Changes of physicochemical and volatile flavor compounds of dry-cured Diqing Tibetan pig hams during fermentation.

This study aimed to explore the flavor formation mechanism of Diqing Tibetan pig hams by investigating changes of their physicochemical and volatile flavor compounds during fermentation (0, 30, 90, 180, 360, and 540d) using amino acid analyzer , texture profile analysis, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (GC-IMS). During fermentation, the hams significantly decreased in moisture and centrifugal loss, while increased in chewiness, hardness, and proteolysis index, with their free amino acids content reaching the maximum at 360d and significantly decreasing at 540d. GC-IMS identified 78 volatile organic compounds, with the highest total content of alcohols and aldehydes at 180d, ketones and heterocycles at 360d, and esters at 540d. PLS-DA screened 24 volatile flavor markers, with aldehyde (2-methyl-2-propenal), ketone (2-heptanone-D), alcohol (3-methylbutanol-D), ester (ethyl3-methylbutanoate-M), and heterocyclic substances (2,3-dimethylpyrazine-M) as the main VFMs at 360d. The unique flavor of 540d Diqing Tibetan pig hams was attributed to their higher content of 3-methyl-2-butenal, 3-(methylthio) propanal, ethyl caproate and 2-butanone. These findings provide a scientific basis for the flavor formation mechanism of hams which favoring the further development processing strategies for Diqing Tibetan pig.