Spam vs Bacon - Which is Tastier ? - Substitute Ninja (2024)

by subninja

When it comes to food, everyone has their own preferences. But for some reason, the topic of spam vs bacon has become something of an internet battleground. So, what’s the big deal, you ask? Why is everyone so obsessed with this particular debate?

Well, the truth is, both bacon and spam have their own unique and delicious qualities that can’t be denied. It’s just that, while one might taste good, the other just doesn’t.

If you’re a fan of bacon, you’re probably already on board with this argument. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of spam, then you might want to read on. The following article will answer your questions and clear things up once and for all.

Spam and bacon are both prepared from pork meat and can be served as main course or appetizers.

While bacon is a cured meat, Spam is a ready-to-eat processed food made from pork shoulder, salt, water, potato starch, sodium nitrate, sugar, sodium phosphates, hydrolyzed soy protein, sodium ascorbate and sodium nitrite.

The difference between Spam and bacon is that bacon is a raw meat and Spam is a cooked meat.

The main difference between spam and bacon is the taste. Some people may prefer one over the other while others might like both. Still, whatever your preference, there is one thing that everyone can agree on – both are delicious!

What is spam?

Spam vs Bacon - Which is Tastier ? - Substitute Ninja (1)

Spam is a canned meat product that was first developed in the 1930s. It is primarily made from pork belly, salt, and soybeans, though other meats and vegetables are also used.

The meat is canned in bulk and then sold as either a shelf-stable product or in vacuum-sealed bags. It is generally quite inexpensive, and often sold as a food for less than $3 per pound.

What is bacon?

Spam vs Bacon - Which is Tastier ? - Substitute Ninja (2)

Bacon is cured pork meat that is cooked and cut into strips, typically known as “cutlets”. It is typically eaten as an appetizer, snack, or breakfast.

Differences between spam and bacon

  • Bacon is often salted and sometimes smoked. – Bacon is often fried. – Bacon is often eaten with eggs. – Bacon is often added to soups, stews, and other dishes for flavoring.
  • Spam is not usually salted, smoked, or fried. – Spam is often eaten as a breakfast food. – Spam is often eaten with ketchup or other sauces.

Why is everyone so obsessed with this particular debate?

People seem to either love spam or hate it. It’s that simple. While people of all ages can enjoy it.

Final notes and summary

In the end, the debate is really just a silly one. So, while you shouldn’t let a silly internet argument stop you from enjoying your favorite foods, you should at least be informed before you take to the internet to defend your position.

If you’re a fan of bacon, you’re probably already on board with this argument.

Spam vs Bacon is an old debate, one that is not likely to be resolved anytime soon.

Spam is a canned meat product that has been around since the 1930s. It is usually made of pork shoulder and ham, often mixed with preservatives such as sodium nitrite.

Bacon, on the other hand, is a cured and smoked piece of pork belly. Although it often contains preservatives too, bacon is generally higher in fat and lower in sodium.

Many people prefer bacon over Spam because of the taste. While many people do like Spam, bacon is generally more popular because it’s higher quality meat that’s smoked and cured so it has a better taste.

Spam vs Bacon - Which is Tastier ? - Substitute Ninja (2024)

FAQs

Do chefs use Spam? ›

But Spam – tinned cooked pork – need not be a compromise. Thanks to American GIs, who introduced it during the second world war to the Asia-Pacific nations, the product has become a mainstay of their cuisine.

How do you make Spam tastier? ›

  1. Share via Pin. ...
  2. Slathered with sriracha mayo and snuggled between two English muffins. ...
  3. Seared and tossed into fried rice. ...
  4. Or taken to Flavor Town with kimchi and an egg on top. ...
  5. Enveloped in a jalapeño quesadilla with tons of melted cheese. ...
  6. Served in a nice, clean taco. ...
  7. Cut into neat bites of musubi.
Feb 21, 2014

What does Spam taste like? ›

What Does Spam Taste Like? Spam is truly delicious. It's salty and a little spicy with a flavor most similar to ham and a texture close to bologna.

Does Spam taste better cooked? ›

Yes, Spam out of the can is pre-cooked so it can be eaten straight away. However, we highly recommend cooking it because both the taste and texture are much better! Does Spam taste like bacon? Spam on its own has a similar taste to bacon, but we eat Spam with teriyaki sauce which creates a completely unique flavor.

Why Do Hawaiians like Spam so much? ›

The true root of the island's love for SPAM® products goes back to World War II, when the luncheon meat was served to GIs. By the end of the war, SPAM® products were adopted into local culture, with Fried SPAM® Classic and rice becoming a popular meal.

Why is Spam so delicious? ›

Spam is most delicious when simply fried in a pan – salty, soft in the middle, with crispy golden edges. It's the perfect textural contrast. When diced and stir-fried into rice or eggs, it gives glorious bursts of porky flavour.

Can I use Spam instead of bacon? ›

Spam can go anywhere bacon would be. Try mixing up your usual bacon, egg and cheese and bring Spam to the stack instead. The luncheon meat is best served pan-fried, but if you're crunched for time, a simple slice straight from the can will do.

Does Spam taste like bacon grill? ›

It has a taste similar to that of bacon but with a bit of salt. Spam classic has a spongy and moist texture. It is somewhat similar to sausage in texture and is absolutely delicious.

Is Spam low quality meat? ›

Though Spam is convenient, easy to use and has a long shelf-life, it's also very high in fat, calories and sodium and low in important nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it's highly processed and contains preservatives like sodium nitrite that may cause several adverse health effects.

What race eats Spam? ›

Spam's popularity in Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Island cuisine has influenced its growth in the United States. As more immigrants came to the United States and fusion dishes and ethnic cuisines entered the cultural mainstream, Spam has reached new, younger foodies, say Hormel, food analysts and researchers.

Is Spam basically bologna? ›

Is Spam basically bologna? According to Hormel Foods, all of the ingredients are mixed together and put into the iconic SPAM cans, then the cans are sealed, cooked, and cooled, and the product is ready to go! If you really think about it, SPAM is basically just canned bologna (with fewer ingredients).

What is the best way to fry Spam? ›

  1. Heat about 4 inches of oil in a heavy pan or fryer to 350°F.
  2. Cut SPAM® Classic into 6 slices. Cut each slice into 4 thick matchsticks.
  3. In small batches, place the fries in the hot oil. Fry 3 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
  4. Serve the warm fries with dipping sauces.

What state eats the most Spam? ›

Residents of the state of Hawaii have the highest per capita consumption in the United States, bringing in sales of 7 million cans of SPAM per year. Its perception there is very different from on the mainland. Hawaiians sometimes call it "Portagee Steak".

Does McDonald's in Hawaii serve Spam? ›

McDonald's Hawaii offers a special menu of items you can only find in Hawaii. There are breakfast platters loaded with Spam and Portuguese sausage, a dessert menu with hot haupia (coconut pudding) and taro pies, fried apple pies (only state where you can get the pies fried in the US!), and much more.

What is the jelly stuff in Spam? ›

Natural gelatins cause the jelly-like substance that surrounds spam in the meat that solidifies when cooled (like an aspic). Depending on the variety of Spam, other ingredients, including chicken or turkey, may be added. There are numerous different flavors of spam.

What country loves Spam the most? ›

The tiny western Pacific island of Guam is known mainly for its U.S. military outpost; but it's also far and away the world's largest consumer of Spam. After the majority of the U.S. military force that occupied Guam during World War II left, the canned, preserved meat the soldiers ate stayed put.

What do Hawaiians do with Spam? ›

But you have to admit, Spam is tasty. Hawaiians use it's slightly spiced, salty flavor in everything from breakfast scrambles with eggs to a sushi-like concoction made with rice and a seaweed wrap known as musubi (moo-sue-bee, my Hawaiian colleague informs me, with no syllable accented stronger than another).

Why do Japanese people like Spam? ›

Consumer behaviour researcher Ayalla Ruvio says Spam became iconic in Asia because it was a taste of America without being in America. “They shared everything – their clothes, their food – and they shared their Spam. When the troops left, they left their Spam with the local population [who] then adopted it favourably.”

Which Spam is less salty? ›

Heavy on the flavor, light on the other stuff. This variety offers the scrumptiousness of SPAM® Classic with 33% less calories, 50% less fat, and 25% less sodium, which means you can enjoy the taste you love more often.

What meat is similar to Spam? ›

Treet (Armour Star Treet) is a canned meat product similar to Spam first introduced in 1939 by Armour and Company in the United States. Sold as "spiced luncheon loaf", it is made with chicken and pork and has a more finely ground texture than Spam, more akin to bologna or vienna sausages.

Is Spam basically a hot dog? ›

SPAM is an acronym for Special Processed American Meat. It was introduced by Hormel in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War 2. Spam's basic ingredients are primarily pork shoulder and ham, while hot dogs are made of beef or pork or chicken as a sausage.

Does Spam taste like pork roll? ›

Spam tastes like ham, but it can be saltier and spicier. There are different spam options that involve different ingredients, such as peppers. Pork roll tastes like a cross between Canadian bacon and regular bacon, but with less of a ham flavor and less smoky.

Is eating Spam good for you? ›

We consider SPAM to be bad for you for a few reasons: it's relatively low in naturally-occurring nutrients, it contains preservatives, it's quite high in sodium and it's made primarily with processed meat. SPAM Classic provides over 200% of the DV of sodium, which is concerning in our opinion.

What does the M in Spam stand for? ›

SPAM is an acronym: Special Processed American Meat.

What is a healthier version of Spam? ›

Thankfully, there are many alternatives to Spam available if you're looking for a lower-fat substitute. These include pork roll, potted meat, scrapple, jambon, and tofu – all of which can offer the same high protein content without any unhealthy ingredients.

Does Spam have horse meat? ›

In fact, SPAM only contains six ingredients! And the brand's website lists them all. They are: pork with ham meat added (that counts as one), salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite.

Is Spam good for diabetics? ›

A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that processed canned meat – more affectionately known as spam – could double your risk for diabetes. The study involved 2,000 Native Americans, a high-risk demographic for type 2 diabetes.

Is Spam worse for you than ham? ›

So yes, there is a difference between ham and spam. Spam contains more calories, more fat, and less protein.

Is Spam Hawaiian or Japanese? ›

Barbara Funamura, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, is credited with having invented Spam musubi, a slice of grilled Spam on top of a block of rice, wrapped together with nori.

What is bologna made of? ›

Meat: The main ingredient in bologna is ground meat, which could be any combination of pork, beef, chicken and turkey or only one of those meats. You can even find bologna made of venison or other game meat.

Should you fry Spam in oil? ›

Pan fry spam

Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet over a medium heat. Fry the Spam slices for 2-3 minutes each side until they are golden brown and crispy.

Do you use olive oil for Spam? ›

Tips for deep frying Spam

Do not use olive oil. Heat: You'll need to get the temp up to 180C/356F before adding the fritters. If the oil isn't hot enough they'll absorb too much oil and come out soggy. Batches: Work in batches of 3-4 so a) they don't stick together and b) it doesn't lower the temp too much.

Do you need to grease pan for Spam? ›

Cooking the Spam

For this dish, the Spam must be pan-fried and served hot. Put the Spam slices in a pan, turn the heat to medium-high and fry for two minutes on each side (no need to grease the pan). After both sides have taken on a little color, turn the heat to low.

How long do you cook Spam on each side? ›

Lightly coat the bottom of a large skillet with oil and heat over medium. Fry the Spam slices until evenly browned and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

How do they eat Spam in Hawaii? ›

Spam musubi – A slice of Spam perched atop a block of rice and wrapped in seaweed – is perhaps the most popular Spam dish in Hawaii, and it's available almost everywhere. Statistics show that Hawaii 7-Eleven stores go through approximately 70,000 Spam musubis each week.

Is fried Spam any good? ›

But ... Spam is delicious. When seared, the fat crisps up, making the savory slice of meat a worthy swap-in for bacon—though with a little more body—and adding a salty note to a wide range of dishes.

Why is it not good to Spam? ›

Spam antagonizes potential customers.

Lots of people become nervous when they receive unwanted emails considered as spam. It's due to the fact that they get hundreds of emails every day which they have to look through and they don't want to waste their time and effort on useless information coming into their inbox.

Does low sodium Spam taste better? ›

Very good taste,a healthy one too. The flavor is excellent and you don't even realize the amount of sodium is less than standard SPAM. It is much healthier, too.

How long to boil Spam to remove salt? ›

Bring a pot of water to boil. Drop the pieces of Spam into the water, reduce the heat, and let it simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let the meat sit in the water for another 3-5 minutes.

Why is Spam considered inappropriate? ›

Spam is illegal.

Spam is unethical. Spammers don't only violate laws and people's privacy but they also steal their money. Most email users dial into Internet providers who charge on an hourly or even minute basis. Spammers take hold of valuable Internet resources by sending junk mail but sending it “postage due”.

Where is Spam considered a delicacy? ›

The pre-cooked tins of pork meat are the stuff of jokes, lunch boxes, wartime memories and, here in South Korea, a low-key, national love affair. Spam has become a staple of South Korean life, and the country is now the biggest consumer of it outside the US.

Do chefs like junk food? ›

All chefs -- from foie gras-plating sous chefs to brisket-smoking pitmasters -- sometimes crave quick, delicious hits of fat and salt you can easily find at our nation's fast food restaurants.

What culture eats the most spam? ›

The United States consumes the most Spam, followed by Korea. The average Hawaiian eats at least five cans of Spam a year. Average annual Spam consumption on the island of Guam is 16 cans a person. The product's mascot is Spammy the pig.

Why you should not spam like? ›

When you spam like someone's post or video, you're essentially taking away views and engagement from that content that that creator put time and effort into. The creator may also report you; if enough people report your account, you could be banned from using TikTok.

What does spam stand for? ›

It stands for 'spiced ham' and was a name suggested in a competition launched by the Geo. A. Hormel Company in 1937, to find a name for their new product, which they described as 'The Miracle Meat', and marketed as a health food. Richard Thompson, Allerod Denmark.

Why do Koreans like Spam so much? ›

The popularity of Spam in Korea is a leftover from the Korean War, when it came over with U.S. soldiers in the 1950s. By the end of the war, South Korea had plunged into crushing poverty. Meat was scarce, and for many, Spam smuggled from U.S. Army bases was the only source.

Do Hawaiians still eat Spam? ›

In Hawaii, there is perhaps only one food that is more engrained in the island culture than pineapple – and that food is Spam. This quintessential canned ham product manufactured in Minnesota was introduced to the islands during the 1940s, and has become a wildly popular staple food across the islands.

What is Spam called in Hawaii? ›

Spam musubi
Spam musubi made from Spam and rice
CourseSnack
Place of originUnited States
Region or stateHawaii
Serving temperatureHot or cold
2 more rows

What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite junk food? ›

Gordon Ramsay is famous for his no-holds-barred persona on shows like "Kitchen Nightmares." He has five kids, competes in Ironman competitions, and almost became a professional soccer player. His favorite fast-food order is a double cheeseburger "animal style" from In-N-Out.

Are most chefs overweight? ›

And that stereotype is often accurate — by some estimates, 70 percent of chefs in the U.S. are overweight. Weight gain seems to be par for the course when you're spending your day tasting food and your late nights unwinding after a stressful dinner service.

What's Gordon Ramsay's favorite food? ›

Ramsay previously said if he could choose his last meal on Earth, it would be beef Wellington. Ramsay is a huge fan of the British dish, and many regard his own recipe as his greatest of all. In most of Ramsay's restaurants, you can find it on the menu.

Which state eats the most Spam? ›

Residents of the state of Hawaii have the highest per capita consumption in the United States, bringing in sales of 7 million cans of SPAM per year. Its perception there is very different from on the mainland. Hawaiians sometimes call it "Portagee Steak".

Which is better for you Spam or bacon? ›

Bacon has 206% more calories than spam - bacon has 898 calories per 100 grams and spam has 293 calories. For macronutrient ratios, bacon is lighter in protein, lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to spam per calorie.

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