Quality comparison between imported hams from black and white pigs available in the market

Abstract

This study was performed to compare the physicochemical characteristics between imported dry-cured Hams from black and white pigs available in the domestic market. The black dry-cured hams contain higher moisture and ash contents than that of white hams, whereas the black dry-cured hams had lower fat contents than that of the black ones (p < 0.05). The hams from black ones had lower lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values than those from the white ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, the pH values and salt contents of the hams from the black ones were higher than those from the white ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, the black ones had a higher water holding capacity (WHC) than that of the white ones (p < 0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values of the black ones were lower than those of the white ham samples (p < 0.05). For texture profile analysis, hardness, gumminess, chewiness, cohesiveness and shear force values were significantly lower in the black ones than in the white samples (p < 0.05). Saturated fatty acids in the white ones were higher than in the black ones, whereas unsaturated fatty acids in the black ones were higher (p < 0.05). Free amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid in the black ones were higher than in the white ones (p < 0.05). The shrinkage of muscle fiber was stronger in the white ones. Considering the meat quality parameters of ham, the black ones showed a superior meat quality. In general, this research can be used as fundamental information for the mass production of dry-cured hams in Korea.