The use of different types of casing (natural and synthetic)
produces differences in the physical properties of chorizo during
smoking. The texture, colour and moisture content values of
chorizos stuffed in natural and synthetic casings were suitable in
both cases. Over a period of 11 days of smoking, chorizos stuffed in
synthetic casings showed darker colour, harder texture and drier
mass than chorizos stuffed in natural casing. However, no significant
differences (p > 0.05) were found in the moisture content
between the two groups. According to previous results, the structure
of synthetic casing was found to prevent the accumulation and
penetration of soot particles into the chorizo, while newevidence is
linked to the capture of soot particles in the cavities of raw chorizo
mass during drying. Finally, the use of synthetic casings in chorizo
production could help to reduce processing time, prevent
contamination by unhealthy products from smoking and achieve
product standardization and homogenization, food properties
demanded by customers and wholesalers.