*2.2. Analysis of Samples*

### 2.2.1. Physicochemical Quality (pH and Color Parameters)

To determine pH values, a pH meter (Crison GLP 22 + pH & Ion-meter-Crison Instruments, S.A., Barcelona, Spain) connected to a penetration electrode was used. pH was directly measured on five different slices randomly selected from each sachet.

Color coordinates (L\*, lightness; a\*, redness; and b\*, yellowness) were evaluated using a CR 400 chroma meter (Minolta, Osaka, Japan) with a D65 illuminant and 10◦ standard observer, calibrated against a standard white tile. In all ham groups, five measurements were randomly taken on the surface of the sample on each sachet, and the mean value of three measurements was used. Chroma [C\* = (a<sup>2</sup> + b2)1/2] and hue angle (h\* = tan−<sup>1</sup> (b\*/a\*)◦ were calculated [38].
