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The best Iberian ham in Spain, but I don't know how to keep it!!

Iberico ham is one of Spain's most prized foods, being one of the products that best represent Spanish gastronomy and that have delighted the palate of good ham lovers in Miami.

We know that a few days ago you bought one of the best Iberian hams in Spain, but now you don't know how to cut it so as not to damage it and preserve it? Well, here are some tips on how to cut your ham correctly, along with how to take care of it in order to preserve it for a longer period of time.

1.- It is necessary to have a long knife and a flexible support of excellent quality.

Normally you can use one of the knives found in your kitchen, but, you need one of each if you want to do it right. You can always use one of your kitchen knives and ask your wife to hold it while you try to cut it, but please don't hold us responsible if you cut yourself or, worse, if your wife cuts herself (remember that divorces are much more expensive than a stand and a good knife). Don't be stingy: it pays to have the right tools.

2.- If it's pleasing to the eye, it's time to eat.

Iberico hams take between 36 months to cure, so they are not greasy but on the contrary, they are completely ready to be consumed. So no, please no, don't keep them in your fridge, they are not cold-friendly, what's more, they don't like it one bit, contact with the cold could spoil them, so it's better to keep them in your kitchen in a safe place. at room temperature to keep it longer.

3.- Prepare the part of the ham that you are going to consume.

Ham is like life, sometimes it is necessary to look deep inside to obtain the tastiest and crunchiest.

Previously we told you that the curing process takes approximately 36 months, forming a layer of fat around the meat to keep it fresh, so do not forget that the external part is no longer edible and that it must be cut so that you can enjoy the best part of the ham, cut only the yellow fat keeping only the white/pink. Also, only cut out the part you are going to carve and leave the rest in its original shape.

4.- The best side is the one you choose.

The question is whether to carve the right or left side of the ham first, so our advice is to enjoy the best part, the mace, the widest and fattest part of the ham!"

5.- The thinner the slice, the better experience.

You have wondered whether to cut the ham into long, short, thick or thin pieces, so remember, the thinner the better and a maximum of 3 inches long, you will be able to take the whole slice to your mouth without complications and you will be aware of how it is it melts little by little in your mouth, exquisite!!

6.- Fat is our best friend.

We usually think that the fattier a food, the more damage it will cause to our body, however, when we talk about Iberian ham, fat is our best friend, it helps to better preserve the flavor and texture of our ham, so do not leave all the fat in the dish, enjoy a little and you will get an even more exquisite taste.

7.- Cover your ham as we deliver it.

Yes, again we repeat that thanks to the fat the ham is preserved, so when you finish cutting the part that you are going to consume, do not forget to wrap and cover the rest of the ham with the fat again, you can use transparent film to isolate to the maximum the ham.

8.- In case of humidity in your ham.

The ham is preserved as long as you take care of it and the environment you provide it with, however, many times due to humidity situations at home, white parts can appear on the ham. Do not be scared, there is a solution! You only need paper, olive oil and clean that moldy area, you will see how the mold on your ham disappears almost magically.

9.- Every part of the ham counts, be creative.

Good lovers of ham do not waste a slice, because it is delicious and each part counts for us. So if after cutting the slices you have leftovers in different sizes, do not waste them and prepare them together with other foods, such as mushrooms, salads, gazpacho, among other incredible recipes that you can prepare with the rest of the ham.

Including the bones, use them to prepare broths or delicious soups with the best Spanish flavor.

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You undoubtedly know Iberico ham is delicious. That’s reason enough to add it to your diet, especially if you want something special to share with your friends and family on memorable occasions.

What you might not know is that "Jamón Ibérico" is completely healthy, being a source of natural protein, fat, B vitamins, and minerals — iron, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. Iberico ham is good for metabolism, blood circulation, and many other benefits you will learn today. It is, after all, a fantastic agricultural product made with the highest European quality standards. Here are Iberic ham’s health benefits, read on and get on board because eating the delightful, cured ham could be more than an indulgence; it can actually improve your overall health!

Iberic Ham has Antioxidants

Iberico ham adds to your diet an adequate amount of antioxidants in the form of polyphenols. Antioxidants bind with scavenging free radicals floating in your bloodstream. These harmful compounds are responsible for chronic inflammation, blood pressure, and even some types of cancer!

Our favorite ham also has anti-inflammatory properties, which are also quite important, especially to maintain a healthy heart and circulatory system. And there’s more, Iberic ham might help you reduce your levels of ‘bad’ low-density cholesterol while boosting the good kind of colesterol.

Iberico Ham Has Vitamin B

Iberico ham has a significant concentration of vitamins in the B complex family, essential for cell metabolism and red blood cells. One hundred grams of Spanish ham add 52% of the vitamin B1 or Thiamine you need for the day. 42% of the vitamin B3 or niacin, 29% of vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine, and 18% of riboflavin or vitamin B2.

Vitamin B, in all its forms, plays a role in your immune system and brain health. It also helps your body turn carbs into energy. Vitamin B is critical for being in top shape.

Rich in proteins and good fats

Serrano ham & Iberico ham are rich in proteins and good fats, though Iberico hams are of higher quality. This is because the level of amino acids per gram of protein is higher, resulting in improved nutritional attributes for the amount of food eaten. Furthermore, the curing process to which they are exposed initiates a process called "proteolysis," which aids digestion. This is very important because with a higher digestibility quotient nutrients are assimilated much better.

The high content of intramuscular fat is an important source of fatty acids, mainly unsaturated fatty acids, while the saturated fat level is well below that found in meats from white pigs. These parameters show that regular consumption of Spanish ham increases the "good" cholesterol and decreases the "bad" cholesterol in the bloodstream.

For years now, nutritionists have been pointing to this effect of the Mediterranean diet as one reason why it seems to prolong life and improve heart health.

Ham: Healthy

All the above factors lead to the conclusion that the nutritional properties of Iberico ham are ideal for maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, as well as providing specific dietary benefits.

For instance, Iberico ham's high protein content makes it ideal for building muscle so nutritionists recommend it for underweight or for pregnant women.

On the other hand, the high levels of Vitamin B make it a good choice for those struggling to overcome depression or stress, or for periods of convalescence from injury, illness, or an operation. Stomach problems can also benefit from Iberico ham's high degree of digestibility.

The ham comes from the term ham in Spain and is applied to both the Serrano and the Ibérico. Surely, just like us, we think that both the Serrano Ham and the Iberico Ham are delicious, each one with its unique characteristics and flavors, as well as being excellent as companions or as the main ingredient of a dinner, however, although both hams are spectacular , there are great differences that you should know before making your next purchase.

Exclusivity in dinners.

Let's start with exclusivity, it is well known that the one that offers the greatest exclusivity and quality is the Iberian ham due to its natural ingredients, it is the norm for dinner for a great event or Thanksgiving dinner. On the other hand, Serrano ham, although it is exclusive and delicious, is more consumed by families on common occasions in life, for example, it is dinner during the week or to snack at a meeting.

Which ham offers higher quality?

Again, there is no hesitation in mentioning that Iberico Ham is at the top of the best ham you can eat, do you know why? Simple, because everything starts from the field, in a natural environment and fed on a specific diet that guarantees that the Iberian ham does not contain any preservatives or artificial flavors, cured for approximately 36 months, yes, the waiting time is a bit long, but we assure you that it is worth the wait. Simply spectacular!

In the last posts we have mentioned about the friendly practices regarding Iberian ham and also about some differences between these 2 kinds of hams, so if you want to know how to choose the best ham, we hope you will follow our next tips:

1. Budget: When reviewing the market price of the two hams, you will notice that the Iberian ham costs almost twice the value of the Serrano ham, while a Serrano ham ranges between 300 dollars, the cheapest Iberian ham is around 500 dollars and even more, however, this price is understandable when you understand the nature from which these two species come from.

2. Label and label color: It should contain a label that says Feeding Factor - Breeding Factor, remember that they are 100% acorn-fed and raised in the Spanish Dehesas.

Also, you should know that each ham must be identified with a specific color that defines its feeding and breeding factors of the pig. There are currently 4 label colors:

- White: a 50% Iberian breed pig (crossbred: 100% Iberian mother and 100% Duroc father, in most cases) fed on cereals. This is the entry level: it is a good ham, but far from the other Iberian options.

- Light green: the same 50% Iberian breed as the previous one, but in this case the pig is free range, so it is fed on pasture and whatever the animal finds in the forest. Please note that neither of these two options is available at Love Iberico.

- Dark Green: pure Iberico (from 100% Iberico mother and father), free range, pasture raised. This is a better quality than the previous two.

- Black: this is the top of the range, the best ham on the market, the 100% acorn-fed Iberian breed, also known as "Bellota" in Spanish and also the only one (let me repeat: the only one) that can be called "Pata Negra".

3. Size: A good ham has an approximate size of 16 to 18 lbs, uniformly cured, the color of Serrano Ham is a little more skin colored than Iberico Ham, that is a good tactic to distinguish these 2 types of hams.

Remember these key points for your next choice of ham, see the differences for yourself and don't forget to leave us your comments.

Today, a large part of society wants to know where their food comes from and what the entire production process is like, demanding that all processes be sustainable and environmentally sustainable. In addition, when dealing with animals such as pigs, consumers of this product expect these animals to have an acceptable quality of life and to live in places that are healthy for them.

We know that not all these requirements are always met and that a large part of the foods you consume daily contain ingredients that you do not know about, although everything is regulated in the food industry, not everything is always complied with according to the law, so before consuming a product it is important to know its origin.

Iberico ham is an artisanal practice.

The curing of the ham lasts approximately 36 months, it is done in a natural way, without chemicals, without hormones or antibiotics or artificial products that alter the quality and flavor of the ham, it is only cured with salt and dried in the open air without chemical preservatives, that is, the Iberian ham that reaches your table is completely handmade, its color and flavor is natural, it is a fresh taste so you can transport you to the pastures of Spain.

As we have previously mentioned in our blogs, the Iberian pig is raised and fed in the dehesas of Spain, in fields where they are fed with fresh herbs and acorns that help to double their size, preserve the good health of the pigs and above all, help not to contaminate neither the animal nor the environment, all this thanks to the fact that each pig has large areas of land to be raised and well cared for.

Practices to protect agricultural biodiversity

The ideal is to protect the quality of life of the Iberian pig in order to maintain a healthy and sustainable agricultural biodiversity. Most of the pork consumed daily comes from breeds prized for their high yields.

Ancestral breeds, although not the most profitable for our industrial way of producing food, are priceless and maintaining a healthy number of them is paramount. The Iberian pig belongs to the Sus scrofa domesticus family and differs greatly from the conventional domestic pig or Sus domesticus.

As long as we consume Spanish ham, we will be preserving the ancestral Iberian pigs, which means they will surely have a bright future.

Positive impact on agricultural tourism.

Spain is known for producing the best Iberian ham, integrating the quality of life of the pigs and offering tourists the opportunity to visit the dehesas to see how they live and feed the black pigs. Quite a spectacle! Moreover, being a major producer, the community depends on this product as one of the main sources of income for the country.

So if you are thinking about ham, remember that the best is Iberian, it is sustainable with the planet and the whole environment is kind to the care of animals.

Barceloneta emerged on the scene in 2011 and was one of the original venues that amplified sunset harbour into the fashionable miami neighborhood it is now reputed for. A trendy & casual venue immersed in spanish mediterranean cuisine. This month we are celebrating 11 year old anniversary, with an expansion that allows us to announce that the flavors of Barceloneta Miami will now arrive at your door.

We are Barceloneta Market online store, coming together to bring the best food from Spain to your home. Before anything else, we want to share with you why we are here, the products we are carrying, and what is in our future for you.

We believe Spain offers the best food in the world for many reasons: First, Spanish food conveys the perfect balance of combining multiple ingredients for maximum effect, bringing a consistently enjoyable dining experience all year round.

Second, Spain's geography and traditions respect and embrace artisan and honest production methods with naturally sourced ingredients that respect every step to bring you the best quality, flavor, and health. As a result, Spanish food is considered one of the most healthy foods in the world.

We listen to our customers. With Barceloneta Market, our customers can taste and appreciate the best flavors from the Iberian peninsula: from 100% Iberico de Bellota Pork, plenty of cold cuts and fresh cuts like loin and Chorizo, Spanish Cheese, and other hand-picked delicious ingredients.

As time passes, we are looking forward to including more products. We are open to your suggestions and to satisfy your taste and delicate palate.

La Barceloneta Market offers free delivery on orders of $250 or more. So you can enjoy these products with your friends and family every time, with the peace of mind our brand brings.

Stay tuned to our blogs because you will continue learning to select high-quality ham, you will know how healthy they are, the history of ham, the origins of gastronomy, and much more. check our next email, because we will send you an unmissable promotion, so that you not only learn by reading but also enjoying our flavors.

We are happy to be here for you!