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 drycured 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.