- 5 hours ago
Follow for more!
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam
00:02Parmel's numerical meat in a can
00:06Spam, an American icon, the famous canned ham
00:12Mom would buy Spam, I refuse to eat it
00:18Spam?
00:19Oh, they're big Spam-y, they
00:20Are you serious?
00:21Used for the manufacture of Spam
00:24The most popular luncheon meat in the country
00:26To eat something grand as for Spam
00:29Ever peeked into your kitchen and spotted a can of Spam?
00:34Yep, we've all seen it, that familiar blue tin sitting there waiting to be opened
00:37But have you ever wondered, what's the story behind this little can of meat?
00:41What's Spam stand for?
00:42Why has it been around for so long?
00:44How do they make it?
00:44This small can is more than just meat in a can
00:47It has secrets and stories that have made us curious for a long time
00:50Let's uncover the hidden story behind this mysterious meat
00:53In 1937, something remarkable came out of Hormel Foods Corporation's kitchen
01:03It was a canned pork product
01:04A bit unusual at first, created with a unique purpose
01:07You see, Hormel had a challenge
01:09They needed to boost sales of an unpopular cut of pork called pork shoulder
01:13This cut didn't quite make it to dinner tables
01:15Then something brilliant happened
01:16Ken Dano, the brother of a company executive
01:19Won a competition that year by giving this canned wonder a simple yet iconic name
01:24Spam
01:25The true meaning behind the name remained a well-kept secret
01:28Known only to a few Hormel insiders
01:30Some say it's a mix of spiced ham
01:32While others think it's an acronym for shoulder of pork and ham
01:35The mystery of its name added to its intrigue
01:37The story of Spam begins in the heartland of Minnesota
01:40Where the Hormel Foods Corporation brought this culinary marvel to life
01:44Initially, it was marketed as a solution for quick and affordable meals
01:47Targeting busy housewives
01:49Some were unsure about eating meat that didn't need refrigeration
01:52But destiny had other plans for this canned sensation
01:55As the country faced the challenges of the Great Depression
01:58Spam found its way into many households
02:00As an important and budget-friendly source of protein for dinners
02:03However, it was during the chaotic years of World War II
02:06That Spam truly became a household name
02:08In the 1940s, during this tumultuous period
02:11Both Allied troops and regular people consumed over 100 million pounds of Spam
02:15Bridging gaps and satisfying hunger
02:17People couldn't resist its appeal
02:19It was nutritious, filling, cost-effective
02:21And had an incredibly long shelf life
02:23Making it a valuable asset for the military
02:25As World War II unfolded across the world
02:28Spam embarked on a remarkable journey
02:30From Atu to Anzio
02:31Spam became a symbol of nourishment
02:33And even inspired a rich collection of stories, poems, jokes and limericks
02:37Among exhausted soldiers
02:38Imagine American soldiers during World War II
02:43Far from their homes
02:45Carrying not just their guns
02:46But also cans of Spam
02:47They traveled to far-off places like Guam, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam
02:53And wherever they went
02:54Spam found its way into local dishes
02:56But it wasn't just about taste
02:57It was about survival
02:59In a world gripped by food shortages and wartime rules
03:02Spam became a lifeline for many
03:04People in these distant lands
03:06Influenced by the arrival of American troops
03:08Welcomed Spam as a unique part of their food culture
03:10The Pacific Islands saw a mix of flavors and traditions
03:13All thanks to this simple can of meat
03:15The echoes of its wartime journey didn't fade
03:18They spread across the ocean to Europe
03:20Spam crossed borders
03:21And in the United Kingdom it underwent its own changes
03:24Sold as a wartime delicacy
03:25It left a lasting mark on British culinary history
03:28But Spam's global adventure didn't end with the war
03:31Fast forward to today
03:32And you'll find Spam firmly integrated into the customs of various countries
03:36Take Hawaii for example
03:37Where Spam musubi is a beloved snack
03:40A tasty combination of sushi, Spam, rice and seaweed
03:43The Philippines displays its creativity with Spam
03:46Making dishes like Spam adobo and Spam fried rice
03:49In Japan, onigiri
03:50Those delightful rice balls often include Spam as a key ingredient
03:54South Korea adds a spicy twist with budai jjigae
03:57A stew made richer by the addition of Spam
03:59China appreciates the sizzle of Spam when it's fried with rice or vegetables
04:03And in Vietnam, the banh mi sandwich
04:05Bursting with flavor and history
04:07Features none other than Spam
04:08Spam's journey from the battlefields of World War II
04:11To becoming a cherished culinary companion in diverse cultures worldwide
04:15Is a testament to its lasting appeal
04:17But how do they make this delectable mystery?
04:19And what are the secret ingredients that give Spam its unmistakable charm?
04:24Interestingly, this unique treat is made in different countries
04:29Like South Korea, the Philippines and Denmark
04:31Although it's jokingly called mystery meat
04:33Spam's ingredients are actually quite simple
04:35It's made from just six basic things
04:38Pork mixed with ham, salt, water, potato starch, real sugar and sodium nitrate
04:43But the real story begins here
04:44Instead of the Hormel company doing the pig butchering
04:47They now get meat from suppliers and bring it to the processing plant
04:50Pork shoulders go through a powerful press that squeezes the meat from the bone
04:54On the other hand, ham needs a gentle touch as skilled meat cutters carefully remove it from the bone
04:59Next, the meat is ground up and mixed
05:01Which is a crucial step in giving Spam its unique texture and taste
05:04At this point, they analyze each batch
05:06Which is usually around 8,000 pounds
05:08To make sure there's the right balance of pork to ham and white to red pieces
05:12The ground meat then goes through refrigerated mixers
05:15Where they add other important stuff like salt, sugar, water and sodium nitrite
05:19Why?
05:20To prevent too much liquid from coming out while cooking
05:22Which could make it gooey
05:23As this meat blend comes together
05:25Empty Spam cans get ready on a conveyor belt
05:28Waiting to be filled
05:29Each can quickly get filled as it passes under the can fillers
05:32So Spam gets snug in the cans
05:34With the cans filled and sealed, they're off to a massive six-story cooker
05:37In there, hot water surrounds the cans
05:40And they endure intense heat, sterilization, washing and cooling
05:43Once they leave this tall cooker, the cans are cool and ready for labels
05:47Machines carefully stick polypropylene film labels on each can
05:50Cutting them with precision
05:51Now comes the final step, boxing
05:53They neatly arrange 24 cans on flat pieces of cardboard
05:57Making sturdy boxes
05:58These boxes are wrapped and stamped with dates and identifying numbers before being neatly stacked and shelved
06:03But wait, there's more to the story
06:05The Spam cans need to sit around for 10 days before they can be shipped out
06:08During this time, one out of every thousand cans goes through thorough testing to make sure the meat is cooked perfectly
06:14The rest are then ready to find their way into homes and onto plates worldwide
06:17But here's the question that's been lingering
06:19Is Spam healthy or not?
06:24Listen, to be 100% honest
06:26I'm a big fan of Spam and I eat it a few times per month
06:28But is it healthy?
06:29I spent a few days doing deep research about this question
06:32Well, it might make your taste buds happy
06:34But it's not exactly a healthy option
06:35Imagine this
06:36A 12-ounce can of Spam
06:38Neatly divided into 6 servings
06:40Each of these portions is packed with 16 grams of fat
06:42And a whopping 6 grams of that fat is the unhealthy, saturated kind
06:46Plus, there's the issue of sodium
06:48It's delivering a substantial 33% of your daily intake all on its own
06:51Now, there have been efforts to make Spam a bit healthier
06:54Reduced sodium versions and those labeled as light
06:57May seem like a better choice
06:58But nutritionists still don't give them a thumbs up
07:00What's even more concerning is the suspicion surrounding processed meats like Spam
07:04And their potential link to cancer
07:06A study from the University of Hawaii found that people who consumed a lot of processed meats
07:11Faced a significant 67% increase in their risk of pancreatic cancer
07:15Interestingly, there were no such alarming associations with poultry or dairy
07:19So it appears there's more to this than just fat and cholesterol
07:22Some experts even suggest that the way processed meat is made could be producing cancer-causing compounds in our bodies
07:28And one of the culprits in the spotlight is sodium nitrate, which is found in Spam
07:31However, while the suspicion is there, concrete connections remain elusive
07:35So the FDA doesn't exactly label Spam as dangerous
07:38It's still considered safe to eat
07:40But here's the real deal
07:41Spam's legendary shelf life
07:42It's something that garners both admiration and skepticism
07:45As long as that seal remains unbroken, Hormel claims that Spam can last indefinitely
07:50They even recommend keeping it in your emergency kit
07:52Alongside other doomsday-ready staples like Dinti Moore stew and Hormel chili
07:57However, here's the twist
07:58After about three years, the taste might start to decline
08:00I can tell you that from experience
08:02And if you're thinking about indulging in a can that's been sitting around for a solid five years past its expiration date
08:07Well, let's just say the taste might be seriously questionable and eat it at your own risk
08:11But there's more to Spam than just its taste
08:14We grew up with Spam
08:16Nostalgia plays a significant role
08:17Evoking simpler times for older generations
08:20And making it a cool vintage icon for the younger crowd
08:23Share with us your experience with Spam in the comment section
08:26Like, subscribe, and hit the bell notification
08:28See you in the next Edible Tale
08:30Because Spam, one less of Spam
08:33Is an easy way
08:35To not make the same old thing
Comments