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Food / drink 🍗 Spam

Maister

Maister

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No, not this:
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We're taking about this stuff:
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Spam strikes me as retro food if ever there was. The product was introduced just before WW2 and it's popularity soared in the post war years. You would think that as the country developed more sophisticated palates, foods like Spam would be gathering dust on grocery store shelves, but it appears Hormel still manages to do a land office business with its 'potted meat' sales.

I have not knowingly had Spam since I was a kid, but my mother used to treat it as a staple in the late 60's - mid 70's. Spam sandwiches were common as was just plain Spam (usually served with boiled potatoes and canned green beans on the side, as I recall). Spam hash was something else we had on occasion. Mom's culinary skills improved over the years and I don't think she ever cooked using Spam after about 1980.

Did anyone else eat Spam in their childhood? How about more recently? Any interesting Spam recipes/delicacies you care to share?
 
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It seemed like my parents always had a can of Spam in the cupboards at home. My dad (who is now 72) would occasionally eat a Spam sandwich or fry it up with eggs for breakfast. But it wasn't something that the family ate as a whole.

I think I've ate Spam somewhere between 5-8 times in my life, including a few times during my undergrad years.

It is not something that has ever been purchased since I've been with my GF/wife.
 
I just had an idea....someone (else) should open a Spam-themed restaurant and feature a whole menu with Spam-centric entrees and sides. Heck, you could maybe get Hormel's backing and start a chain using the name Spam. The hipster crowd would go nuts over it. Probably should test market in the Austin area.:hm:
 
You could serve Spam, Spam, Spam, eggs, bacon, Spam and Spam.

I understand Hawaii already loves Spam, they're ahead of the hipster curve. I used to love the stuff as a kid, but I grew out of that.
 
Even though I grew up on a farm and there was always a deep freezer full of beef, chicken, and pork we would occasionally have Spam for dinner as it was something my dad really liked. I never really cared for it, no matter how it was prepared, except when it was made into a hash with eggs and potatoes and a lot of peppers and onions. Actually, that sounds pretty good now... maybe I will have to try it again sometime.

I recall once or twice the messhalls at Camp Lejeune would serve Spam at lunch time. Those meals went over about as well as their attempts to serve liver and onions or stuffed cabbages.

Maister said:
I just had an idea....someone (else) should open a Spam-themed restaurant and feature a whole menu with Spam-centric entrees and sides. Heck, you could maybe get Hormel's backing and start a chain using the name Spam. The hipster crowd would go nuts over it. Probably should test market in the Austin area.:hm:
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dvdneal said:
You could serve Spam, Spam, Spam, eggs, bacon, Spam and Spam.

I understand Hawaii already loves Spam, they're ahead of the hipster curve. I used to love the stuff as a kid, but I grew out of that.
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If you go to Yelp and search "Spam" under restaurants in Honolulu a few come up. I wonder if Hawaii's love of Spam grew because beef maybe is/was much more expensive there so Spam was a cheap alternative. I cannot imagine Spam would be nearly as popular in somewhere like Nebraska or Iowa where there is generally no shortage of cows or pigs.
 
I have had SPAM once. I don't imagine that I will say I have had it twice. 8-!
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I recall once or twice the messhalls at Camp Lejeune would serve Spam at lunch time. Those meals went over about as well as their attempts to serve liver and onions or stuffed cabbages.
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Yeah, Cherry Pit never served Spam, but the one time I was TAD at Lejeune for a few weeks they had Spam at lunch (once). No one seemed very excited about it either.


WSU MUP said:
If you go to Yelp and search "Spam" under restaurants in Honolulu a few come up. I wonder if Hawaii's love of Spam grew because beef maybe is/was much more expensive there so Spam was a cheap alternative. I cannot imagine Spam would be nearly as popular in somewhere like Nebraska or Iowa where there is generally no shortage of cows or pigs.
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Actually pork (which, believe it or not, is what Spam is made of) is traditionally huge in Polynesian cultures. Apart from fish, it's pretty much the only meat in their (traditional) diet. I believe the highest per capita consumption of Spam is found in places like Guam or the Marianas islands..
 
Maister said:
I just had an idea....someone (else) should open a Spam-themed restaurant and feature a whole menu with Spam-centric entrees and sides. Heck, you could maybe get Hormel's backing and start a chain using the name Spam. The hipster crowd would go nuts over it. Probably should test market in the Austin area.:hm:
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I've seen an episode on The Food Channel about a place like this that actually exists (Anthony Bourdaine?). In Hawaii, not surprisingly.
 
I just saw a bit of Anthony Bourdain's show on CNN last week, No Reservations, where he went to a fast-food place in Los Angeles called Jollibee, and ordered spam sandwiches. Jollibee is a Filipino chain. The sandwich reminded me of a White Castle slider, based on the size and lack of veggies. I might try a bite if someone else ordered it.
 
I cannot remember the last time I ate Spam. But every so often at the grocery when I see Spam on the shelf, I am tempted to buy a can. Then after a moment of thought I move on.

I also look at the cans of Treet and wonder what it tastes like. But not enough to buy a can.
 
I like SPAM although it is not a staple in my house. I honestly cannot remember the last time I cooked SPAM at the house.

In the hipster section of Phoenix there is a bar that serves SPAM sliders...they are magical...served on a Hawaiian Sweet Roll with an Asian slaw.
 
We would occassionally have Spam when I was a child, though this was often on vacations when my mother would heat it over the Coleman gas stove on the tailgate of the Country Squire. I would have to agree that it was phased out of the diet before 1980, although it reappeared while I was in the Army. It was usually fried up and served as a substitute for bacon or sausage.
 
I have never eaten Spam.

I did once have to participate in a Spam-carving contest as part of a team-building thingy. :r: To add insult to injury, the manager that came up this with stupid idea didn't even provide the Spam. I can't recall what I tried to carve, but one of the other planners made a surprisingly good Spam bear that was trailed by little bits of Spam "poop".
 
I had spam a couple of months ago. Maybe I'm just a big, pale pacific islander but I really like it. I'm admitting all kinds of things I shouldn't today so i'll just admit that too. We don't eat it all the time, but probably three or four times a year we'll fry some up with eggs for breakfast and have leftover spam sandwiches for lunch the next day. There's really nothing like that.
 
I haven't had it since I was a kid. My dad loved food like that - Vienna sausages, potted meat +o( , just about any prepared meal that came from a can.
 
My mom used to keep a can of Spam in the cupboard. She used to cut in slices and fry it, served instead of sausage or bacon for breakfast. The other presentation was dicing it and boiling it along with the pasta for boxed mac 'n cheese.

It's a common breakfast side in Hawaii (#1 state for Spam consumption) even at McDonald's and Burger King. Hawaii also has a kind of "sushi" that's made with Spam instead of fish, diced in fried rice is also pretty common.
 
Cardinal said:
We would occassionally have Spam when I was a child, though this was often on vacations when my mother would heat it over the Coleman gas stove on the tailgate of the Country Squire. I would have to agree that it was phased out of the diet before 1980, although it reappeared while I was in the Army. It was usually fried up and served as a substitute for bacon or sausage.
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It was also a staple on our family camping trips. Never saw it when I was in the Army. When I was a single parent, I would occasionally fry some up for my son & I. My wife won't even consider it so it's been years since I've had some.
 
kms said:
I haven't had it since I was a kid. My dad loved food like that - Vienna sausages, potted meat +o( , just about any prepared meal that came from a can.
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I have never eaten Spam (although my wife seems to have some every other week, at least) - however, I did have a deviled ham sammich for lunch yesterday. :p
 
I grew up with Spam being a frequent item on the family menu (especially broiled slices with melted Valveeta cheese stuff on top) and I still like it, too.

:)

BTW, I'm thinking that WWII (especially) and the state's ongoing strong military presence is a major factor in its popularity in Hawaii. Also, it does have a lot of decent food value in a small, easily-shipped package (it's made in Minnes(n)o(w)ta, after all), a benefit for such a place, and also a big reason why it was so popular with the military during WWII.

Mike
 
I had fried spam on camping trips a few time when I was a kid. I have to admit, I kind of liked it.

Growing up, I also ate a lot of scrapple. My folks would fry it up and eat it with syrup. A very strange food product and a distant cousin of Spam. I kind of liked that, too. For those not in the know, it’s a food product made from pork scraps, corn meal and wheat flour and formed into a semi-solid congealed loaf. Sounds tasty, no? We stopped eating it after my father had a heart attack when I was in middle school (he survived, but our fatty diet did not)
 
I poke my head into Cyburbia and low and behold a thread on Spam. :)

4th of July I candied some spam with brown sugar and cayenne pepper, then skewered it with some pineapple, bacon and provolone cheese. Served it at a church picnic without telling anyone what it was. When it was gone I made the comment that everyone must have liked the spam since it was gone. The looks and comments I got were priceless.

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Sort of a postscript, but I happen to think the condiment best suited to accompany Spam would have to be ketchup.
 
wahday said:
Growing up, I also ate a lot of scrapple. My folks would fry it up and eat it with syrup. A very strange food product and a distant cousin of Spam. I kind of liked that, too. For those not in the know, it’s a food product made from pork scraps, corn meal and wheat flour and formed into a semi-solid congealed loaf. Sounds tasty, no? We stopped eating it after my father had a heart attack when I was in middle school (he survived, but our fatty diet did not)
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I love the stuff. Not sure if I'd want the depression era version, though.
 
Here is your pledge pin

SPAM Pin.jpg


Anybody been to Austin, Minnesota - SPAMTOWN ?
 
Bump

Scenario: the Maister family got a dog from a rescue shelter last week. Unfortunately, between the adoption fee, new dog supplies, and an unexpected vet bill, the checking account is now down to double digits until next Thursday and both vehicles will likely require gas before then. It is therefore essential we spend ZERO money until next week. As part of this unanticipated temporary austerity program, we're having to adjust the weekly menu to include only items that are currently in the pantry and freezers. The good news is that we do probably have enough food in the house to make it for 8 days without having to hit the store, the bad news is that, well, the food items available are primarily ...how should I put this.....second-tier food preferences in our household. For example, I found a can of Spam in the pantry. I think someone bought it around Christmas in 2016 for some reason, and it's been hidden behind a large can of yams for the past 15 months or so.

Your mission: devise a dish for tonight using Spam as the main ingredient. We have some other staples down in the root cellar: some potatoes and onions. We have lots of rice, a pound of noodles and several boxes of 'quicky' starch side dish things like rice a roni, wild rice, and couscous, etc.
 
Maister said:
I found a can of Spam in the pantry. I think someone bought it around Christmas in 2016 for some reason, and it's been hidden behind a large can of yams for the past 15 months or so.

Your mission: devise a dish for tonight using Spam as the main ingredient. We have some other staples down in the root cellar: some potatoes and onions. We have lots of rice, a pound of noodles and several boxes of 'quicky' starch side dish things like rice a roni, wild rice, and couscous, etc.
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http://www.thehawaiiplan.com/5-delicious-spam-recipes/
 
The Japanese exchange students we hosted loved making Spam Fried Rice. It was quite tasty as I recall.
 
Bubba said:
http://www.thehawaiiplan.com/5-delicious-spam-recipes/
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Ooh that army base one doesn't look too bad. And I think we've got most if not all of the ingredients. I would need to get a package of ramen noodles....hmmm, I'll have to check the seat cushions and the glove box for loose change.

gtpeach said:
Did you know there's a Spam Museum in Minnesota? I went when I lived there. It was fun! They have some good recipes there: http://www.spam.com/recipes.
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Wow, some of those are even better. I'm thinking it may be time to donate some plasma so I can buy tater tots for that casserole.
 
Maister said:
Scenario: the Maister family got a dog from a rescue shelter last week. Unfortunately, between the adoption fee, new dog supplies, and an unexpected vet bill, the checking account is now down to double digits until next Thursday and both vehicles will likely require gas before then. It is therefore essential we spend ZERO money until next week. As part of this unanticipated temporary austerity program, we're having to adjust the weekly menu to include only items that are currently in the pantry and freezers. The good news is that we do probably have enough food in the house to make it for 8 days without having to hit the store, the bad news is that, well, the food items available are primarily ...how should I put this.....second-tier food preferences in our household...
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Actual footage from the Maister family pantry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szfLB-SSjA8

Do you have eggs? Scrambled eggs with fried onions and diced up fried SPAM and a side of potatoes sounds pretty good.

Or fried diced SPAM and potatoes with a nice runny egg over it. I guess that would be like a SPAM hash?
 
WSU MUP Student said:
Actual footage from the Maister family pantry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szfLB-SSjA8

Do you have eggs? Scrambled eggs with fried onions and diced up fried SPAM and a side of potatoes sounds pretty good.

Or fried diced SPAM and potatoes with a nice runny egg over it. I guess that would be like a SPAM hash?
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There are 10 eggs remaining. I've been deliberating about when and how to dole them out. I was going to make pancakes using some of the eggs, although it occurs to me we have a box of egg substitute we could probably use for that purpose. Hmmmm....
 
Maister said:
There are 10 eggs remaining. I've been deliberating about when and how to dole them out. I was going to make pancakes using some of the eggs, although it occurs to me we have a box of egg substitute we could probably use for that purpose. Hmmmm....
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I've substituted some applesauce more than a few times when I started making pancakes and realized I had no eggs. FWIW, pancakes are one of those things I'll often start making just assuming we have all the ingredients and then come to find we are missing something key... usually oil or eggs.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I've substituted some applesauce more than a few times when I started making pancakes and realized I had no eggs. FWIW, pancakes are one of those things I'll often start making just assuming we have all the ingredients and then come to find we are missing something key... usually oil or eggs.
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culinary principle #1 - oil is a liquefying agent and eggs are a congealing agent. Any time a substitution for either is required just pick an different liquefier or congealer.
 
bump

The last time I had Spam was before covid. I think I bought a can or two in the teens out of a sense of nostalgia. It was actually pretty good, or it rekindled memories of childhood as it was intended to. It's interesting how they say that smell and taste are the two senses most strongly connected with memory because when I had Spam last time, my impression was that it was dominated by a sense of nostalgia.

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Oh look, Spam is even adapting to appeal to modern consumers' tastes
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Anyone interested in trying maple or jalapeno Spam?
 
Maister said:
bump

The last time I had Spam was before covid. I think I bought a can or two in the teens out of a sense of nostalgia. It was actually pretty good, or it rekindled memories of childhood as it was intended to. It's interesting how they say that smell and taste are the two senses most strongly connected with memory because when I had Spam last time, my impression was that it was dominated by a sense of nostalgia.

View attachment 66089

Oh look, Spam is even adapting to appeal to modern consumers' tastes
View attachment 66090

Anyone interested in trying maple or jalapeno Spam?
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I'd probably try both, with maple being my first choice. I haven't had Spam since I lived at home. From what I remember, I don’t think I'd care for jalapeño flavored Spam.
 
Last time we were visiting Hawaii, went into a grocery store and was shocked at the Spam flavor offerings. Did not count but looked to be around 15 different flavors.
 
I used to get SPAM every year for Christmas from my Dad as a gag gift. The story he tells is that when I was 8 or 9 years old, the Monty Python skit came on the radio and I was roaring with laughter. My Dad realized I was laughing but had no idea what SPAM was. That Christmas and for many afterwards there would be a can in the toe of my stocking.

I won't go out of my way to get it but some of those Christmas ones hung around the pantry until a year or two ago. (My wife's not a fan and it's rare I'm cooking just for me or me and my son). On a couple of those rare solo nights, I'd usually do SPAM fried rice:

-grate ginger and garlic into a pan with some hot oil.
-Add onion, salt and pepper
-add chopped red and green pepper.
-add cubed SPAM
-add a little sugar to some eggs and scramble in a separate pan
-add leftover rice from the fridge to the main pan
-add soy sauce and a little rice vinegar to the main pan
-add in the eggs and serve.

Having the eggs be a little sweet and everything else a little savory is what makes this for me. You can do this with all kinds of proteins (I often use cubed tofu that's been baked within an inch of its life, but SPAM works very well.
 
We have seen several commercials for SPAM while watching hockey online on ESPN (Disney). Wife commented last night on how much she hated it. As I posted that ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed the taste of fried SPAM on grilled bread with a bit of mayo.
 
michaelskis said:
We have seen several commercials for SPAM while watching hockey online on ESPN (Disney). Wife commented last night on how much she hated it. As I posted that ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed the taste of fried SPAM on grilled bread with a bit of mayo.
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For me, SPAM has to be served with ketchup.
 
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