Differences between Iberian ham and Serrano ham

Iberian ham is one of the main delicacies of Spanish gastronomy without a doubt. But there are also other variants of ham that delight our palates on a daily basis and that are sometimes confused with the Iberian category, such as Serrano ham.

At Your Spanish Shop we show you what differentiates Iberian ham from Serrano ham so that you know how to choose the product that you find most appetizing in our extensive catalog to buy ham online.

Iberian ham vs. Serrano ham

At first glance, the differences between Serrano ham and Iberian ham may be practically imperceptible. Now, once you take it to the palate, you instantly realize that they are two different products that have no comparison.

However, this is inconvenient when buying ham since we cannot taste it and thus find the differences between Iberian and Serrano.

Still, there are certain factors that make it easy to recognize each of these products. And these are:

Origin

Serrano ham comes from white pigs whose livestock is developed in different countries. On the contrary, the origin of the Iberian ham belongs exclusively to the Iberian breed of pigs native to Spain. Therefore, it has specific characteristics that make it a unique and differentiating product, both in its flavor and in the quality of the meat itself.

The difference in price between Iberian ham and Serrano ham

The price is another factor by which you can identify both products and differentiate them. Due to the quality of Iberian ham, its price is much higher than that of Serrano ham.

The feeding of the Iberian pig and the white breed

Another differential element between Iberian ham and Serrano ham is the type of feed of the different breeds of pigs for which each product is produced.

Iberian ham comes from a breed of pig whose diet consists of feed rich in oleic acids, acorns and other natural herbs from the fields and pastures. Within this base there are different types of Iberian ham according to the percentage that each food occupies. For example, if the pig feeds only on acorns, it will give the Iberian acorn-fed ham. If, on the other hand, it eats feed and herbs, it will be Iberian bait ham.

Iberian Ham bellota Guijuelo El Rubio 8 y 9 kg.€393.56Serrano ham of Winery loncheado Torre de Nuñez 120 gr.€3.99

The elaboration process

The production of Iberian ham is much more traditional than that of Serrano ham. The curing processes are not comparable, since the Iberian is cured in natural dryers and the serrano in artificial ones. In addition, the time that the Iberian ham needs is longer compared to the Serrano ham, and it is what gives the meat better quality and flavor.

In fact, the healing process of one and the other is not comparable. The serrano goes through an estimated healing time of 9 to 15 months. While the Iberian needs a minimum time of 24 months.

The dark color of the Iberian ham compared to the pale red of the serrano
One factor that can help a lot when it comes to differentiating Serrano ham from Iberian ham is the color of the meat. While the Serrano shows a pale red meat, almost pink, the Iberian has an intense red that will darken the more Iberian it is. In other words, if it exceeds 75% of Iberian origin, it will more closely resemble the red color of red wine.

The hoof

The color of the hoof in a ham shoulder also tells us if it is an Iberian or Serrano product. This is because the Serrano shoulder has a white hoof, while the Iberian shoulder has a black color on its hoof.

The type of farming

Each breed of pig is raised in a distinctive way. In the case of the white pigs that give rise to Serrano ham, their upbringing and maintenance takes place in sheds. On the contrary, Iberian pigs belong to extensive farming in which the animals graze freely in the field.

Iberian ham label

Now yes. If there is a factor that totally differentiates one product from another at first glance, it is the labeling. If you are going to buy ham and you want it Iberian and not Serrano, you just have to look to see if it has a green, red and black label. All of them categorize the type of Iberian ham, so it is easy to recognize the product if they are marked with the color of the various flanges.

Iberian and serrano hams at Your Spanish Shop

You already know the differences between Iberian ham and Serrano ham. And in the Your Spanish Shop online store you can find a wide range of offers with the best products on the market. Your choice will depend on your taste and economy, because of course, we already know that Iberian ham is more expensive than Serrano ham due to the quality of the product. However, the good thing about our gastronomy is that it offers us high-quality Spanish hams and sausages for every type of pocket, being able to enjoy good meat both in our daily lives and in the most special moments.