How To Get Spam Out Of The Can
Quick Answer
To get Spam out of the can easily, follow these steps:
- Squeeze the sides of the can while it’s upside down over a plate.
- Puncture a small hole in the bottom of the can to release suction.
- Hold the can under warm running water to melt the fat and help it slide out.
Read on for more detail
Spam is a classic American comfort food that is easy to store and use. The only thing that might be difficult about Spam is getting it out of the can in a single piece!
How do you get Spam out of the can? There are a few tips to help you get Spam out of the can in a single piece: press on both sides of the Spam can at the same time, puncture a hole at the bottom to release suction, or hold the can under running warm water to get Spam out of the can. Make sure to have a plate ready!
Continue reading to learn more about Spam, including what it’s made of and how it’s used. You will also get detailed instructions for getting Spam out of the can using different methods!
What Is Spam?
Spam is a brand of canned meat. It was established in the United States in the 1940s and was widely popular during and after World War II.
Canned Spam products are made primarily from ground pork and ham — you can also get Spam made of turkey.
Initially, Spam was produced to help sell pork shoulder as this cut of pork wasn’t very popular among people.
Additionally, it was challenging to deliver and cook fresh meat during the years of war — this new invention was exactly what the manufacturers and consumers needed at the time.
Spam is now sold in the Americas, Australia, and even some countries in Europe and Asia. Some countries even have their signature way of cooking Spam!
Spam is cooked in a variety of ways. It can be pan-fried, deep-fried, baked, and even boiled. Spam pairs well with many different foods and can be used to make a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
What Is It Spam Made Of?
As noted above, there are different varieties of Spam — the ingredient lists differ depending on the variety.
Classic Spam contains only 6 ingredients: pork with ham, modified potato starch, water, salt, sugar, and sodium nitrite.
Spam Lite contains less sodium and fat than Classic Spam, while Turkey Spam contains turkey meat instead of pork.
Other Spam varieties include Spam Bacon, Spam Jalapeno, Spam Teriyaki, Spam Portuguese Sausage, and a few other varieties.
Is Spam Good For You?
Spam in cans is very shelf-stable. While Spam does come with an expiration date, it will last for many years if stored in proper conditions.
Spam is also a convenient option when you need to make a quick meal. It is quite satiating thanks to its high fat content.
So, Spam has a long shelf life and is easy and quick to prepare. But is Spam good for you?
While Spam does provide some nutrients, including protein, minerals, and vitamins, it is not the healthiest thing you can eat.
The meat in Spam is highly processed and contains a high amount of sodium. Being not so nutritious, Spam is also very high in fat and calories.
How To Get Spam Out Of The Can
Spam fried in slices are great served as a side dish or used in sandwiches. But to be able to cut Spam into uniform slices, you first need to get it out of the can in a single whole piece.
While Spam can come out of the can quite easily without any additional effort, more often than not it seems to get stuck in the can and won’t come out.
When this happens, you probably start struggling and digging in it with a fork or a knife trying to get it out. Or, you may start to pound the bottom of the can with no success.
But the reality is that you don’t have to suffer with getting Spam out of the can in a single piece — there are a few tricks to help you do it with ease.
Here are some tips to use when trying to get Spam out of a can.
1. Squeeze The Can On Both Sides
When you open a can of Spam, it seems like it is pressed in the can too tightly and there is no way squeezing the can on both sides could help. But it does work so long as you do everything correctly!
Open the can of Spam. Turn it upside down over a plate or a cutting board. Squeeze the can by pressing on the smaller sides.
Despite the firm appearance of the can, its walls are actually very thin. When you press on the smaller sides of the can, the longer sides will loosen and release the pressure keeping the Spam in place.
When this happens, you only have to pound on the bottom of the can a couple of times and the Spam will come out, whole and undamaged.
2. Pierce A Hole At The Bottom Of The Can
If the first method doesn’t work for you, try piercing a hole at the bottom of the pan. You can use any sharp tool to do this.
A single small hole punctured at the bottom of the can will help remove the pressure.
After you puncture the hole, open the can as you normally do. Turn it over a plate and it will fall right out.
3. Use Warm Water To Get Spam Out
If you can’t apply any physical power to the Spam can get it out, the easiest thing to do is to use warm water on it.
Hold the unopened Spam can under running warm water, or put it in a metal bowl and pour hot or warm water over it. Do this for only a couple of minutes.
As you know, there is a lot of fat in Spam. The warmth of the water will melt the fat near the walls of the can and help the entire piece of Spam come out easily and without any effort!
How Long Does Spam Last After Opening?
Properly stored Spam will last 3-5 days in the fridge — it might even remain fresh for up to a week!
If you want leftover Spam to last longer, try freezing it.
However, we do recommend you check the Spam for signs of spoilage before you use it, whether you kept it in the fridge or froze it.
Spam that has gone bad has an off-putting smell and a slimy texture. It may also undergo color changes.
How To Store Leftover Spam
You get Spam out of the can and use only a part of it. What should you do with the leftover Spam? It is not the best idea to store leftover Spam in its original can as it won’t seal back tightly.
Refrigerate leftover Spam in an airtight glass or plastic container. Again, it should last 3-5 days, maybe even a week if stored properly.
If you won’t be using your leftover Spam soon, freeze it.
How To Freeze Leftover Spam
You can freeze leftover Spam to extend its shelf life — Spam lasts up to 6 months in the freezer. Both cooked and uncooked Spam can be frozen.
The best way to freeze Spam is to slice it, flash-freeze the slices on a baking sheet, and transfer them into a freezer-safe and airtight container or freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Sliced Spam is much easier to thaw and use.
If you are freezing larger pieces of Spam, wrap them in plastic wrap first as an extra layer of protection and only then put them in a container or bag.
Can You Eat Spam Right Out Of The Can?
Spam is pre-cooked, so it requires little to no cooking. If you like the flavor and texture of Spam as-is and don’t mind eating it cold, you can eat it right out of the can using a spoon!
Best Ways To Eat Spam
Once you have got Spam out of the can, it is now time to decide how to eat it.
Spam is very versatile and there is a lot you can do with it.
Here are some of the many ways you can eat Spam:
- Make a Spam sandwich. Pair it with all your favorite sandwich ingredients — cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, tomatoes, pickles, etc.
- Serve it for breakfast. Make Spam a part of your breakfast. Serve it with eggs prepared in your favorite way or use it in a breakfast hash. You can also make a breakfast salad with Spam using hard-boiled eggs, leafy greens, and avocado.
- Make Spam musubi. Musubi is a popular Japanese-style snack made with Spam. It features a slice of grilled Spam placed on top of a block of rice and wrapped in sheets of nori.
- Roll a burrito. An unusual (but delicious) way to use Spam is to make a burrito. Cut Spam into cubes and pan-fry it until lightly browned. Roll a burrito using your favorite burrito fillings.
- Use it on pizza. Spam makes a great pizza topping. You can use it instead of ham and the pizza will turn out just as delicious!
- Make meatballs. Mash Spam using a fork or grind it in a food processor. Form meatballs and cook them in marinara sauce for even more flavor. Serve Spam meatballs with pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
- Use it for baked potatoes. Spam pairs exceptionally well with potatoes! Next time you make baked potatoes, use Spam as a topping along with other toppings of your choice.
