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charcutería

Charcutería is the practice and commerce of preparing and selling cured meats and other cooked or preserved meat products. In French, the term charcuterie denotes both the craft—preserving, seasoning, salting, curing, smoking, drying or fermenting pork and other meats—and the workshop or shop where these products are sold. In Spanish-speaking contexts, charcutería commonly refers to a shop specializing in cured meats, pâtés, sausages and other prepared products, and to the category of goods themselves.

Typical products include cured sausages (saucissons, chorizo, salami), hams (jamón serrano, jamón ibérico), pancetta, lomo, and

History and technique: The craft originated in Europe, notably France, during the medieval and early modern

In modern cuisine, charcuterie has evolved into a culinary presentation as well as a shop category, with

other
salted
or
smoked
cuts;
pâtés
and
terrines;
rillette;
foie
gras;
smoked
fish;
and
various
terrines
and
galantines.
Regional
specialties
reflect
local
pork,
spices,
and
aging
conditions.
periods
as
a
way
to
preserve
meat
for
long
periods.
Charcutiers
developed
methods
of
salting,
smoking,
drying,
fermentation,
and
aging;
many
products
require
controlled
temperature
and
humidity,
salt
and
nitrite
curing,
and
hygienic
handling.
charcuterie
boards
that
pair
meats
with
cheeses,
breads,
pickles,
fruits,
and
wines.
Regulation
and
labeling
vary
by
country,
addressing
ingredients,
curing
agents,
and
aging
times.