We analyze what the white spots of the ham are and what function they fulfill in this sausage. White dots in an Iberian ham: synonymous with craftsmanship and great flavour.
Índice
- Types of white spots on ham
- The white dots on the ham that don't move
- What about the white dots that do move?
If you are one of the people who likes ham, surely you have ever wondered what the white dots that appear on it are. What does it mean to go out? Will it be good? Will it have lost quality?
At Your Spanish Shop, the store where you can find the best to buy ham online, we want to answer all your questions. For this reason, in this post we will tell you what the white dots on the ham say.
Types of white spots on ham
As you may have noticed, grandmother we do not need. But what are we going to do if we know what it means to have a good ham and give people the opportunity to enjoy it.
In fact, if you buy any of our products, don't be surprised that this ham has white dots, do you know why? Because it will be an Iberian ham and a synonym of craftsmanship and great flavor.
Of course, it is very important to know how to differentiate what types of points they are because there are two, those that move and those that do not. And first, let's talk about the ones that don't move.
The white dots on the ham that don't move
The static white spots that appear on the ham are neither accumulated salt nor an indication that it is in poor condition. Quite the contrary. They are crystallizations of tyrosine, an amino acid present in the proteins of Iberian ham. After their long curing process, they can degrade and increase their concentration of free amino acids, which are important for their flavour.
In fact, these points indicate that the ham has gone through a slow and natural maturation process that denotes the quality necessary for its consumption and tasting.
Even so, its flavor does not depend only on tyrosine, but also on all the factors that influence its production process.
For example, excessive amounts of salt or a curing time that is too fast cause the inhibition of enzymes and, therefore, the appearance of white spots that do not move on the ham.
On the other hand, it is important to know the difference between tyrosine and thyroxine. Let us remember that tyrosine is the protein amino acid associated with the ph of the ham and that it intensifies its quality. While thyroxine is a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland, which has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
What about the white dots that do move?
If you have a ham on hand and you see that it has white dots that move, I have to tell you to be careful. What's more, you really should check to what extent those white dots reach because they are mites known as the piojillo of the ham.
If the lice are on the surface, there is still time to save the ham if you clean it thoroughly and get rid of all of them.
To completely remove those white spots, some experts recommend submerging the ham in water for two hours. The surface is then scrubbed with a root brush while it rinses off, then left to dry for a day.
However, if these stitches have reached their creases… Houston, we have a problem because you have to get rid of that ham and there is no more to talk about.
And to avoid this case, what should be done is to keep the ham in good condition once you have it at home, such as not having it wrapped for a year where it can pick up moisture and heat.
At Your Spanish Shop we offer Iberian hams that have undergone a perfect production process to guarantee their highest quality. For this reason, as we said before, do not be scared to find white spots on the ham because it means that it has the best flavor. Of course, remember, they are the ones that do not move.
And in addition to this delicacy, you can also find good products to accompany the ham in our online catalog of Spanish sausages. How to resist!