Best Serrano ham: whole, taco, sliced and supermarket compared
In short: the best Serrano ham carries the TSG mark (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) and states a curing time of at least 12 months. On these criteria our whole boneless Serrano TSG 12-14 months is no. 1 of our selection, ahead of our taco and sliced formats (the same ham, smaller) and well ahead of supermarket sliced Serrano.
Whole, taco, sliced, shelf tray: here is how to choose your Serrano according to what you do with it, with SaucBack's ratings.
The comparison at a glance
| Criterion |
Our no. 1 pick Whole boneless Serrano TSG |
Serrano TSG taco 500 g | Serrano TSG sliced 100 g | Supermarket sliced Serrano |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Label | TSG | TSG | TSG | Not always |
| Curing | 12 to 14 months, or 18 to 24 months | 12 months | 12 months | Often not stated |
| Format | 5.5 kg boneless, vacuum-packed, 70 to 110 aperitif servings | Ready-to-slice block, 500 g | Ready to serve, 100 g | Tray |
| Cost per kilo | The lowest: the whole kilo costs far less than sliced | In between | The highest, but no cutting | Variable |
| Cutting | With a knife, no stand: it is boneless | Knife or slicer | None | None |
| Who is it for? | Celebrations, big tables, restaurants, an exceptional gift | Tapas and home-cut shavings | An aperitif, a sandwich | A quick fix |
Why the whole ham is no. 1 in this comparison
- The TSG: a European label certifying the traditional recipe and method of Jamón Serrano, checked by an independent body. Our guide: PGI, TSG, PDO explained.
- 12 to 24 months of curing, stated in black and white.
- Boneless and vacuum-packed: zero waste, no ham stand, it slices with a knife. Our method: slicing a boneless ham at home.
- The lowest cost per kilo of our formats: it is the same ham as the taco and the sliced, bought whole.
This ranking is our own: same ham, three formats, and the whole kilo is the most economical. The taco and the sliced remain the right choices when you want a small quantity.
Serrano, Iberian or Bellota?
Serrano comes from white pigs; Bellota from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, more marbled and rarer: see our 100% Iberian Bellota ham cured 36 months and the guide Serrano, Iberian, Bellota: what are the differences?
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Serrano ham?
A Serrano TSG, cured at least 12 months, bought whole and boneless if you are many: it is no. 1 of our selection.
Whole, taco or sliced: which format?
Whole for celebrations and the best cost per kilo, taco for home tapas, sliced for an aperitif.
How do you store a whole ham once started?
Somewhere cool, the cut face covered with film, for several weeks.
Our Serrano TSG: whole 12-14 months, whole 18-24 months, taco 500 g, sliced 100 g, and the whole Serrano ham selection.