Unsaponifiable fraction and n-alkane profile of subcutaneous fat from Iberian ham / Fracción insaponificable y perfil de los n-alcanos de la grasa subcutánea del jamón Ibérico

The unsaponifiable fraction of subcutaneous fat of dry-cured Iberian hams from pigs fed on different systems during the finishing-fattening period and its feasibility as a method for classifying the hams according to the pigs' feeding background are studied. Unsaponifiable fraction and n-alkane content of subcutaneous fat from ten dry cured hams from Iberian x Duroc pigs raised on two different man agement systems ( Montanera, fed extensively on acorns and pasture, and Pienso, fed on a concentrate diet) are analyzed. The proportion of unsaponifiable material and n-alkanes [pentadecane (n-C15), heptadecane (n-C17), octadecane (n-C18), nonadecane (n-C19), eicosane (n-C20) and pentacosane (n-C25)] were higher ( P < 0.05) in hams from pigs raised under extensive conditions than in those from pigs receiving concentrate feeds. The unsaponifiable fraction assay of the fat from dry-cured Iberian hams is a promising technique for classifying hams based on the pigs' feeding background.