Curing Flashcards
What was the first method of curing used?
Salting.
What is pemmican?
A mixture of ground meat, dried fruit, and dried vegetables.
What are the 4 functions of curing meat?
- Increased food safety.
- Extended shelf-life when refrigerated.
- Increased flavor development.
- Increased color development.
What are the 3 reasons why salt is used as a curing ingredient?
- Dehydrating agent.
- Desirable flavor.
- Good preservative.
What are the 3 reasons why sugar is used as a curing ingredient?
- Acid formation substrate for lowering the pH.
- Counteracts the astringent taste of salt.
- Flavor enhancer.
What 3 places is sodium nitrate naturally found?
- Soil
- Vegetables.
- Water.
What is sodium nitrate easily converted into?
Sodium nitrite through the loss of an oxygen.
What are the 4 reasons why sodium nitrite is used as a curing ingredient?
- Active meat-curing agent.
- Bacteriostatic properties, even against Clostridium botulinum.
- Cured flavor.
- Retards lipid oxidation.
Why is sodium nitrite especially important in ham production?
It gives cured ham its characteristic pink color.
Why does ham look pink when cured?
The sodium nitrite is broken down to nitric oxide during the curing process, and nitric oxide can bind to myoglobin.
Why are nitrate and nitrite levels in meat highly regulated?
Due to both compounds being toxic to humans.
What are the 2 reasons why sodium ascorbate and sodium erythorbate are used as curing ingredients?
- Inhibit nitrosamine formation.
- Speed up color change.
*Levels are regulated.
What is the reason why alkaline phosphate is used as a curing ingredient?
It decreases meat shrinkage by boosting water-binding.
*Level in regulated.
Is alkaline phosphate recognizable in meat?
No, it has a variety of alternate names that could be on the package.
What 5 spices are commonly used to flavor meat?
- Allspice.
- Cinnamon.
- Clove.
- Nutmeg.
- Pepper.
What are the 3 reasons why water is used as a curing ingredient?
- Dispersing medium for the other ingredients.
- Maintenance of juiciness.
- Moisture-loss compensation.
- Reducing cost by selling the water added as part of the meat. Must be on the label.
What is the scientific name for the pink color of cured meat?
Nitrosylhemochrome.
What 2 things cause the color of nitrosylhemochrome to fade?
- Light.
- Oxygen.
What was the original method of curing meat?
Dry salt curing.
What does dry salt curing require?
Rubbing and packing the meat in salt for 2+ weeks.
What compound can be added to meat being dry salt cured to improved color and flavor?
K+ or Na+ nitrite.
What does dry sugar curing require?
Rubbing a salt, cane sugar, nitrate (saltpeter) and K+ or Na+ nitrite mixture on the meat in 3-5 day intervals for 35 days.
What is the other name for a dry sugar cure?
Dry country cure.
What does box/pressure curing require?
Packing a box with the exact amount of the desired cure for each pound of product, then placing another box on top to press the cure into the meat.