• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.377-385
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate quality characteristics of dry-cured hams in the domestic market. Two kinds of dry-cured hams were processed with pork leg (T1) and pork neck (T2). Five 24-month dry-cured legs (T1, 5.3-6.1 kg) and twenty 4-month dry-cured pork necks (T2, 1.5-1.9 kg) were used in this experiment. They were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ chilling room and quality characteristics were investigated. Moisture content, water activity, cholesterol content, CIE $L^*$, VBN, total plate counts and lactic acid bacteria of T1 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of T2, whereas fat content, ${NO_2}^-$, CIE $a^*$, TBARS and Warner-Bratzler shear force values of T2 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of T1. In fatty acid compositions, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid in T2 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than T1, however, oleic and linoleic acid in T2 was significantly lower (p<0.05) than T1. In free amino acids, the total content and individual content of asparagin, leucine and phenylalanine in T1 were higher than those of T2 (p<0.05). The aroma score of T2 was higher than that of T1 in sensory evaluation (p<0.05). In conclusion, two kinds of dry-cured hams were different in their final characteristics and could enhance the consumer's appeal of pork meat in Korean market.