14 Hacks That Will Change The Way You Cook With Spam

For those who are unfamiliar with Spam's versatility, they might assume there's not much you can do with it besides cut it into squares and fry it. While that is undoubtedly one route, there are many other clever ways to use it that will have you flabbergasted. The untold truth of Spam is that it's not the atrocity that many people make it out to be. Rather than judging a book by its cover, look at its ingredient list. You'll see it is much shorter than expected. In fact, it contains only pork with ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and a single preservative.

Besides its straightforward makeup, the meat is pre-cooked, so it is much easier to work with than raw meat. Worrying about bringing it to a specific temperature is not required. And lucky for you, this is a one-stop source for the most inventive methods to prepare, cook, and serve the pork product. You'll have a new-found appreciation for Spam and never see it as a last-resort food again. So, fear not; give the infamous canned meat a shot with one of these brilliant hacks.

Spam is a surprising yet delicious addition to many dessert recipes, believe it or not. Think of it this way; people commonly utilize bacon or other savory ingredients in desserts because they complement sugary flavors. For example, you've likely heard of maple cupcakes that people garnish with bacon bits. The fusion of the sweet and salty tastes makes the entire treat irresistible. Not to mention, the added crunch with creamy components is a match made in heaven.

Use Spam in recipes where bacon is already required, or branch out and experiment in entirely different recipes. Spam shared an Instagram post of one fan's dessert creation; it is a hefty scoop of vanilla bean ice cream that sits on top of a fudge brownie. The finishing touch is caramelized Spam bits with a sauce drizzled across the whole dessert (talk about elegance). So, no matter whether you're bold enough to try crispy Spam with ice cream or mix some of the meat into molasses cookies, Spam is the spotlight ingredient you can't ignore.

One sure way to upgrade the canned meat is to make a glaze for it. The Pineapple and Spam Skewers with spicy glaze recipe is the optimal example; the glaze consists of pineapple preserves, white wine vinegar, and red pepper flakes. But, of course, many other flavor combinations work with Spam too. If you've never made a glaze, it is achievable for people of all cooking skill levels. Once you know how to turn a sauce into a glaze, you'll be unstoppable.

All you need is a liquid or sauce with which you want to pair the Spam. Reduce the liquid in a saucepan, and add seasonings and sweeteners as needed. If you take time with it, the fluid transforms into a thick glaze to coat the meat. However, if you are short on time, add a thickening ingredient like cornstarch to speed up the process. Glaze the meat before, during, and even after you cook it, depending on how prominent you want the flavor to be. One bonus if you glaze it beforehand is that the glaze bakes onto the meat and becomes pleasantly toasty.

If Spam is too salty according to your tastes, there is a convenient way to reduce the sodium so you can still partake in the canned meat. First, boil the Spam before you use it in your recipe to reduce the sodium content. Another option that requires less monitoring is to chop the Spam and then allow it to get saturated in hot water for a few minutes. This tip comes from a Reddit user who specifically suggests you use pre-boiled water.

Next, remove the Spam from the water; drain it with a strainer or use a spider tool to retrieve the meat from the liquid. Finally, even if you don't go to the extent of boiling the Spam to improve its flavor, we recommend you at least immerse the meat in cold water. Allow it to rest in the fluid for a bit before you dry it and heat it. Failing to do so is one of the mistakes everyone makes while cooking Spam.

This hack might blow your mind if you like to be resourceful and creative. On a Reddit thread where people discussed old family recipes, one user shared how someone in their life used pan drippings from Spam to whip up a flawless gravy. According to the user, all you need to do is fry the meat in fat (butter, preferably) then add a splash of oil before you remove the browned meat. The excess drippings are highly flavorful, and you only need milk to complete the gravy, which adds a sense of creaminess. They suggest canned milk, but it is more than possible to use fresh milk if that's all you have.

This hack is nothing short of genius since Spam contains salt, which transfers to the gravy. Not to mention, using drippings from any meat is one of the secrets to making a perfect gravy. So, if other meat remnants work as a phenomenal base for a sauce, why not do the same with Spam?

While many people enjoy Spam as the primary source of protein in their meals, it also works wonderfully as a side or topping. One of the amazing and unexpected ways to use Spam is to cut it into wedges and fry it to create Spam fries, which accompanies entrées like sandwiches or macaroni and cheese. By all means, the consistency of the meat fries varies from potato fries, but they are still fun to serve with condiments, and they put forward a unique taste.

Aside from transforming it into fries, Spam is a perfect garnish for numerous types of food. First, dice the meat into small pieces and then use it as a pizza topping; it crisps up quite nicely in the oven. Also, make use of it in salads or pasta, where you would generally use other pork products. Some examples? Throw it on a Cobb salad, incorporate it into pasta carbonara, or scatter it atop split pea soup. This method is beneficial for folks who enjoy the flavor of Spam but don't like sinking their teeth into thick slabs of it.

Have you ever thought to mix Spam with other kinds of meat? If you don't prefer stand-alone Spam or want to change things up, create a patty with a blend of ground beef and the canned meat. Chef Peter Ochoa, formerly of Taste on Ellis in San Francisco, served this masterpiece to his customers, and it was one of the absolute best Spam breakfast dishes. The Hawaiian loco moco was the dish that Ochoa drew inspiration from. He used four times the amount of ground beef as Spam in the burgers. However, the ratio is adjustable to your taste preferences, and you don't need to serve the burger Hawaiian style, either.

Spamburgers are a thing, and they taste phenomenal with all sorts of toppings. Stereotypical burger toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onion are scrumptious, or you can branch out and make the sandwich barbecue-style. The choice is up to you, although we can admit that the loco moco version with the grilled patty, rice, fried eggs, and gravy is just as delicious. The fritters are so flavorful, it is hard to choose only one way to enjoy them.

Did you know that it is possible to marinate Spam? While Spam is undoubtedly different than fresh meat, it still benefits from a marinade. So, even though you have to remove it from a can, it doesn't mean it has to be boring. For example, Spam musubi is a well-known (and tasty) snack that involves marinated Spam. Specifically, it utilizes teriyaki sauce as the marinade, and the most incredible part is that it only needs to marinate for five minutes. If teriyaki isn't your favorite, there are many other meat marinade ideas to spice up your meal.

First, of course, consider the meal's flavor profile when you choose a marinade for the meat. Some incredible sauces involve honey mustard, maple syrup, and sriracha, just to name a few. If you transfer the soaked Spam directly to a frying pan or hot grill, the marinade also caramelizes up a bit, which enhances the meat's flavor and texture. You'll be impressed by how just a few minutes of marinating takes the meat to new heights.

One of the best ways to use leftover Spam is to slice it into strips resembling beef. Then, use the strips to make the ultimate Spam tacos or fajitas. Season the meat to your liking and pair it with fajita vegetables like sautéed peppers and onions. Alternatively, make tacos with classic toppings such as lettuce, diced tomato, and shredded cheese. Spam posted a short video on Instagram that shows how to cook the meat for tacos on a flat-top grill.

Partially cook the meat chunks, and then cut them into strips halfway through the cooking process. Grill the Spam until the strip edges are a gorgeous golden-brown color. Use tortillas to make soft tacos; finish the tacos off with a zesty sauce and fresh lettuce. Of course, hard taco shells taste just as delicious and offer texture variation. Try this clever trick to make your next taco Tuesday one to remember.

So, we've gone over how to remove the saltiness from Spam, but how about you use that savory flavor to your advantage? If you make one-pot meals with Spam, you might not need to use many seasonings to reach a tasty final product. For example, if you make a hash with potatoes, Spam, and eggs, the salt from the Spam will mix in with the other components. Another example is if you make stir-fry. Cook the diced Spam with veggies like bell peppers, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and more.

Whatever you choose to make, perform a taste test on the food when it is almost finished and ready to serve. Adjust the spices if needed after you let the Spam season your dish. Don't make the Spam-cooking mistake of adding high-sodium elements that you don't need. It is easy to get in the habit of adding salt to most of the food you cook, but don't do that with Spam. Not being cautious here could ultimately cost you your meal.

There is no denying that breaded foods fall in the category of comfort food. For those who grew up on Spam, it is already nostalgic enough, so if you add breading, there is a whole new layer of serenity. Spam posted on Instagram a perfect example of how to use the breading technique to make your food top tier; the recipe uses cereal as the outer coating on the meat. Other options provide an equally wonderful texture, so look through your pantry to see what you've got. Traditional breadcrumbs work flawlessly (or grind up some croutons if you don't have pre-made crumbs).

On the other hand, there is a breadcrumb swap you need to make for maximum crunch: Panko. This ingredient is superb because no matter how you cook the food, it gives your dish that well-done flakiness similar to deep-fried foods. In addition, Panko consists of larger and drier crumbs than regular breadcrumbs you buy at the store. Lastly, if you want the breading to stick, consider dredging the Spam. This simple process aids the breadcrumb in adhering to the food. Before you begin to cook it, simply dip the Spam in flour, an egg-wash mixture, then the breadcrumbs, which is what dredging means in a recipe.

One unique way you might've never thought to use Spam is to cut it into special shapes. All sorts of cookie-cutter shapes can transform the rectangle meat slices into animals, letters, stars, and more. Spam posted some examples on its official Instagram account to inspire folks. One post shows Halloween-themed Spam with cats, ghosts, and pumpkins. Since it is meat, you don't need to worry about it losing shape and being unrecognizable when it cooks (as you might with other foods).

Another Instagram post shows how to cleverly use heart-shaped cutters to remove the centers out of the Spam for Valentine's Day. Fry some eggs in the hollowed-out portion to make a whimsical breakfast. This neat hack doesn't need to be just for the holidays; use it to spell out someone's name or transform Spam into fun shapes to make dinner time more special for little ones. If you don't own cookie cutters, use a paring knife to create simple designs in the meat, although that certainly isn't as easy as using a mold.

Spam's texture makes it easy to chop, of course, but another incredible way to be innovative is to shred it with a cheese grater. This hack is ideal when you need the meat sliced into tiny pieces, which saves you from having to chop it manually. For example, Spam suggests you use a grater to create thin pieces of meat for meatloaf cupcakes. But it doesn't stop there; feel free to innovate and use the Spam shreds in other baked foods like biscuits or savory puff pastries.

Since the company cooks the meat after canning it, you don't need to heat it before you incorporate it into dishes. However, one Reddit user explains how the grated Spam pieces become impressively crunchy when you fry them, and since the shreds are so thin, they turn out comparable to bacon bits. So, it all depends on personal preference and how you want the meat to complement the food.

Air fryers do quite a fantastic job of giving food a pleasant texture while also cooking it rather quickly; it is no different when you cook Spam in the air fryer. Spam posted a couple of photos on its official Instagram page showcasing various ways to go about it. One image exhibits Spam fries that look remarkably similar to regular or sweet potato fries.

Another post displays an accordion-cut chunk of Spam served with an eel glaze. The recipe in the description explains how it takes only 15 minutes (including prep time) to create the masterpiece of a dish that they finished off by setting the sauced Spam on a bed of white rice. It is quite striking how the air fryer improves the texture of the meat and gives it a richer color as well. This appliance is a reliable route for those who want to create show-stopping meals with Spam.

If you enjoy Spam the most when it is crispy, you should try cooking Spam in this genius way. Not everybody thinks to break out the waffle iron when they cook meat, but sometimes unconventional cooking methods produce the best results. Next time you prepare a dish with Spam, plug in the waffle iron and let it heat up while you slice the meat. First, cut the meat as thick or thin as you'd like; the thinner it is, the quicker it will cook. Then, sandwich the slices between the hot waffle iron and close it as usual. Since the iron presses the meat and surrounds it, the appliance gives the meat's exterior a pleasant crunch.

Make sure to clean the kitchen gadget after you use it; otherwise, the subsequent waffles you make might end up tasting like Spam. And while Spam, waffles, and eggs are solid breakfast choices when properly planned, you won't want to taste week-old residual Spam that you forgot to clean off the machine the next time you make waffles.