The Iberian shoulder or ham cut by knife or sliced, is one of the possible formats to choose when consuming an Iberian ham or shoulder. This is undoubtedly the most convenient and quickest way to enjoy this delicacy. Opting to buy a shoulder or a complete Iberian ham sliced or cut by hand by a professional is a great option, especially for those consumers who are not skilled at cutting a a piece with bone and want to enjoy this product to the fullest, as this format respects all the characteristics and nuances of the product intact.
One of the main advantages of opting for a piece knife cut by an expert, in addition to the convenience of consuming a ham or shoulder ham in this format, is that, like boneless Iberian ham or boneless Iberian shoulder ham, this option has no waste whatsoever. A whole piece of ham, with bone, has around 50% of waste, while a shoulder ham, around 60%, as it is necessary to remove rind, fat and bone from the piece, while the knife cut format is ready to be consumed in its entirety.
This, together with the work of cutting a whole shoulder ham or ham with a knife by an expert cutter, who on average needs between 2 and 3 hours to cut a piece of ham weighing around 7 or 8 kg, is what makes the price/kg of a shoulder ham or ham knife cut higher than that of a ham or shoulder ham with bone.
Therefore, the decision to opt for the knife-cut format will depend, in addition to the price, on the skill when cutting a piece with bone, as well as on the preference when it comes to consuming and preserving it, since to preserve a shoulder ham or ham with bone, a ham holder must be available, as well as a cool, dry place, while to preserve a shoulder ham or ham knife cut, a refrigerator is sufficient.
If you want to enjoy the convenience of preserving and consuming a sliced ham or shoulder ham while saving on price, you can opt for the sliced format, as this cut requires less time than the knife cut one and is more economic product.
Knife-cut plates or sliced sachets should be kept in the refrigerator, avoiding knocks and keeping an eye on the plastic packaging, as this could be damaged, causing the vacuum to be lost. If the plastic packaging is punctured, it should be removed immediately and the product should be consumed as soon as possible.
When you want to eat a hand-cut plate or a machine-cut packet, it is recommended to take it out of the refrigerator about 2 hours before consumption, so that it can reach the optimum temperature for its enjoyment. It is also recommended to open and oxygenate for at least 5 minutes. Finally, it is advisable to consume the plate or packet in its entirety. If this is not possible, you can store the leftover pieces in the refrigerator wrapped in aluminium foil and consume them in the next few days.