Scrapple Has Been Around Longer Than You Might Think

Many locales have a food that's synonymous to that region. Hawaii loves Spam, Wisconsin has cheese curds, and the Pennsylvania Dutch region and surrounding areas have Scrapple. 

While the word might be fun to say, it's the food's unique flavor that brings people back for another plate. Even Duff Goldman professed his love of scrapple in his wedding cake, per People. From the sizzle in the pan to the robust flavor, this pork dish is a food you need to try at least once.

According to Culinary Lore, scrapple is a pork recipe that uses all parts of the animal. While nose-to-tail cooking might not have been a term used years ago, the concept of letting nothing go to waste has been around for centuries. This "loaf" blends together the sometimes lesser-used parts of the pig. (While some people might want to know how it's made, others might prefer to gloss over the specific details of blended parts that make up this meat product.) Whether the dish is a play on a pate, terrines, or sausage doesn't matter — for those who profess their love of pork products, scrapple is often on their plate.

While scrapple might be an acquired taste, the pork-centric dish has a long history. According to ABC 27, Pennsylvania Dutch settlers influenced the popularity of the dish. While it has its own food holiday on November 7, the complex, flavorful meat might even go back further than the early settlers. 

In her book "Pennsylvania Scrapple: A Delectable History," Amy Strauss asserts that Germans brought the food concept to the states. And Culinary Lore can trace variations back to the late 1300s in England. While the names, intricacies, and versions vary, the idea of using the whole animal with seasonings compiled into a loaf isn't a new invention.

Although some people might not find a version of mystery meat appetizing, others can't get enough of scrapple. The Bridgeville Apple Scrapple Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. The annual event celebrates the beloved meat, in particular the brand RAPA Scrapple, which is located in the area. (Apparently, when scrapple is being made, everyone in the surrounding area is quite aware because of the particular aroma.) Whether the dish is iconic, unusual, or beloved, scrapple is the apple to some people's eyes.

While some people wake up to the aroma of bacon frying in the pan, another pork product can be an inviting sizzle to come to the breakfast table. Scrapple, the infamous pork dish, is often served fried, sometimes for breakfast with eggs. For scrapple that's sold in loaf form, Stoltzfus Meats recommends cutting pieces into ¼ inch slices. The thickness — and only turning the slice once — makes the outside crisp and keeps it from falling apart.

Rapa Scrapple, one of the more famous scrapple companies, offers a robust selection of recipes. From fries to waffles, the pork product can be transformed in many ways. Even some of the winning recipes are a little surprising. Dishes such as Scrapple Stuffed Peppers, Apple Scrapple Hand Pies, and even Spicy Scrapple Wraps showcase the ingredient's versatility. 

Although some people might shy away from a product that might fall under the "mystery meat" designation, the enticing flavor shouldn't be overlooked. Like many foods that have unexpected origins, funny-sounding names, or even curious appearances, all those descriptions may not matter. If something tastes good, it deserves to be on the plate.