The salting of Ibérico ham: the key of the salt

484 Likes Posted on: 04/11/2018
By Alex
 

What is the salting process?

The salting is a very old technique. Traditionally, the salt was used to preserve fresh food. In the case of preserving the ham, salt helps to extract, dissolve and return the gravy to the ham by dissemination. By this process, proliferation of microorganisms which may rot the meat becomes harder. So the secret of salting ibérico hams is in the perfect percentage of salt according to ham’s capacity to absorb it. This process is known as osmosis, which consists on the natural capacity of the ham to absorb salt and offload fluids.

 

How many salt needs each ham?

We can’t apply a random amount of salt to hams and shoulders because each piece will absorb the salt quantity needed for it preservation. There is a general rule in which 1 kilo worth 1 salting day, always under ham expert’s supervision as it is not an exact science. Along the process, the ham will be turned in order to absorb the salt uniformly. The salting days depend on the weight of the piece (more days for hams than for shoulders) and the amount of fat, as this an agent which slows down salt infiltration and diffusion. In other words, ibérico bellota hams have more fat than serrano hams, so they need longer salting period for the optimal result.

 

Futher information about salting

The salting technique more used and know is salting in stack. The classic technique is to create columns or stacks of 6-8 hams separated by a 10-15 cm salt layer. At the end, hams are covered with salt homogeneously.

For the salting process, we will need specific sort of salt. The salt used should be sea salt (coarse or semi-coarse) additive free in order for the process to be as natural and product-respectful as possible.

The salting process is very important to get a good ibérico ham, done in cold-storage rooms at 2 Celsius degrees as average temperature and relative approximate humidity is 90%. Without this process, the ham will lose quality and flavour, as we won’t enjoy the real iberico and serrano ham as we know it now.

 
Posted in: Ham Information, Ham

Related posts

Joselito, ¿el mejor jamón del mundo? Joselito, ¿el mejor jamón del mundo?
Posted in: Ham, Where to buy Ham in...
07/02/2024
903 Likes
Hoy hablaremos de un jamón iberico que se autoproclama como el mejor como “El Mejor Jamón Iberico del Mundo”....
Read more
How can we use serrano and ibérico bellota spanish ham bone? How can we use serrano and ibérico bellota spanish ham bone?
Posted in: Recipes, Ham Information
02/28/2018
648 Likes
Among gastronomy, cookers and gourmet fooding lovers; it is well known the bone of iberico de bellota and serrano...
Read more
The D.O. Huelva hams become DO Jabugo The D.O. Huelva hams become DO Jabugo
Posted in: Ham Information, Ham
03/12/2018
1878 Likes
One of the great ham events on 2017 is the change of name of DO Huelva, which became DO Jabugo. This change includes...
Read more
Sorts of Iberian Ham: we clear it up Sorts of Iberian Ham: we clear it up
Posted in: Ham Information, Ham
01/27/2018
2046 Likes
Every Iberian ham is normally known as Jamón de Jabugo or Jamón de Pata Negra without taking into account the purity...
Read more
How to choose your perfect ham holder? Over-table or wall ham holder? How to choose your perfect ham holder? Over-table or wall ham holder?
Posted in: Ham Information, Other
07/06/2017
1048 Likes
With the arrival of winter, festivities and christmas holidays we love enjoying the best fooding products as hams....
Read more
“Maladúa” the world’s most expensive ham “Maladúa” the world’s most expensive ham
Posted in: Ham Information, Ham
07/19/2016
646 Likes
“Maladúa” the world’s most expensive ham costs 4,100€ a leg. No doubt Spanish Brand “Dehesa Maladúa” is the world’s...
Read more

Chat with us on WhatsApp

Joan Marc

Joan Marc

Online from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Call us or leave your details and we'll call you back asap

0034 931763594

info@jamonarium.com

Working hours of our store:

On weekdays:

Saturday:

Sunday:

from 8:00 to 21:00

from 9:00 to 20:00

from 10:00 to 19:00