What You Need to Know
The high salt concentration creates an osmotic gradient that draws water out of tissue, lowering water activity below 0.85 and inhibiting microbial growth. Concurrent smoking at 60–80 °C deposits phenolic compounds such as guaiacol, eugenol and syringol, which act as antioxidants and antimicrobials while also lowering pH to 5.2–5.5. The combined dehydration, acidification, and phenolic adsorption produce a stable matrix resistant to spoilage and pathogenic spores.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Osmotic dehydration coupled with phenolic adsorption and acidification of protein matrices