms of fatty acid composition and tocopherols content due to the different feeding background of the animals. The effect of the addition of rosemary essential oil on the oxidative stability of frankfurters depended on the level of added essential oil and the characteristic of the frankfurter. The rosemary essential oil successfully inhibited the development of lipid and protein oxidation in IF with that antioxidant effect being more intense at higher concentrations of essential oil. In WF, 150ppm rosemary essential oil showed an antioxidant effect, significantly reducing the generation of lipid and protein oxidation products. At higher levels (300 and 600ppm) the essential oil had, in general, no effect on lipid oxidation while significantly enhanced the oxidation of proteins and the release of iron from myoglobin. The presence of certain amounts of tocopherols in the frankfurters could have influenced the activity displayed by the added essential oil leading to antioxidant or prooxidants effects though the different fatty acid composition and oxidative status between frankfurters could also have had an effect.

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.

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.

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. ©

Sensory characteristics of Iberian ham: Influence of salt content and processing conditions.

Sensory characteristics of Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris muscles from 24 dry-cured Iberian hams were assessed. Hams were salted with different amounts of salt (6% and 3% w/w) and then ripened at different temperature conditions (traditional processing vs. modified processing). Hams manufactured using modified processing showed higher scores for dryness (P<0.05), hardness (P<0.05) and rancid flavour (P<0.001) in the Semimembranosus muscle than those processed in a traditional way. The Biceps femoris muscle of hams salted with 6% of salt was drier (P<0.05), harder (P<0.05) and more fibrous (P<0.01) than in hams salted with 3% salt. Salty taste was more intense in the Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris from hams with a higher level of salt (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). A more intense rancidity in hams ripened in modified processing could affect the overall aroma. A decrease in salt content produces less salty hams, but the changes in texture traits should be also considered.

Effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants on protein oxidation and colour and texture changes in refrigerated stored porcine liver pâté

The antioxidant effect of two plant essential oils (sage and rosemary) and one synthetic antioxidant (BHT) on refrigerated stored porcine liver pâté (4°C/90 days) was evaluated. Pâtés with no added antioxidants were used as controls. Liver pâtés were analysed for protein oxidation, modification of heme (HI) and non-heme iron (NHI) concentrations, and colour and texture characteristics at days 0, 30, 60 and 90 of refrigerated storage. The amount of carbonyls from protein oxidation significantly (p<0.05) increased during refrigerated storage, and this increase was significantly higher in the control pâtés than in their treated counterparts. Antioxidants successfully protected heme molecules from degradation and significantly inhibited the increase of NHI in refrigerated stored liver pâtés. Colour changes seemed not to be directly related to oxidative processes since pâtés with added antioxidants suffered greater colour modifications than the controls. The addition of rosemary essential oil significantly reduced hardness of liver pâtés. Sage and rosemary essential oils exhibited similar antioxidant properties to BHT denoting their suitability as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants.

Monitoring volatile compounds during dry-cured ham ripening by solid-phase microextraction coupled to a new direct-extraction device

Key flavour volatile compounds were monitored during ripening of dry-cured ham by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to a new direct-extraction device (DED). DED allows the insertion of the SPME fibre into the core of solid materials with no damage to the fibre. This enables extraction of volatiles from solid foodstuffs while avoiding sample handling. Major groups of volatile compounds extracted with SPME-DED agreed with available scientific literature about dry-cured ham volatiles. Moreover, volatile compounds previously highlighted as quality markers in dry-cured ham, such as 3-methylbutanal or hexanal, were satisfactorily extracted using SPME-DED. Changes in the profile of volatile compounds throughout the processing followed a typical pattern of volatile compounds formation. Therefore, SPME-DED appears as a new and promising method for monitoring ripening of dry-cured hams with no depreciation of the product, which might substitute traditional subjective methods currently used in the ham processing industry. However, the use of the internal standard method is not possible with this technique. Therefore, results using SPME-DED only point out a trend in the volatile profile. Further attempts relating data obtained using SPME-DED in dry-cured hams with sensory and chemical data from the same samples would be necessary for optimising this method as a quality control method in dry-cured ham industries.