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Salt (sodium chloride) is the primary ingredient used in meat curing. [10] Removal of water and addition of salt to meat creates a solute-rich environment where osmotic pressure draws water out of microorganisms, slowing down their growth. [10] [11] Doing this requires a concentration of salt of nearly 20%. [11]
Salt inhibits the growth of microorganisms by drawing water out of microbial cells through osmosis. Concentrations of salt up to 20% are required to kill most species of unwanted bacteria. Smoking, often used in the process of curing meat, adds chemicals to the surface of meat that reduce the concentration of salt required.
Large quantities of salt were used in the curing process and smoking times were quite long, sometimes involving days of exposure. [7] The advent of modern transportation made it easier to transport food products over long distances and the need for the time and material intensive heavy salting and smoking declined.
Processed meat, defined by the World Health Organization as having undergone salting, curing, fermenting, smoking or other processes to make products such as sausages, ham or canned meat, contains ...
By 900 BC, salt was being produced in "salt gardens" in Greece and dry salt curing and smoking of meat were well established. The Romans (200 BC) acquired curing procedures from the Greeks and further developed methods to "pickle" various kinds of meats in a brine marinade. It was during this time that the reddening effect of salting was noted.
Ham can also undergo an optional process of smoking. When ham is dry-cured, the meat is rubbed with a mixture of salt and seasoning, and then left to age. When ham is wet-cured, it is immersed in ...
Smoke deposits a number of pyrolysis products onto the food, including the phenols syringol, guaiacol and catechol. [9] Salt accelerates the drying process using osmosis and also inhibits the growth of several common strains of bacteria. More recently nitrites have been used to cure meat, contributing a characteristic pink colour. [10]
Processed meat is considered to be any meat that has been modified in order to either improve its taste or to extend its shelf life. Methods of meat processing include salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, and/or the addition of chemical preservatives. [1] Processed meat is usually composed of pork or beef or, less frequently, poultry.