Economy's Spam Sector Picks Up Steam Amid Downturn
As Americans cut costs, they're starting to put more Spam back on the table.
But these days, consumers are rediscovering relatively cheap foods, Spam among them. A 12-ounce can of Spam, marketed as “Crazy Tasty,” costs about $2.40. “People are realizing it’s not that bad a product,” said Dan Johnson, 55, who operates a 70-foot-high Spam oven.
I love the mental image of a 70-foot-high Spam oven.
Related: How to Make Spam Musubi
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9 Comments:
I do not understand how Spam is "cheap". Doing the math this would come out $3.20 per lb. If you shop carefully you can get a Chuck roast for under $3 per lb, I just got a family pack of chicken quarters for .59 per lb and pork tends to run under $2.50 per pound.
Possibly it is the forced portion control, the concept that a single can should be enough for supper? Or is it that you can actually purchase the sub-pound quantity when most of the above items I have mentioned you have to buy in larger quantities?
If you like Spam then fine, but when I have contemplated it I realized it was substantially more expensive than my other meat options and decided to pass.
vox8ight at 1:33PM on 11/15/08
It's never been really that cheap, at least not in the mainland, where I pay $2.50 - $3.50/can. In Hawaii, I used to pay $1.50.
When I add it to my bowl of ramen, Spam is probably the most expensive ingredient (Spam, shrimp, shiitake, nametake, spinach, sesames, sesame oil, egg yolk, tenkasu, ...) . Ok, maybe not as expensive as the shrimp ($4) or the ramen ($2). :P
Cassaendra at 1:48PM on 11/15/08
I have also been scratching my head over the stories in the media about an uptick in Spam sales as the economy has weakened. There are quite a few options out there that are cheaper than Spam when you calculate the price per pound.
Spam has always reminded me of two things: state fair recipe contests that seek innovative ways to prepare Spam and "The Muppets Treasure Island." It's still kinda funny that Hormel sued over the use of "Spa'am" as a name for one of the warthogs in the movie.
holdthemayo at 2:03PM on 11/15/08
My favorite line in the Times story:
"Because it is vacuum-sealed in a can and does not require refrigeration, Spam can last for years. Hormel says “it’s like meat with a pause button."
Meat with a pause button? That's how Hormel itself describes Spam. Jon Stewart could not have done any better.
Ed Levine at 4:41PM on 11/15/08
I CRAVED spam while I was pregnant. (The boy was born in July.) I guess being in the South pretty much screwed him when it comes to trying to avoid the whole "You might be a redneck if ... your mama fed you Spam in utero."
Confabulation at 6:31PM on 11/15/08
Cook a pot of pinto or great northern beans, fry some potatoes and make some cornbread; a great Southern meal and less expensive than Spam.
renee59 at 9:55PM on 11/15/08
Not expensive compared to what, I guess is the question. I haven't looked at deli meat for a while, but I'm guessing it's cheaper than most of that stuff, if you're thinking about making a sandwich from it.
I dunno, I ate spam when I was a kid, and once every 3 or 4 years, I get an urge to buy some. Despite rumors about what's in there, it's probably comparable to most sausage-like products.
dbcurrie at 1:28AM on 11/16/08
I don't consume Spam as often as I used to. My husband and I used to go through 3 cans per week, now it's down to 1 can per week. I could never get tired of eating Spam! It goes great with ramen, yakisoba, or on its own fried in sesame-miso dressing and sriracha. That pretty my decides what I'm having for breakfast in a bit...after the rice finishes cooking. =)
Cassaendra at 9:22AM on 11/16/08
Fried SPAM sandwiches. Mmmm.
aharste at 4:52PM on 11/17/08