what do to with not-quite-Spam?
By Kelli M
@spiderdust (14741)
San Jose, California
March 7, 2021 3:46pm CST
I have 10 cans of this stuff, purchased for $1 each at Dollar Tree before I realized that it wasn't quite the same as Spam. It has a softer, mushier texture and it's hard to convince my family to eat it.
The last time I used some, I made some fried rice using a can of this and a can of actual Spam. I had hoped the mixture of the two might disguise the softness of the cheaper meat. They still noticed it.
I suppose I could donate it, but I'd rather find a way to use it.
Maybe I could grind it up in the food processor and mix it with mayo, mustard, and pickle relish to make a sandwich filling.
How about you? Any creative ideas for this not-quite-Spam?
17 people like this
18 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
7 Mar 21
My ideas are basically to hide it in stuff. I think your idea of making it into some sort of sandwich filling is good. Is there anyway to firm this up, I wonder?
6 people like this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
7 Mar 21
MAYBE if I dice it up really tiny and fry it, it might crisp up enough to be less soft.
I have been informed that no one will eat that sandwich spread but me.
5 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
7 Mar 21
@spiderdust I've just been trying to figure out something you could mix with it that would be tasteless but make it firm.
I hate that it isn't firm, but I also understand not wanting to waste it. I am sort of picturing it as the consistency of potted meat, is that about right?
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
7 Mar 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Not quite that soft, but in between that and the regular Spam texture. It can still be cut into sliced and cubes.
Another adult in the household suggested disguising it in a quiche. We're going to grate it in the food processor, fry it, and then use it in place of ham or bacon. Crossing fingers!
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48886)
• United States
7 Mar 21
Boiled eggs may be good ground with it and pickle or relish, Mayo, mustard and a touch of onion ?
4 people like this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
This may be what I end up doing... like ham salad, but made with the canned luncheon loaf. My dad used to get something similar from the grocery store deli when I was a child, and he told me they made it with bologna ends.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
8 Mar 21
@spiderdust do you know of any dishes they can eat with that
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
@rakski I'm going to make a quiche for dinner tonight and will dice up the not-Spam fairly tiny and fry it for part of the filling.
Otherwise it's more fried rice and some sandwich spread (like a few others have suggested).
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
I'm hoping I can use a little more of it.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40396)
• United States
8 Mar 21
I like real Spam, but I don't think I could eat this.
3 people like this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
Yeah, this wasn't a bargain for me. It may have been only $1 a can instead of $2.49 a can for the real thing, but it's not a money saver if no one eats it.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48395)
• Mojave, California
7 Mar 21
I am a weirdo but that sounds so good and you make interesting things from your posts, I bet was delicious. Now I know where you get it from. 
4 people like this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
7 Mar 21
I may be stuck with a similar idea.
3 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
7 Mar 21
It's Luncheon Meat.
It was a staple here back in the 60,scand 70,s
Send it all to me lol
I love that stuff.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
I grew up eating a different brand of it, Treet. I haven't seen that one in years. I remember liking it a little bit more than I did Spam, but I think it's just what I was used to.
1 person likes this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
8 Mar 21
@spiderdust
Aye
It's a real.throwback to the 60,s and 70,s
That's why I love it. Brings back some ok memories
1 person likes this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
8 Mar 21
@spiderdust
Got it out of the tin and ate it just as it was.
It was like a quick go to, no cooking, no washing up, never even used a plate, just a fork lol
@GardenGerty (157463)
• United States
7 Mar 21
I was going to suggest the sandwich filling idea. It takes a bit to get used to a weird texture.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
Maybe I'll have knock-off Spam salad sandwiches all week. 
@marguicha (215148)
• Chile
7 Mar 21
I don´t know what that is. We don´t have it in my country. If it is something that you can use to make a meatloaf, I´d add meat, fried diced onion with a bit of crushed garlic and maybe some dice tomato.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
It is made up of meat that has been cooked and formed into a block and canned. It's shelf stable until it is opened, and is usually sliced up and used like ham or bologna.
This explains a little bit about the most well-known version of it, Spam. What I have is a knock-off cheaper version.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food)
@crossbones27 (48395)
• Mojave, California
7 Mar 21
I love spam do not care what anyone says great poor people food buts its even expensive now but cannot beat 1 dollar a can light I never had but if its a buck me be buying.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48395)
• Mojave, California
8 Mar 21
@spiderdust Blue can and i usually steal my sisters, when she goes nuts, but have not had spam in probably..... since pandemic started. I was like to much, she was like to much. I take that back we bought like one can remember making breakfast with it but was like a one time deal.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
@crossbones27 I actually bought this stuff when the pandemic started... which is why I'm trying to use it up now.
I just saw some name brand Spam at Costco this week. It's coming back!
I just saw some name brand Spam at Costco this week. It's coming back!1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
It's just not the texture I expected it to be, and is very different from the name brand stuff. Still, cheap protein!
How do you usually use it?
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111066)
• El Paso, Texas
9 Mar 21
I've never eaten spam so I haven't a clue about it @spiderdust
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
I wondered about that, like browned cubes of it in some split pea soup.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
Thank you! Like you, I don't like to waste food if I can avoid it.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
8 Mar 21
Refrigerate it, should firm it up and give you more options.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
8 Mar 21
You could try slicing it up and battering it then frying it or instead of batter use breadcrumbs.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74408)
• East Tawas, Michigan
7 Mar 21
I use to slice it, then fry it to a golden brown on both sides. We served it with eggs and toast.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74408)
• East Tawas, Michigan
8 Mar 21
@stephcjh When it's browned in a pan, Spam is wonderful with eggs.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
8 Mar 21
@kobesbuddy This doesn't have quite the same texture as Spam, unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Mar 21
I'm not really sure as my family doesn't eat spam but the idea you had with mixing it wit the other stuff to make sandwiches, seems to be a good idea to me.
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
13 Mar 21
@spiderdust Oh, gross! Add onions and chopped eggs to your recipe. It may help, but don’t add salt!
Oh, gross! Add onions and chopped eggs to your recipe. It may help, but don’t add salt!@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
13 Mar 21
It's far too salty to feed to my dog!
1 person likes this
