Flavor profile of "Dao Ban Xiang" (a traditional dry-cured meat product in Chinese Huizhou cuisine) at different processing stages in winter and summer

"Dao Ban Xiang" is a famous traditional Chinese dry-cured meat product. This study aimed to comparatively analyze the difference in the volatile flavor information of "Dao Ban Xiang" produced in winter and summer. In this study, we determine the physical and chemical properties, free amino acids (FAAs), free fatty acids (FFAs), and volatile compounds in the four processing stages of samples in winter and summer. The content of FAAs decreased significantly during the curing period in winter while increasing steadily in summer. The content of total FFAs increased in both winter and summer, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) decreased significantly in summer. The characteristic compound in winter samples is hexanal, nonanal, and (E)-2-octenal, which may mainly come from the degradation of FAAs, while the characteristic compound in winter samples is hexanal, nonanal, and (E)-2-nonenal, which may mainly be derived from the oxidation of FFAs. This study extends our knowledge on flavor from traditional cured meat products at different processing stages in different seasons and could be useful for the standardization of the traditional and regional meat products.

Effect of Salt Reduction on the Quality of Boneless Dry-Cured Ham from Iberian and White Commercially Crossed Pigs

Iberian dry-cured ham has great value in a traditional Spanish diet, although experts have recommended its consumption should be reduced because of its high salt content and link to cardiovascular diseases. Eighteen boneless Iberian hams (RIB), eighteen boneless white commercially crossed pig hams (RWC), and eighteen traditionally salted and processed Iberian hams (TIB) were manufactured to check whether the breed (RIB vs. RWC) or the processing (RIB vs. TIB) affects their physical–chemical and sensory characteristics. Moisture, protein, total nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, proteolysis index, NaCl, and ash contents were higher in RWC, contrary to the fat values, which were more than double in RIB. All macrominerals, except Ca, were affected by the processing stage and breed, whereas only the micromineral Zn was higher in RWC. The breed did not affect the free amino acid content; however, the total content was slightly higher in RWC. Regarding the manufacturing process, the deboning of RIB allowed the reduction of salt by over 30%. However, the microbiological stability was not affected, resulting in a safe product. Although deboning and salt reduction significantly affect the hardness, adhesiveness, deformation, and elasticity of dry-cured hams, consumers value all sensory parameters with higher scores in RIB.

Chemical Characteristics of Croatian Traditional Istarski pršut (PDO) Produced from Two Different Pig Genotypes

Chemical characteristics of raw and processed Istarski pršut (PDO) produced from two different pig genotypes were studied with special emphasis on amino and fatty acid composition and factors of lipid stability. Raw hams of Large White (LW)xLandrace (L), and (LWxL)xDuroc (D) pig genotypes were used in the study (20 hams of each genotype). All left raw hams from each carcass were processed in accordance with the PDO specification of Istarski pršut, and other half (the right ones) of LWxL)xD genotype were used for analyses of raw hams (fresh muscles). Istarski pršut was evaluated on the basis of the chemical parameters of the raw and matured lean ham. The process of dry curing significantly influenced the chemical properties of Istarski pršut. Despite the higher content of intramuscular fat and polyunsaturated fatty acids, the fat of (LWxL)xD ham was much more resistant to hydrolysis and oxidation, suggesting that fatty acid profile and other factors, also play a significant role. Significant differences between pig genotypes in the amino acid and fatty acid profiles were found. The analyzed Istarski pršut may be distinguished by prints of multivariate chemometric statistical analysis, based on their amino acid and fatty acid compositions.

Effect of Pig Breed and Processing Stage on the Physicochemical Properties of Dry-Cured Loin

This study investigated the effect of pig breeds on the quality characteristics of dry-cured loins according to the processing stage. Physicochemical properties of 20 dry-cured processed loins with the different pig breeds [Berkshire vs Landrace×Yorkshire× Duroc (LYD; n=10)] and different processing stages (raw, curing, dry-ripened 15 day and 30 day) were analyzed. The pig breed influenced moisture content and pH with values of 59% and 53%, and 6.17 and 5.94, for Berkshire and LYD, respectively, on day 30. Dry-cured loins made with Berkshire showed higher hardness and lower cohesiveness than that of the LYD (p<0.05). Redness and yellowness were higher for Berkshire than LYD (p<0.05). Lipid oxidation and lightness did not affect by pig breed during processing stages (p>0.05). However, sulfhydryl content was significantly higher in Berkshire compared to the LYD after dry-ripened for 15 days (p<0.05). The concentration of total free amino acids and fatty acids was higher for Berkshire during all processing stages (p<0.05). Berkshire may be better quality due to its high moisture content and pH compared to the LYD.

Fatty Acids and Free Amino Acids Changes during Processing of a Mediterranean Native Pig Breed Dry-Cured Ham

The aim of this work is to analyse the intramuscular fatty acids and the free amino (FAA) acids in Chato murciano dry-cured ham. There are several Mediterranean native pig breeds whose characteristics of derived products have been described, but the impact of lipolysis and proteolysis on Chato murciano dry-cured ham has not yet been studied. Fatty acids and free amino acids were determined in the fresh piece and at 14, 18, 22 and 24 months of manufacturing. Monounsaturated fatty acids are the majority in the neutral lipids and free fatty acid fractions. Lipolysis took place mainly until the 18th month, resulting in a decrease in the levels of fatty acids of neutral lipids (from 95.43% to 83.38%) and polar lipids (from 2.57% to 0.41%), accompanied by a corresponding increase in free fatty acids (from 2% to 16.21%). Neutral lipids hydrolysis provides the main free fatty acids as in other native breeds. Results for FAA showed an increase in concentration during the time preceding the 14th month. From this point onwards, until month 18, total FAA concentration remained stable, and the content decreased at the end of the processing (between months 22 and 24).

Effect of breed on proteolysis and free amino acid profiles of dry-cured loin during processing

Non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and free amino acids (FAA) were analysed in dry-cured loin obtained from the native pig breed Chato Murciano (CM) during processing. In addition, a comparison was drawn between the NPN and FAA values obtained in CM and those obtained in dry-cured loin from a modern crossbreed pig genotype (CG) at commercialisation times (between 30 and 60 days of processing). Processing time affected NPN, total FAA concentration, and all FAA studied, except arginine, histidine and lysine. The breed affected both NPN and total FAA, as superior values were observed in CM at Day 30. From this moment onward, proteolysis was more intense in CG than in CM. At Day 30, the concentration of most amino acids, except for lysine and arginine, was higher in CM. Whereas the concentration of all amino acids, except serine, histidine and methionine + tryptophan, was higher in CG at Day 60. The breed affected proteolytic activity in dry-cured loin. The results suggested that, from the point of view of proteolysis, the optimum processing time for CM dry-cured loin is 45 days.

A comparison of fatty acid profiles and lipolysis during ripening of dry-cured loins obtained from a native pig breed (ChatoMurciano) and from a modern crossbreed pig

The fatty acid composition of neutral lipids (NL), polar lipids (PL) and free fatty acids (FFA) was analysed in dry-cured loins obtained from the native pig breed Chato Murciano (CM) and from a modern crossbreed pig genotype (CG) during the ripening stage (between the 30 and 60 days of processing). Fatty acid concentrations from neutral lipids, polar lipids and free fatty acid fractions were affected by breed. With respect to ripening time, lipolysis was more intense in the CG than in CM product, resulting in a decrease in the concentrations of fatty acids in the NL and PL fractions, accompanied by a corresponding increase in FFA. Results for lipid determination provided evidence that the concentrations of the different groups of fatty acids within the lipid fractions depend on the breed. In order of abundance, the groups of fatty acids in the neutral lipid fraction were monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) > saturated fatty acids (SFA) > polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (59%, 37% and 4% in CM; 58%, 35% and 6% in CG) at 60 days of processing. In the polar lipid fraction, the order was SFA > PUFA > MUFA (44%, 29% and 27% in CM; 42%, 38% and 20% in CG), and in free fatty acid fraction, the order was MUFA > PUFA > SFA (40%, 30%, and 30% in CM; 39%, 32%, and 29% in CG) at 60 days of processing.