Why is roast pork white and ham is pink when it comes from the same animal?
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Roast pork and ham come from the same animal, but they are prepared and processed differently, which results in the different colors. Roast pork is typically made from pork loin, which is a lean cut of meat. When it is cooked, the heat causes the myoglobin in the meat to denature, turning it white. Ham, on the other hand, is made from the hind leg of a pig, which contains more fat and connective tissue. Ham is also cured and often smoked, which adds salt and other curing agents to the meat and helps to preserve it. This process also causes the meat to turn pink. Additionally, some hams are also injected with a solution called “pink curing solution” which contains sodium nitrite and other ingredients that give the meat its characteristic pink color.
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