Role of sodium nitrite on phospholipid composition of cooked cured ham. Relation to its flavor

Abstract The role of sodium nitrite on phospholipid composition was studied during the processing of cooked cured ham. Evolution of the different classes of phospholipids in raw meat, cured meat with brine injected at 0, 50 and 100 mg of sodium nitrite/kg meat, and cooked meat, was determined as well as fatty acid content of phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine in raw and cooked meat. The major effect of sodium nitrite was observed on phosphatidyl ethanolamine whose content was significantly lowered in the presence of this salt. This effect was observed at the end of the curing process and was not modified by the cooking. The fatty acid content between raw meat and cooked cure…