How to Eat Spam

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 9, 2022 References

Spam is a canned meat product known around the world for its iconic blue label and endless versatility. Since it’s precooked, it can be enjoyed hot or cold, and makes a ready addition to any number of foods. Try cooking up some Spam and using it in place of other meats in some of your favorite dishes, such as burgers, tacos, or fried rice. You can even have Spam for breakfast by mixing it into a hearty skillet hash or add it to donuts for a sweet and savory dessert!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Enjoying Spam on its Own

1
Fry your Spam in a skillet to give it a crisp finish. Pour 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) of oil into your skillet and place it on the cooktop over medium heat until the oil just begins to shimmer. Cut the Spam into 1 in (2.5 cm) slices and fry them for 2-3 minutes, then flip them and let them cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Afterwards, they’ll have a perfect crusty exterior and a soft, meaty center.^{[1]
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- Be careful not to burn your Spam. The meat product is precooked, so it won’t need very long.
- Frying Spam is one of the best ways to prepare it if you’ve never eaten it before and you’re apprehensive about the texture.^{[2]
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Tip: Add a drizzle of maple syrup to the skillet to balance out the saltiness of the Spam and give it a candy-like caramelized crust.^{[3]
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2
Bake your Spam in the oven to reduce its fat and sodium content. Set your oven to 425–450 °F (218–232 °C) and allow it to begin preheating. While the oven is warming up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the slices of Spam on top, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between each. Bake the Spam for 10-12 minutes, or until it starts to brown around the edges.
- If you’re watching your waistline, bake your Spam slices on a grill pan or wire rack to drain off some of the excess fat.
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3
Throw Spam on the grill for a mouth-watering charbroiled flavor. Preheat your grill and wait for it to get nice and hot. Then, distribute your sliced Spam evenly across the grill top and cook it for 1-2 minutes. Once the slices are heated through on their first side, flip them over and give them 1-2 more minutes, or until they reach the desired doneness. ^{[4]
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- You’ll know your Spam is ready to come off the grill when it’s slightly darker in color and criss-crossed with perfect grill marks.
- Top each slice with a juicy pineapple ring to lend some complimentary sweetness.
4
Microwave single servings of Spam for 1-2 minutes. Cut the Spam into slices or strips and pop them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds at a time. In just a couple minutes, you’ll have a hot, satisfying meal that pairs easily with any number of other foods.
- Don’t forget to remove the Spam from its can before putting it in the microwave.
5
Eat Spam right out of the can. One of the best things about Spam is that it comes fully cooked, which means it’s not strictly necessary to cook it at all. This can be a major plus if the power goes out, you find yourself without the proper cookware, or you’re just looking for something quick, easy, and filling to wolf down.^{[5]
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- Bring a few cans of Spam along with you on your next all-day hike or camping trip. Since it doesn’t require heating, it makes a perfect high-protein snack to gobble down on the go.
- Keep in mind that when eaten straight from the can, Spam has a softer, gelatinous texture which many people find unappetizing.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Spam the Main Course

1
Eat your Spam on a sandwich or burger. Prepare one or more slices of Spam using your preferred cooking method and slap it between two pieces of bread. The canned wonder food can also be eaten on a burger as a more substantial alternative to bacon or as the burger patty itself. Pile on crisp lettuce leaves, juicy tomato slices, sweet onion rings, or any other toppings and condiments of choice and dig in.^{[7]
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- If you’re on a low-carb or gluten-free diet, you can even substitute fried slices of Spam for bread to “double down” on your protein intake.^{[8]
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Tip: Experiment with Spam-themed versions of your favorite sandwiches, like a grilled Spam and cheese, Speuben (Spam Reuben), Spam-LT, or a deep-fried Spam Monte Cristo.
2
Start your day with a hearty Spam skillet hash. First, dice a tin of Spam into 1 in (2.5 cm) cubes and fry them lightly over medium heat. Once they start to brown up, add 1 cup (100 g) of parboiled potato chunks, along with thin slices of white onion, green bell peppers, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook everything together until it’s hot and crisp and enjoy with a steaming mug of coffee or a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.^{[9]
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- Crack an egg or sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese on top of your hash as it finishes cooking to make it even more filling.
- For a last-minute breakfast that doesn’t require as much prep, simply toss some cubed Spam in with your scrambled eggs.^{[10]
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3
Put together a tasty Spam musubi. Spam musubi is a popular Hawaiian snack that has its roots in traditional Japanese cuisine. To see what all the fuss is about, grill or fry a slice of Spam, then pat out a block of sushi rice into the same shape and place it on top. Wrap a sheet of nori (roasted seaweed) around your filling ingredients to hold them together.^{[11]
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- If you’re having trouble getting the nori to stick to stay sealed, wet the pad of your finger and run it along the lower of the 2 overlapping edges before sticking it down.
- You can also use your leftover rice and nori to make hand-rolled Spam sushi.^{[12]
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4
Fry up some Spam donuts. Trim 1 in (2.5 cm) slices of Spam into large circles, then cut smaller circles out of the center of the slices. Fry your Spam donuts in a spacious skillet filled with 2 inches (5.1 cm) of cooking oil for about 2 minutes per side and allow them to cool for an additional 2-3 minutes before getting your munch on.
- To keep your frying oil from scorching between batches, use an oil with a high smoke point, like olive, vegetable, canola, or peanut.
- If you’d like a little more donut with your Spam donuts, dice the canned meat into tiny cubes and mix it by hand into rings of homemade dough to turn it into a filling.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Incorporating Spam into Your Favorite Dishes

1
Conquer your hunger with zesty Spam street tacos. Load corn tortillas with chunks of pan-fried Spam alongside pickled red onions, cotija cheese, and cilantro. Customize your tacos with add-ons like grilled jalapeños, mango, sour cream, and homemade guacamole or pico de gallo. ^{[14]
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- Play around with devising your own specialty fusion items using Spam tacos as inspiration, such as Hawaiian pineapple and teriyaki wonton tacos or Mediterranean-style Spam gyros.^{[15]
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- Create a taco bar for your next summer party and encourage your guests to build their own Spam tacos.
- Try it with scrambled eggs, chopped jalapenos, salsa fresca, and black beans rolled into a warm corn tortilla.
2
Top a salad with Spam for a light lunch. Cut cooked spam into small cubes or thin strips and transfer them to a bed of mixed greens and veggies. Leave room for halved hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cheese for a thrifty take on the classic chef salad, or get creative and invent your own unique salad recipe.^{[16]
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- Bake or microwave your Spam to cut the calorie count a bit and keep your Spam salad from turning into a cheat meal.
- Spam can make a welcome addition to other kinds of salads, as well, including pasta salad, ham salad, macaroni salad, and egg salad.^{[17]
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3
Whip up some Spam fried rice. Toss cubed Spam with white rice, eggs, peas, carrots, and a stir fry sauce made from soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil and white pepper. Add some scallions, diced pineapple, or thin-sliced fresno peppers to turn up the flavor a few degrees.^{[18]
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- If you’re short on time, cook up your rice and Spam and stir in a bag of frozen veggies and 2–3 tablespoons (30–44 mL) of bottled stir fry sauce.^{[19]
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Tip: Making fried rice is a great way to use up leftover portions of cooked Spam.
4
Serve Spam potstickers as an addictive appetizer. Combine finely-diced Spam with grated ginger, minced garlic and green onion, chopped cabbage, and sesame oil. Stuff your filling into store-bought dumpling skins and crimp the edges closed. Blanch your potstickers in a pot of boiling water, then cool them in an ice bath and brown them on both sides in a well-oiled skillet.^{[20]
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- Dunk your dumplings in sweetened soy or tangy gyoza sauce, or make your own Asian Tahini dipping sauce to continue with the trend.^{[21]
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- Spam could also be used in place of pork and other meats in egg rolls and Chinese-style steamed buns.

Community Q&A

Question

Is eating Spam good for you?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

I don't think many people would consider Spam a health food. Spam is high in fat and salt, and doesn't have high levels of nutrients. Spam is a processed meat that contains sodium nitrite, and processed meats like this have been linked to certain negative health consequences.
Question

Is it really safe? Shouldn't it be cooked again?

Katy Freeman Wilkins

Community Answer

Spam is perfectly fine to eat straight from can. And as far as frying up slices, they taste so much better than uncooked. Try it fried with eggs or in a sandwich to make it tasty; some people find it can be nasty cold from can.
Question

What is the texture of Spam? It looks sort of spongy. Is it soft or firm?

HumanBeing

Top Answerer

It is soft. It has a similar texture to a hot dog sausage. It is soft enough to mash with a fork straight from the can, should you want to.

Warnings

Spam is somewhat infamous for being high in sodium and saturated fat. It’s a good idea to limit your intake of processed meats like Spam, especially if you suffer from high blood pressure or have a history of heart disease or other diet-related illnesses.

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