Ham is a product that has been known to mankind for many centuries. Mention of it as an ingredient used to prepare many dishes can be found in Chinese treatises dating back to the X-XIII centuries. And to this day, ham is a product dearly loved by foodies. But how many ordinary people know about her? For example, Parma ham - what is it?
What is ham?
Ham was originally called a product made from pork ham. He salted, and then smoked. Pork is ham in its classic cooking. According to this simple and classic recipe, some types of this product are still being prepared to this day. For example, Italian Parma ham and Spanish jamon. They are delicacies and symbols of national cuisines of these countries.
Sausages familiar to most people, ham - these are products consisting of small pieces of meat, separated from bones, fat and tendons. During cooking, they are aged in the marinade until ripe, pressed into molds and boiled. Roasting and smoking are also allowed. Classic ham consists only of pork meat and salt, but manufacturers often use other types of meat, such as beef, turkey, chicken, to expand their product line.
Types of ham
Depending on the method of preparation and country of origin, the product can be divided into several types:
- Cooked ham can be made from pork ham with spices, roots, onions and carrots. The product is aged for a certain time in the marinade. Then it is boiled. This product is distinguished by its special juiciness and tenderness.
- The difference between boiled-smoked ham is that the meat after pickling is first smoked, and then cooked with spices. The product is distinguished by the beginning of a delicious crust.
- Smoked baked ham is also pickled in brine. But then it does not boil, but is immediately baked in frying chambers at a temperature of no more than 95 ° C, and then smoked.
- To the type of raw smoked ham is the Black Forest. When cooking it, the meat is first fried in the oven. Then it is smoked using pine and spruce wood from the Black Forest.
- Dry-cured ham is bresaola. The homeland of this product is Italy. It is made from beef, which is salted, and then dried in the open air for 2 months.
- Also, jamon belongs to the dried varieties. For its preparation, only pork ham and salt are used. Jamon is divided into two types: Serrano and Iberico. They differ in the duration of preparation, as well as the color of the hooves of the pigs from which they are made.
- A special type of product is Parma ham. What it is? The product is a type of ham for the preparation of which only three breeds of pigs can be used . In this case, the weight of the carcass should exceed 150 kg. This type of ham belongs to dried. For its manufacture, the ham is pickled for three weeks. Then it is dried outdoors for a year.
- Prosciutto ham originally from Italy. It is a classic version of a dried meat product, in the preparation of which only meat and salt are used.
To the question of whether ham is pork or beef, it is impossible to give a definite answer. It depends on where and who prepared it.
How to choose ham?
To date, store shelves are bursting with all kinds of meat products from different manufacturers. The quality of these products can vary greatly. As a rule, large and well-known manufacturers value their reputation. Therefore, choosing ham, you should pay attention, first of all, to their products. But in this case, it is worth remembering a few rules.
- The packaging should indicate that the products are manufactured in accordance with GOST 9165-59. The ham should not contain flavorings, baking powder or other additives.
- The slice of the product should be gray-pink. It should not shine. The opposite case indicates that preservatives are present.
- The shell should be dense and dry, without visible damage.
- The flavor of ham also plays an important role. A quality product smells like meat, not smoked. It should not have other odors.
- An important factor in the quality of ham is its price. You should choose a product that will be slightly more expensive than the cost of a fresh pork shoulder.
Ham is a perishable item. This should be remembered when buying it. The shelf life of the sliced product is reduced to three days. Therefore, do not stock up on them for the future.
How to cook ham at home?
To make homemade ham, you need pork ham, a set of spices, salt and patience. After all, the process is quite long. First you need to prepare the brine. It is produced in a hot way. Spices and salt are boiled and then cooled.
Chilled brine with a syringe chopped off a piece of meat. Moreover, it is important to do this from all sides and to different depths. From this procedure depends on how juicy and fragrant cooked ham will turn out. Then the meat is placed in a container and filled with the remnants of brine. It should be covered with a plate with the load placed on it and sent to the refrigerator for 3 days to pickle. It is necessary to periodically turn the meat, for a better distribution of brine. After the piece is taken, bound with a tight rope or wrapped with cling film.
The product is cooked for 2-2.5 hours at a temperature of 85 degrees. If it is increased, then the ham will taste like simple boiled meat. Then the meat is doused with cold water and, as it cools down, is sent to the refrigerator to insist for several hours or at night.
A little about the benefits of ham
Natural ham is undoubtedly healthy. But only if it is made without the use of artificial preservatives and dyes. First of all, ham is meat. Therefore, it is a source of protein, which is necessary for human health.
It also contains important fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It will be fair to notice about the high calorie content of ham. From which it follows that people suffering from metabolic disorders and overweight should limit the use of this meat product.
Cooking Application
Ham is one of the most valuable foods of modern man. It is used both as an independent dish, and as part of a variety of dishes. For example, rolls with various fillings are made from ham, baked with potatoes, and added to pastries and soups.