curing
n. uncountablen. the process of preserving food like meat or fish using salt, smoke, or chemicals. It stops the food from going bad so you can keep it for a long time.
n. the preservation of food, wood, or other materials through chemical or physical processes such as salting, smoking, or drying. Often involves the addition of nitrates or sugar to inhibit bacterial growth.
The curing of the ham takes several months.
Traditional curing methods rely on heavy salting to draw moisture out of the fish and prevent spoilage.
While modern refrigeration has reduced our reliance on food preservation, the artisanal curing of meats remains popular for the complex, concentrated flavors it develops over time.
Often functions as a gerund noun describing a technical or culinary process.