What is bellota ham?
Bellota: This type of ham comes from pigs which have been fed with acorns and pasture until they reach 50 kilos weight. This is the highest quality ham. Depending on the percentage of Iberian breed, the color of its label is black (for those 100%) or red (for those 50%).
How do you eat a bellota ham?
The Three Commandments of Eating Jamón Ibérico de Bellota 1 Always serve at room temperature. The jamón is rich in unsaturated fat, and at room temperature, the meat is primed to melt on your tongue. 2 Always serve very thin slices.
How much is a leg of Iberico ham?
Iberian ham, or Jamón Ibérico, is one of the most expensive meats in the world. A leg of it can cost as much as $4,500. It is made from the rear leg of the black Iberian pig, a rare breed that can be found in the southern and western regions of the Iberian Peninsula, which comprises Spain and Portugal.
How much does a leg of serrano ham cost?
One leg of it, weighing between 13 to 17 pounds, can cost up to $4,500. The most expensive jamon iberico de bellota available in the U.S. costs $1,400.
How long does an Iberico ham leg last?
A whole leg of Jamón Ibérico will last up to 9 months unopened from the time it arrives at your doorstep. Once you open up the vacuum seal, it will last for 6-8 weeks, as long as you store it properly.
Does Iberico ham go bad?
Because ham does not expire. The traditional way of making ham in Spain – both from white and Iberian pigs – by dehydrating pieces of meat using salt, means that although the organoleptic qualities of the piece may vary, eating it is not a health risk.
How long does a leg of Iberico ham last?
Why is serrano ham so expensive?
The first reason the ham is so expensive is that it is only produced in a small number of districts in Spain, as well as certain areas of Portugal. As with many famous European products, it’s protected by the European’s Protected Designation of Origin system, which also protects items such as Champagne.
Does Serrano ham go bad?
Serrano ham is usually eaten over a long period of time in small amounts, as a daily snack or for a treat, so a single ham can last many months.