In almost all supermarkets we have the possibility to buy sliced spanish jamon, either by machine, in a whole and uniform slice format or in small flakes cut by hand in the traditional way.
The first thing that you will have noticed is the difference in price, being the ham cut with a knife more expensive than the cut by machine in a slicer. It is not surprising, since the labor and time of a professional iberico ham carver makes the product more expensive, as well as the profitability, which is lower in this case.
But it is not only the price that differentiates these two types of cut. It goes far beyond the time spent and the craftsmanship, but there are also significant differences at the sensory level.
Buy Mechanical sliced Spanish Ham.
At first glance, price aside, machine slicing has a cut in which the slice is the size of the whole piece, with rather long portions.
And what does that mean? Which are obtained from compact blocks of ham from boneless centers; that is to say, of pieces in industrial format thought so that they have greater profitability. And, obviously, we are not going to be able to taste the different flavors and textures depending on the area of the ham, since, as you well know, the slices obtained from the mace do not have the same as those of the stifle, hock or tip.
In machine slicing, the cut will be perpendicular to the direction of the fibers of the ham, so it will have a sensorial loss. And you should also know that to cut by machine, the piece must be harder, so that the blade can make the slices well and not break the meat. To do this, the ham blocks are subjected to low temperatures so that it hardens and can be easily cut, with which this process already makes the product lose quality.
A priori all this may seem negative, but it is not. It all depends on the use you are going to give it. It is best to eat a good Iberico pata negra Ham freshly cut or buy a spanish ham sliced with a knife and vacuum packed, but if it is to be included in hot recipes, where the ham is going to change its properties, I even recommend that you use a ham of these characteristics.
It also has aesthetic advantages, since a ham cut using a cold cutter will result in slices of the same size, more homogeneous. And all this translates into a cheaper Serrano Ham.
Buy Hand-carved Ham leg.
This way of carving the jamon helps to ensure that the sensory characteristics of the product are not lost and that they are really enhanced. In addition, we can enjoy each of the parts of the ham and its nuances, which will provide us with a more complete experience.
Ideally, if you want a sliced ham, it is for it to be a piece that you choose and they cut it for you, offering you all the parts of the ham with their respective cuts, even the ham cubes obtained from the hock. Cut and packaged bone is usually included.
In favor of the artisan cut, made by a master cutter, is his skill, being able to obtain from each slice a perfect bite to the palate, favoring each of its nuances to be appreciated. It is clear that if we are dealing with a professional carver of Iberian ham, the results will always be optimal, making the most of each piece.
From the outset, the direction of the cut, in the same sense of the fibers and the so tasty marbling of fat, already favors the texture, the smell and the flavor are more powerful.
In our Ham shop, you can choose the weight of the ham that you like the most and choose if you want it whole, to slice the Ham at home at your own pace or cut by a professional, in a traditional way with a knife and vacuum packed in envelopes of 100 g.
Which one to choose in our Jamon Store?
Depending on the use, if it is for pecking, for the family sandwiches, to include chopped in some stuffed mushrooms, on one asparagus or within a consommé, you can choose one or the other. You choose, the important thing is that you enjoy this healthy food.