A ham board is the best way to start a lunch or dinner on Christmas day. However, the investment in this starter can vary greatly depending on the type of ham that is chosen. In the Iberian ham sector, there is a wide range of prices, with legs that can range from 100 to more than 500 euros. And then there is the white ham sector, whose assortment is very wide both in terms of quality and prices.
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Everything that is not Iberian ham is pieces of white pigs
The serrano appellation is the most common to name the hind leg of the pig that receives a salting and curing process. There are even some who can call Iberian products serrano. However, it is a mistake, the second more. The correct thing is to call white pig cured hams all the ham that does not come from Iberian pigs. The name white refers precisely to the color of the pigs.
This group of white pigs is divided into four groups: Serrano Ham Guaranteed Traditional Specialty, Teruel Ham DOP, Trevélez Ham Protected Geographical Identification and Serón Ham Protected Geographical Indication. In addition, there would be a last group that would collect all those hams that are not located in the four previous varieties. This last group would receive the name of ‘cured ham’.
Origin of cured and serrano hams
Cured or Serrano hams come from a cross between white pigs. The most common breeds in these crosses are Duroc, Pietrain, Landrace or Large White. In addition, they are pigs that follow a diet with feed made mainly from cereals.
Regarding the PDO Teruel and the IGP Trevélez and Serón, they have more valued genetic possibilities. Thus, the PDO Teruel ham comes from crossings of Duroc male pigs and Landrace, Large White or crossbreeding mothers. The PGI Trevélez, for its part, is the result of crossing the Landrace, Large-White and Duroc-Jersey breeds. And the IGP Serón comes from crosses of the Landrace, Large-White and Duroc-Jersey breeds. Duroc, Large White, Landrace, Belgian White, Pietrain and Chato Murciano.
The degree of curing of cured and serrano hams, the secret of quality
The differences between Iberian hams and hams from white pigs are important. In fact, many would say that they are totally different products. However, a ham from a 50% Iberian pig and fed with fodder may have fewer differences compared to a good ham that comes from a white pig. A good resource to find a good ham is to look at the months of maturation and find one that is as close as possible to the curing times of an Iberian ham, which is at least 20 months. Thus, the white ham sector has appraised maturation times:
– Gran Reserva: the hams are cured for 15 months. They are higher quality products than the rest of white hams.
– Reserve or aged: The yield and type of fat is similar to that of the rest of white hams. In this case the cure is 12 months.
– Cellar or cellar: these hams are cured for a minimum of 9 months.
*Note 1: It is worth mentioning that what the standard says is that the minimum maturation time is 7 months. For this reason, it is important to look at the labeling of the piece and follow the rule of greater maturation, higher quality (and therefore price).
*Note 2: the maturation times of the PDO Teruel and the IGP Trevélez and Serón are longer and are valued.
‘Serrano Reserva Escámez’ by Hermanos Escámez Sánchez (Murcia) wins as best Serrano ham
Serrano ham ‘Escámez Reserve’
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries awarded the prize for the best white ham ‘Serrano Reserva Escámez’, from the Guaranteed Traditional Specialty (TSG) Jamón Serrano, presented by Hermanos Escámez Sánchez SL, from Bullas (Murcia). The finalists were Jamón ‘Gran Reserva 7 Hermanos’ from the ETG Jamón Serrano, presented by Cárnicas 7 Hermanos, SA, from Valmojado (Toledo); and ‘Jamones Casa Vieja’ ham, from the PDO Jamón de Teruel, presented by Jamones Casa Vieja SL, from Calamocha (Teruel).
The offers of Serrano and cured ham from El Corte Inglés, Carrefour, Lidl, Eroski or Mercadona
1. Serrano ham Gran Reserva de la Alpujarra, piece 7 kg, cured for 20 to 24 months, from El Corte Inglés.
2. Gran Reserva Serrano Ham Piece (Weight Approx. 8 Kg) of the Solariego brand in supermarkets Dia.
3. Christmas Lot Gran Reserva Montedorado cured ham, candles and 50% Iberian bait-fed Iberian loin for sale at Carrefour.
4. Lot of reserve ham and Sánchez Alcaraz stuffed loin for sale at Eroski.
5. Reserve Serrano ham from Incarlopsa from Mercadona.
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