Spam Experience
I've never eaten Spam. I've heard some people say it's similar to cheap lunch meat- thus, not so bad, while others have said it's the most vile stuff on the planet.
My very old great uncle will eat the gelatinous stuff right out of the can; just the thought of it makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little. My mom says it's good once it's fried up. My boyfriend, who's as honest and up front as they come said- and I quote- "It's alright if you're really hungry and you heat it up, if not it kind of tastes like s*&$@."
I know people put it in sandwiches and some even make sushi roll type things with it. Plus, I'm assuming it's becoming popular again because of its cheap price and the crappy economy. I'm curious about the stuff and wondering if I should FINALLY taste it.
What has been your Spam experience? Is it horrible, alright, tasty (maybe)? What can you do with it other than sandwiches?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
27 Comments:
I grew up in the land of spam, Hawaii. When treated properly, it's actually quite good, but you really have to treat it right. Cut to about 1/3 inch slices, browned well on both sides on a role with cheese and mustard is quite good. In HI, spam and eggs w/ rice was pretty much the classic breakfast, and with good reason, it was tasty.
There's a thing called spam musubi that is really good. Kathy YL Chan (from this website) posted the best definitive lesson I've ever seen on how to make it: Musubi! I have given people musubi without them knowing what the meat is. They usually really like it. As a note, sometimes instead of using furikake or li hing on the musubi, I'll use a little wasabi, which rocks.
Eating it out of the can, yuck.
chisai at 7:48AM on 02/13/09
I've read in numerous articles that because of the economy, Spam sales should go up. Spam really isn't that cheap when you consider the alternatives -- canned alternatives or fresh meat. In Hawaii, I remember getting it for $1.49/can, but in Cleveland at around the same time, it was $2.49, on sale, often $3.49 per can...for less than 1/2 lb. It's not exorbitant, but it's not the cheapest alternative to protein.
If you do not mind the flavor of...hmmm...bacon, but not as smoky, you may not mind Spam. There are so many different Spam types that I shouldn't really make that generalization.
My favorite was the Tabasco Spam, but I can't get that anymore, and sriracha is awesome way to heat things up. Bacon Spam sucked. It didn't do anything for me...I may have had unreasonably high expectations though.
Being from Hawaii, I love Spam. It's everywhere. I have yet to eat it straight from the can though. I like slimy, gelatinous, and weird textures, too.
Spam musubi (the sushi you mention) is a popular way to dish it out.
I use it in yakisoba, hiyashi soba/somen (cold noodles), and ramen. I cut 2 1/4" slices, then cut them either in sticks, triangles or whatever shape I feel like at the time, fry it up. I never use oil when I fry things, and Spam definitely doesn't need oil when fried. Sometimes I add sriracha. Fry it 'til it's crispy, but not scorched. Set it aside.
For ramen, the Spam becomes a topping that I place after pouring the soup over the noodles. For somen, it's placed on the noodles in bunches with cucumber, crepe, etc. For yakisoba, I add it before adding the seasoning (powder or liquid) so the sauce is well distributed.
What is even better than Spam (sacriledge, I know!) is Tulip brand luncheon meat. I liken Tulip luncheon meat to love. I keep telling myself it's better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all...but it doesn't help me some days.
My father sent me a can several years ago and hasn't sent me another since. I can't get it in CLE w/o paying over $10/can, mostly due to shipping.
Cassaendra at 7:53AM on 02/13/09
I will actually buy spam on rare occasions, and if you cook it well, and make sure its crispy, its not bad. SO likes it diced and tossed with rice, then served with an egg over the top. I was thinking about something though, How can people say spam is cheap? in Alabama at least spam runs about 1.69 for an 8oz can that comes out to 3.38 a lb. on the other hand I bought ground beef for 1.99 a lb the other day. and can always find chicken very inexpensive. I think people are calling it cheap because of ease of prep(?) I say give it a try, just dont expect to much, it is very salty and fatty, but there are times thats what we want.
huneybumper at 8:12AM on 02/13/09
Spam is very salty, there is a low sodium type now. I like it myself fried with scrambled eggs
RANGA at 8:37AM on 02/13/09
Occasionally, when visiting my grandparents when I was younger, my grandma would slice and fry up Spam and serve it with scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. It was rather tasty...I might just have to make it this weekend - it's been years since I've had it. :-)
jmfors at 8:54AM on 02/13/09
Diced SPAM mixed with mac and cheese was a college staple for me. Four boxes of mac and cheese and a can of SPAM kept me fed for several days.
SPAM on the BBQ smoker is pretty good. Rub the outside with wooster and BBQ rub and smoke it at 225 for about an hour. Slice it and make sandwiches. Yum!
PhotoKirk at 9:14AM on 02/13/09
Spam spam spam spam wonderful SPAM...I love Spam.
My grammie used to grind it up in her old fashioned grinder, throw in a couple of hard boiled eggs, and a small onion. She'd then mix it up ham salad style with some mayo and a titch of mustard - Spam salad sandwiches...YUM O!...I think I'll make some this weekend...just for old times sake.
sammie at 9:19AM on 02/13/09
Spam, how i love thee. let me count the ways.
i will eat it with eggs, either omelet style, or fried up with scrambled eggs. or else even use it in a breakfast sandwich of sorts.
i love eating it in ramyun.
i will even fry it up, sprinkle a little garlic powder on it and eat it with rice and kimchi.
i will also put spam in musubis and kimbap, korean style sushi.
GLEE827 at 11:04AM on 02/13/09
Spam for me...good stuff maynerd
Markbb at 11:10AM on 02/13/09
The stuff is Vile. Just awful. I think I'd consider killing and eating another person before I'd eat it. It looks like dog food and smells like it too.
thepirateking at 11:25AM on 02/13/09
I live in the land of Spam, actually. And about a month ago, I een took a Saturday afternoon and travelled down to Austin, Minnesota and viewed the Spam Museum, next to the Hormel factory. It was a *fabulous* experience! If any of you ever (I know, very unlikely, but you never know) have the time, come and visit. The museum is really well done and thorough and fun to go around. Plus, there is a restuarant right across the street that serves everything that you can think of with sushi in it. I had the scrambled eggs and spam. Very nice.
Since I live in its homeland, I have had to eat it a lot, but I actually don't mind it. And you can now even find Turkey Spam and low sodium versions, lower fat versions, and spicy versions...at least where I live. Sure, it's not the first thing that I would reach for in the cupboard if I am hungry, but if it's there and cooked in a nice dish (yup, the museum store even had a wonderful Spam cookbook that I bought), then it can be pretty good...if a little salty.
Traveller at 11:30AM on 02/13/09
I ate once when I was little and I'll never eat it again!
caramel at 11:40AM on 02/13/09
Serious Eats! Spam?
dmcavanagh at 1:18PM on 02/13/09
Growing up my mom would dice it up in scalloped potatoes and we loved it. I don't eat it very often now but when I do I'm ok with it. Fry it in a skillet and make a sandwich with cheese and lettuce and mayo.
chazmo at 2:47PM on 02/13/09
I last ate Spam in the 1960's when it was novel and my mother was trying different "cuisines" (along with goulash and other signs of the times!). But I have a can of Smoked Spam in my pantry now that I bought surreptitiously last week. I was terrified of running into someone I know before bagging the thing! I hid it under my fresh ground turkey. What with all the publicity this meat is getting lately, I wanted to try it again. Was planning on frying it and serving with scrambled eggs, and I see here that seems to be the preferred preparation.
lambowner at 3:31PM on 02/13/09
I'm gonna say it loud, and I'm gonna say it proud. I LIKE SPAM. There.I said it and I feel good about myself!
onepercent99 at 5:02PM on 02/13/09
Spam isn't much different from another lunchmeat we used to get when I was a kid. Both were chunky and fatty (chunky like a salami as opposed to something like bologna, where it's a smooth concoction.) The deli lunchmeat was a little smoother, but otherwise they were pretty close in flavor. As a kid, I never ate Spam cooked, it was always just sliced and used in sandwiches. I'm tempted to buy some now, to see what I think, but I suspect that I'd find it to be too salty or fatty. But maybe not.
Given a choice between Spam and Taylor Pork Roll, I'd go with the Spam, because that's what I grew up with. The Taylor, I tried for the first time very recently.
dbcurrie at 5:31PM on 02/13/09
I love Spam and will eat it hot or cold. I too like that gelatinous stuff. The only thing that I don't like about it is that it is kind of salty, I might try the low sodium Spam and see if it has the same taste just not as salty. Anyone try the low sodium?
pjracz10 at 5:37PM on 02/13/09
@pjracz10: It's the only one I buy. It is still too salty, but I guess if it says less salt, there's less salt. :P It doesn't taste any different to me.
Cassaendra at 6:48PM on 02/13/09
@Cassaendra- Well the next time that I get a craving for it I will try the low sodium then. Thanks.
pjracz10 at 8:17PM on 02/13/09
Made some kim chi soup with spam the other day. Crazy delicious. Spam is good when diced and browned until crispy, and then eaten with rice and chopped nori.
I get the craving every once in awhile. I have some in my pantry right now!
Carnal at 9:30PM on 02/13/09
@huney - I agree that it's not cheap at all. When I first heard about "Spam flying off the shelves because of the economy", I checked the prices, out of curiosity. Round here, regular price is $ 3.69 a tin, which is slightly more than $ 7/lb (I also saw a "two for $6" sale). I can buy porterhouse steaks (admittedly, on sale) for $4.99/lb and a whole chicken for $1.29/lb. Perhaps it's cheap compared to other tinned meats though.
I do want to try it though since I have a feeling I may like it, I just keep forgetting to buy a tin. We have one at home, but apparently, it's some kind of a super-duper special tin and we're not supposed to ever open it. Or at least that's what my OH says. Considering that at his point, it's probably 6-7 years old, I agree.
brooke29 at 12:40PM on 02/14/09
Panfried until crispy along the edges with a fine netting of brown caramelization all over. Serve over warm, fresh fluffy rice with a fried egg (runny yolk, please!) Yum.
I blame my Filippino college roomate for turning me onto Spam.
However, I'll probably still never buy myself a can.
fuuchan at 1:30PM on 02/14/09
My mom made Spamburgers when I was a kid. The Spam was sliced longways, pan-fried, then put on a bun with all the regular hamburger fixin's.
FoodieSearching at 3:05PM on 02/14/09
I love it, but will only eat it if it's pan-fried. I'll have it in a sandwich or in some fried rice...mmm.
cochon at 3:55PM on 02/14/09
One of the first meals I made at the age of ten was a Spam roast, glazed with mustard and brown sugar, pineapple rings and studded with cloves, just the way I had seen my mom do ham. I served it with baked potatoes. Mom was out of town, and I was proud of my first "real" meal. I think Dad was just happy he didn't have to cook. Not something I would choose to make now.
Has anyone tried the Turkey Spam? I was most surprised to see it on the shelf. I picked one up for a food drive, but have not tried it myself.
dhorst at 6:57PM on 02/14/09
lol this is hilarious. I too grew up eating Spam and love it, though yes there are a lot of people that think it's disgusting. It definately got me through four years of college!!! I just posted a reciepe of what I used to make for breakfast every weekend. I still do actually - best cure for a hangover! It's basically cheese rice with spam and egg. Add a little hot sauce or ketchup and it's money!
www.happilyeatingmywaythroughlife.blogspot.com
Happily Eating My Way Through Life at 11:20PM on 05/11/09