The stability after hydrostatic high pressure (HHP) (600 MPa/8 min/ 10 • C) and 180 days of storage at 4 and 20 • C was evaluated on Iberian drycured pork sausages (chorizo) packaged sliced or as half-pieces from pigs raised outdoors. Microbiological, physical-chemical, oxidative, and sensory changes were analyzed. The evolution of mesophilic aerobic and molds and yeasts counts was different in the half and sliced packaged pork sausages after processing and during storage. Sliced and half-packaged pork sausages had instrumental color stability after HHP and during storage. TBA-RS values were quite stable in both products. Protein oxidation values of pork sausage in half-products were increased by at 20 • C. In sliced pork sausage, both HPP and 20 • C storage favored the development of protein oxidation at the end of storage. In the sensory analysis, the sliced product developed more rancidity than the half-pieces during the storage. Therefore, the storage temperature has great importance for the preservation of dry-cured pork sausages, the increases of protein oxidation, and rancidity could reduce the shelf-life at these conditions. The presentation of the product is also relevant when HHP is applied, and this would also compromise the stability of the product when it is stored at room temperature. Practical Application: Chorizo is a traditional dry-fermented pork sausage that is generally considered to be microbiologically safe. However, the initial contamination of the raw materials, and some processes, such as the slicing or packaging, can compromise the safety of these products. Additionally, packaged dry-cured sausages require long shelf-life, and although they are normally stored at refrigeration temperature; sometimes, they are preserved at room temperature. The application of hydrostatic high pressure could increase the safety of dry-cured meat products even when they are stored at room temperature. Initial characteristics of each type of pork sausage could determine their technological behavior during processing or during storage under different conditions.

Half pieces of vacuum‐packaged traditional chorizos with different characteristics from Spain and Portugal were treated by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) in order to increase their stability during storage. Microbiological, physical‐chemical, oxidative, and sensory changes were evaluated during the storage at 4°C and 20°C for 180 days. HHP was effective for the reduction of microorganisms’ counts. In both chorizos, instrumental color was modified after HHP. Lipid oxidation was not modified by HHP, although at day 180, it was higher in chorizos stored at 20°C than at 4°C. The sensory analysis showed that the storage at 20°C and HHP could affect some important sensory parameters, although HHP could reduce the appearance of unpleasant odors. Despite all, HHP was effective to improve the microbial safety in traditional chorizo although a reduction of quality was noticed; however, the changes were less intense than the effect of temperature of storage. Practical applications Chorizo is a traditional dry‐fermented sausage, produced mainly by artisanal practices which differ in each region. Chorizos are generally considered as microbiologically safe products. However, in cases of initial contamination of the raw materials, the safety of these products can become compromised. Additionally, packaged dry‐cured sausages require long shelf life, and although they are normally stored at refrigeration temperatures; sometimes they are preserved at room temperatures. The application of hydrostatic high pressure could increase the safety of dry‐cured meat products even when they are stored at room temperature. Initial characteristics of each type of chorizo could determine their technological behavior during processing or during storage at different conditions.

The top-quality “salchichón” (a fermented dry-cured sausage) is manufactured from Iberian pigs reared outdoors. This work aims to evaluate the effect of hydrostatic high pressure (HHP) and storage temperature on sliced vacuum-packaged top-quality Iberian “salchichón”. Two types of “salchichón” (S1 and S2, manufactured at different companies) were processed at 600 MPa for 8 min and stored at 4 and 20 °C for 180 days. Microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory changes were evaluated. Microbiological counts were reduced by HHP treatment and also generally decreased during storage at both temperatures. Lightness and redness of slices decreased during storage at 20 °C, while yellowness values increased. Changes in color were also observed in sensory analysis of the dry-cured sausages. HHP increased lipid and protein oxidation values in S1, whereas protein oxidation increased at 20 °C in S2. S1 was more affected by HHP while S2 was more affected by the temperature of storage. Therefore, despite both products belonging to the same commercial category, slight differences in the composition of both products and/or differences in packaging determined a different behavior after HHP treatment and during storage at different temperatures.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of high‐pressure processing (HPP) and storage temperature on the microbial counts, the instrumental color, and the oxidation stability of sliced dry‐cured Iberian loin from two categories and two leading companies. 600 MPa for 8 min was sufficient to decrease all the microbial counts without affecting the color and the oxidation status, the effect being modulated by the loin category and company, whose effect on those variables was marked. However, the subsequent 90‐day storage softened the initial effect of HPP on microorganisms and allowed a significant effect of HPP to develop on color and oxidation. In addition, the coliform counts were higher after storage at 20°C than at 4°C, suggesting that refrigeration may be needed during long‐term storage to ensure loin safety.