Effect of Storage Temperature, Time, and Method of Slicing on Microbial Population and White Film Development in Vacuum Packaged, Dry‐Cured Ham Slices

Aged ham slices, bone‐in or boneless, were vacuum‐packaged and stored at 2°C or 24°C for 8 wks. White film was more abundant on bone‐in slices. Color was not affected by treatment. Aroma remained normal at 2°C for all slices but abnormal aromas developed in some 24°C packages by 2 wk and in all packages by 8 wk. Aerobic and staphylococci counts on bone‐in and boneless slices at 24°C were high at 2 wk and remained high, while lactobacilli counts were highest at 2 wk, decreased to initial levels by 4 wk and increased again to 8 wk. Yeast and mold counts at both temperatures decreased with storage but at a faster rate in bone‐in hams.