Influence of pre-cure freezing on the profile of volatile compounds during the processing of Iberian hams.
BACKGROUND
This work was designed to study the effect of pre-cure freezing of raw thighs from Iberian pigs on the profile of volatile compounds during the processing of hams.


RESULTS
Generation of volatile compounds during Iberian ham processing was similar in both pre-cure frozen and refrigerated hams, the main differences being at the final stage. The levels of 2-methylbutanal, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2,3-butanediol and 2-heptanol were significantly higher in dry-cured hams that were pre-cure frozen than in refrigerated ones, whereas the content of most detected esters was statistically lower in pre-cure frozen than in refrigerated hams.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of pre-cure freezing of Iberian ham on the profile of volatile compounds during ripening was not remarkable. Few differences were found in the final product, which would not greatly modify the aroma and flavour features of the dry-cured hams.
Pérez-Palacios
Trinidad
T
Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain. triny@unex.es
Ruiz
Jorge
J
Martín
Diana
D
Grau
Raúl
R
Antequera
Teresa
T
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods; D005615:Freezing; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019850:Heptanol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D000439:Pentanols / Q000032:analysis; D012034:Refrigeration; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction; D013030:Spain; D013552:Swine; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
D000447:Aldehydes; D002072:Butylene Glycols; D000439:Pentanols; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C026978:2,3-butylene glycol; C547093:2-methylbutanal; D019850:Heptanol