A scientist has revealed why SPAM has such a long shelf life and how it is made.
Dr. Soft matter and food microstructure specialist Chris Clarke revealed that the secret to the dishes’ longevity is that it’s cooked in the can – with a special chemical that’s then added to keep it fresher for longer.
In The 1970s Supermarket on Channel 5, he explains: ‘The first secret to Spam’s longevity is the fact that the pork shoulder is cooked in the can.
“They take the meat, it goes in the can, and then they cook it in the can, which doesn’t kill bacteria.”
But it’s not just canning the meat that keeps it good for up to five years.
Chris Clarke, specialist in soft matter and food microstructure, revealed that the secret to the dishes’ longevity is that it is cooked in shape – with a special chemical that is then added to keep it fresher for longer
“It also has sodium nitrate in it, so it won’t go off,” Chris explained.
To demonstrate, he covered a piece of pork shoulder – which is used in SPAM.
He then covered it with the salt which turned the meat pink.
‘This starts a chemical reaction with the meat.
“It makes it less friendly, hopefully making it last longer,” he added.
The canned meat paste that became a household staple and sandwich favorite from World War II is still available in all good supermarkets in the UK.
It comes after a recent Twitter thread revealed that many people don’t know what SPAM means.
The canned meat paste that became a household staple and sandwich favorite from World War II can still be found in all good supermarkets in the UK.
And over the years, there have been many theories about the true meaning of the name SPAM – but the official name for the product is believed to be “spiced ham,” which is summed up in its four letters.
The name was first coined by Ken Digneau, the brother of an executive at the company that first produced the meat product.
After entering and winning a competition to name the product on New Year’s Eve, he was offered $100 in prize money (£97) for the name.
Although SPAM became a fixture on the British dining table in the 1960s, it was first produced in the US in 1937.
It is made by food production company Hormel, based in the state of Minnesota.
According to the Hormel website, the mysterious meat product, which comes out of the can in a perfect rectangular shape, isn’t actually as mysterious as it seems.
Hormel even claims that SPAM consists of only six ingredients.
These are: Pork containing ham meat (Hormel considers this one ingredient), salt, water, potato starch, sugar and sodium nitrite.
The food company also explains how SPAM is made – by mixing all the ingredients together for 20 minutes.
Once the mixture has reached the correct temperature, it is placed in the cans and vacuum packed. The product is then cooked in the cans before being cooled.
When SPAM was first produced, it was designed to serve the needs of poor American families in a country that was rebuilding itself towards the end of the Great Depression.
When the Second World War started, two years later, the product continued to be put to good use because it could be stored for a long time and would have a shelf life.