Spam is one of those foods that you either love or you hate. If you're a lover of canned
mystery meats, then you probably find yourself stocking up on Spam every time you're at the
supermarket. Here we're going to share with you the Top 10 Untold Truths of How Spam Is
Really Made.
Spam is cooked in the can
Have you ever wondered how each of those little blocks of deliciously flavored pork product
is cooked? Those of you who have never eaten Spam probably don't realize that the product
is fully cooked before you open it. You can eat Spam right out of the can. Slice a piece
off of the hunk and slap it between two slices of bread, and you've got yourself a tasty
sandwich that requires little to no work at all. Add some condiments to your Spam sandwich,
and you've got yourself a meal fit for a king. The Spam factory cooks thousands of cans of Spam
all at once. The meat is cooked while it's inside the can. That's right, the meat is
put in the can raw, then the can is run through a cooker and once it comes out the other side,
the meat in the can is actually fully cooked. After a cooling down process, the Spam in
the can is ready to eat! From there it goes on to be sealed and packed for delivery to
your nearest grocery store. So the next time you pop the top off of a can of Spam think
about how hot the can had to get to cook the meat inside it.
Spam is mostly pork shoulders and ham
Ever wonder why eating Spam makes you think of Christmas and Easter? It's because those
two-holiday feasts have something in common with an ingredient in Spam. If you guessed
the ingredient was depression because you're home all alone eating another holiday meal
by yourself, then you'd be partially correct. The familiar flavor in Spam isn't your tears
of desperation; it's ham. That's right, the meat that everyone eats on Christmas and Easter
is also in Spam. The good folks over at Spam don't want everyone to know the exact shoulder
to ham ratio in their product. If you knew that valuable information, then you could
create your own Spam. Although since Spam comes in at such an affordable price, we're
not sure spending the time and effort to make your own would really be that worthwhile anyways.
And even then, half the fun of Spam is cracking open the can and trying to get that pork cube
out of it. However Spam is indeed an iconic food product and we can understand why the
people over at Hormel foods want to keep the exact recipe to themselves regardless. But
the main ingredients are indeed Ham and Pork Shoulder, not so complicated for a meat often
thought of as having a mysterious allure around its ingredients.
Spam and its classic shape
What's the first thing you think of when it comes to ground meat? You probably think of
hamburgers. Those hockey puck-shaped discs of beefy delight aren't the only meats that
are ground up. You see, not every grinding process is the same. Sometimes meat is required
to be ground finely for a product, while other times the meat is coarsely ground to produce
a variety of shapes. The workers in the Spam factory don't hand grind every piece of pork
like your grandpa used to do. These days, they have huge metal grinders that are powered
by strong motors. Those big machines may do all the heavy lifting, but it still takes
a keen eye to make sure everything at the factory runs smoothly.
Spam is made all over the world
International travellers and foreigners alike are probably shocked to find Spam on supermarket
shelves all over the world. It's always surprising to see a familiar product during a trip to
the grocery store while you're traveling. Spam isn't only made in the United States.
There are factories producing Spam all over the world. Yes, it’s not only Americans
who love Spam. It seems the rest of the world can't get enough of this processed pork food
either. The goodness of Spam fills the bellies of countless people around the world every
day. Those people know what happiness is since the taste of Spam is just like how a smile
makes you feel. If you're feeling homesick, then grab a can of Spam off of the shelf the
next time you're visiting a foreign country. Be warned that customs is very strict about
what you can and can't bring into any country. Don't even think about trying to smuggle a
can of Spam in your pants while going through security. Those international flavors are
addictive, but not only will they take away your Spam, you'll have to pay a hefty fine
as well. Scarf down the Spam before you leave and start planning your next trip while in
the air if you're so much in love with the new flavor.
There are no snouts, lips, or ears in Spam
What is the one thing that makes you squeamish about eating any processed meat? It's the
fact that you don't know exactly what cuts of meat are in the product. Anyone with a
good imagination can come up with a few undesirable cuts that are more than likely in your hot
dogs. They say you don't want to know what's in sausage and there's usually a grain of
truth in that. Since butchery has been in existence, people have always been suspicious
of any processed meat. You can rest assured that there are only high-quality cuts of meat
in your can of Spam. Surprisingly, the quality of the meat in Spam is extremely high. It's
not possible to produce a pork product such as Spam if you're using anything other than
the best cuts. So you never have to worry about mystery meat or anything like that when
buying a can of Spam. Sadly, you can't say the same about the hot dogs you're going to
buy for your next cookout.
The Product Safety Of Spam
If you think that the Spam is placed in the can and that's it, then you're highly mistaken.
If the Spam is produced in America, it must sit at the factory for ten days before it's
allowed to leave. This is not like a little vacation before going off to college, there
is a reason for this. There won't be any cocktails or afternoons on the beach, because soon a
random can will be tested. Cans are heated up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to check for
any bulges. The final product inside the can is also checked for bacteria. These procedures
and others are done to ensure the quality and safety of the final product. If there
are any doubts about the integrity of the can or the product itself, then it will be
pulled and not sent out for delivery. The makers of Spam are very serious about product
safety, and they want to make sure everyone who buys a can enjoys a fine meal made with
it. You can't expect anything less from a company that uses top-notch cuts of meat.
That clear stuff in the Spam can
The clear jello-like stuff is gelatine, and it's perfectly safe to eat. You've probably
allowed Spam to get cold in the refrigerator and noticed there's even more of the jiggly
stuff. Yes, it's kind of gross, but it won't hurt you. There's nothing in the gelatine
that's bad or foul in any way. It's just some weird meat juices that form the gelatine.
Think of it as watered-down Jell-O that tastes meaty. If you can get past the odd texture
of Spam's gelatine, it tastes pretty good. It has a meaty taste that is reminiscent of
pork. Eating Spam's gelatine won't hurt you or have any unwanted side effects along the
way. Hopefully, now you understand there's nothing at all weird about it, and it won't
hurt you. Who are we fooling, that stuff will always be weird. It's okay to get freaked
out by something that looks as strange as the gelatine in a can of Spam.
Hydraulic presses squeeze the meat off of the bone
Things have changed, and you've got to come up with some pretty creative ways to give
everyone the amount of pork they crave. You might think that every ounce of pork is skillfully
cut off the bone by butchers who know a pork shoulder better than their own. That's not
the case, and the pork shoulders are squeezed to the point the meat comes right off of the
bone. If you thought your uncle gave strong hugs, then you've never come across a machine
like this. If you're wondering, ham is still cut by hand off of the bone. They haven't
come up with a way to squeeze the meat off of a ham bone. The meat is further separated
by the fat content and color. White and dark meats are placed in separate containers and
they will be added in secret amounts later on. The ratio of fat, along with white and
dark meat is crucial to the taste and texture of the final product. Too much fat will create
a product that would have a greasy feel to it. If too much dark meat is used, then the
texture of Spam could be too tough, and the eating experience might be less enjoyable.
Spam comes in many varieties for every taste
It's not only turkey and bacon that have made their way into Spam, there's many different
varieties, in fact it's actually pretty impressive. Some of the flavors you can get include: Spam
Teriyaki, Chorizo, Jalapeño, Garlic, Hot and Spicy, Hickory Smoke and Black Pepper.
There's even a variety called Spam with Cheese, which sounds interesting, as well as "Lite"
and "Less Sodium" variations of the original flavor. In late 2019 Spam released a Limited
Edition variety that can only be called their most unique flavor yet, Spam Pumpkin Spice.
This flavor actually started off as a fake product, posted by Hormel themselves on social
media. The post went viral, and people started clamouring for this flavor of Spam. Hormel
foods responded by saying, "We think it's great that you'd like to see this product!
Unfortunately this variety is only a joke, so it cannot be found anywhere." That said,
2 years later, Spam announced they were making a real limited edition run of the Pumpkin
Spice flavor for the autumn season. So yes, this is a real product. That said, the Pumpkin
Spice flavor was only available on Spam's website, as well as at Walmart's website.
And like many limited Edition items, sold out insanely fast. Reports were that in less
than seven hours after release, Spam Pumpkin Spice had completely sold out. Some say it'll
be back next Fall, some say it's gone forever, only time will tell.
Spam only has six ingredients
Why is it that even the simplest of foods have a million ingredients in them? It's hard
to comprehend why the factories are dumping all that stuff in the food. You can rest
assured that there isn't a laundry list of ingredients in your Spam. There are only six
ingredients in Spam and they are as follows: pork, water, salt, potato starch, sugar and
sodium nitrate. That's all there is in a can of Spam. How refreshing it is to know that
you aren't stuffing your face full of all kinds of unheard-of ingredients. The only
troubling thing is sodium nitrate, which is a common additive in many processed foods.
It's the sodium nitrate that enables Spam to sit on shelves for years upon years without
the need for refrigeration. Many people put a can or two of Spam in their pantry in case
of emergency, and they need a source of protein that doesn't require refrigeration. Spam can
safely be eaten for quite a few years after the purchase date. If the Spam is kept in
a cool, dry place, the meat will last for an almost indefinite time.
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