A comparative study of boar taint in cooked and dry-cured meat

A comparative study of boar taint in cooked and dry-cured pig meat products was performed. Forty-eight cooked loins and 48 dry-cured hams from entire males and castrates were studied. The samples were classified according to the androstenone (AN) and skatole (SK) fat content determined using HPLC. A trained sensory panel evaluated taste, aroma, boar odour, boar flavour, juiciness, tenderness and fatness in cooked and dry-cured samples. Threshold levels of AN and SK to separate (P<0.05) entire and castrate samples according to their boar odour and flavour were determined. The effects of castration and processing on the eating quality were studied. Finally, the relationships among boar taint and other sensory attributes in cooked and dry-cured meat were compared. Results from these studies show that the eating quality of processed meat was affected negatively by boar taint. Threshold values were higher in dry-cured ham (2 μg g(-1) AN and 0.12 SK) than cooked loin (0.5 AN and 0.1 SK). AN and SK had a synergistic effect on boar odour and flavour in both products. AN had a greater influence than SK on the aroma and taste, especially in cooked meat. Boar odour was perceived more intensely than boar flavour in both of the products studied. Castration favoured fatness and improved the aroma and taste of cooked and dry-cured meat. The loss of aroma and taste due to boar taint was more noticeable in cooking than drying and curing. In dry-cured meat boar taint was associated with less aroma, taste, juiciness and tenderness. However, in cooked meat, boar taint affected the aroma and taste more strongly, but was not related with juiciness and tenderness, probably because these attributes are influenced by cooking.