This study shows that thiamine plays a major role in the formation of three key odorants of cooked ham:
2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2-methyl-3-methyldithiofuran, and bis(2-methyl-3-furyl)disulphide. Analyses
revealed that under identical cooking conditions, the productions of these three aroma compounds
increase in a closely intercorrelated way when the dose of thiamine increases. Using a specific
2-methyl-3-furanthiol extraction–quantification method, it was possible to relate the amounts of
thiamine added in model cooked hams to the amounts of 2-methyl-3-furanthiol produced in the cooking
process. Sensory analyses highlighted the role of thiamine as a precursor of cooked ham aroma.