The main difference between an acorn ham and a bait ham is the diet that the Iberian pig receives.. Acorn-fed Iberico ham comes from pigs that have only been fed with acorns and natural herbs until slaughter, while one of bait has been fed with feed, legumes and cereals. Also an Iberian acorn ham, comes from pigs that have lived in the pasture feeding naturally, while the pigs from which the Iberico bait hams come do not.
How to appreciate the differences when buying?
There are some features on the legs of Iberian ham that can help us know if it is an Iberian bait or acorn ham. One of the features are the acorn legs, they are usually somewhat more elongated, since the Iberian pig usually has a slightly thinner skeleton and noticeably longer legs. On the other hand, the hoof also gives us more clues: on an acorn leg, the hoof is usually more worn, due to his free walks around the meadow.
Iberian bait Ham
In addition to morphology, the color and fat of the ham (before opening it), the fat texture of acorn ham is much smoother, and just when we touch it with a finger it sinks slightly. On the other hand, if the ham we are examining has a more intense golden color, it can also be a sign that he has been fed acorns during his life.
By last, price is also one of the most noticeable differences. Acorn ham is usually more expensive than bait ham, since the characteristics of the animal like its upbringing require more care and work. Then, the quality of the meat itself is superior, so it also increases the price.
Taste differences when tasting it
The difference between both types of Iberian ham is very evident. In the case of acorn-fed Iberian ham, both due to the type of diet and the exercise carried out during their walks in the pastureland, they favor the infiltration of fat into the meat., so when cutting it, we observe streaks of fat that offer a much smoother and tastier flavor.
