What comes to mind when you think of Spam? Twenty-seven daily emails from those online stores you bought one thing from seven years ago? That one person in your friend group who decides to spill every thought they’ve ever had in the group chat at 3 a.m.? Or a beautiful, oblong can-shaped piece of mystery meat for your salty umami mealtime pleasure?
No matter what your answer to that question is, you are all probably wondering the same things: What is Spam (the meat)? Can you eat Spam raw? What does Spam taste like? Where is Spam made? Why is Spam so popular in Hawaii? And how many flavors of Spam are there? (Yes, there are multiple flavors of Spam!) Here’s all the Spam answers (Spam-sers) you crave.
What is Spam and does Spam stand for anything?
Not really. According to Eater, the theory that Spam stands for “Scientifically Processed Animal Matter” is incorrect. People have also speculated that Spam is an acronym for “Shoulder of Pork And Ham,” since it used to be made with pork shoulder (which used to be a very cheap cut of pork). But alas, Jay Hormel, head of Hormel Foods (the company that makes Spam) at the time, said the product was named for a combination of the words “spice” and “ham,” even though Spam only sort of has ham and certainly doesn’t have spice.
So what is SPAM meat actually made of? Pork? Chicken? My dreams?
Much like many of our modern-day conveniences and food products, Spam started out as a depression-era cheap meat product. It was created by Hormel Foods in 1937 and then became a wartime solution when people needed food that could last long enough to be shipped all over the world.
But as for what Spam is made of, the answer is pretty simple: pork with ham meat added, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite. Surprisingly all pretty food-sounding things!
If the sodium nitrite is tripping you up, don’t worry, that is a common preservative found in all kinds of foods to keep them fresh for longer. According to Hormel Foods, all of the ingredients are mixed together and put into the iconic Spam cans, then the cans are sealed, cooked, and cooled, and the product is ready to go! If you really think about it, Spam is basically just canned bologna (with fewer ingredients).
What does Spam taste like?
Spam has a very similar taste to bologna or salty ham. For some people, that means it’s freaking delicious.
Can you eat Spam raw?
Sure! You can eat anything raw. It just might not be good for you. But, really, don’t worry about Spam. You can eat it straight out of the can. The thing is, it’s not actually raw. As we mentioned above, it’s cooked in the can before it’s sold! We definitely suggest frying that sucker up, though.
Where is Spam made?
Spam is made in the USA. Specifically, it’s made in Austin, Minnesota, which is known as “Spam Town USA.” There’s also a Spam plant in Dubuque, Iowa. Austin, Minnesota boasts a restaurant that has an all Spam menu, called Johnny’s Spamarama.
How many flavors of Spam are there?
There’s a surprisingly high number of Spam flavors, including regional varieties in different countries. Plus they are constantly adding and trying out new flavors like Maple Spam and Korean BBQ Spam. At one time there were 15 varieties of Spam including teriyaki, Spam with cheese, jalapeno, garlic, chorizo, and bacon.
Why is Spam so popular in Hawaii?
After Spam was sent all over the world during WWII, it became really popular in Asia, England, and Hawaii. Japanese expats who immigrated to Hawaii invented Spam musubi, (rice balls with pan-fried, soy-glazed Spam on top wrapped in seaweed), which became super popular. Spam is also a fan favorite in Hawaii due to its shelf-stability. A lot of foods need to be imported to the island, so canned stuff is important.
How is Spam used today?
Well, that answer certainly depends on who you are and where in the world you are as well. If you’re in Hawaii, you’re going to make Spam musubi. Korean chefs invented budae jjigae (army stew), which is basically a hot pot dish with noodles, mushrooms, Spam, and more—and that’s just scratching the surface! There are countless other Spam recipes out there nowadays, from fried rice, to Spam and eggs, to Spam sliders.
Just wanted to reaffirm that here in Hawaii we absolutely LOVE spam musubis! Also thanks for getting the word out for people that have never tried spam that frying it is the best way to eat it, *not* raw/straight out of the can