For the experiments with minced meat, 2.4% NaCl was added to the inoculated batter, mixed for 2 min and divided into 4 batches: 1) added with 150 ppm NaNO3 and 150 ppm NaNO2 (high nitrate/nitrite batch,
HN), at present the maximum amount allowed by the EU in salchichón to be ripened for less than 30 days; 2) added with 112.5 ppm NaNO3 and 112.5 ppm NaNO2 (25% reduction: medium nitrate/nitrite batch, MN); 3) added with 75 ppm NaNO3 and 75 ppm NaNO2 (50% reduction: low nitrate/nitrite batch, LN); and 4) a control batch with no nitrate/
nitrite added (C). After a second mixing step, 30 g portions of the mixtures were placed into 60 mm diameter petri dishes. Half of the samples were aerobically stored at 10 °C, whereas the other half were vacuum-packaged in low permeability laminated bags (35 and
150 cm3
/24 h·m2 · bar to O2 and CO2, respectively)