Air-Fried Spam: A Quick, Easy, And Healthy Treat?

Spam is a beloved food product, especially among Hawaiians and Asians, and it can be cooked in an air fryer. It is easy to cook, versatile, and can be made into a sandwich, wrapped with rice in seaweed, or eaten handheld. Cooking spam in an air fryer is much faster and easier as you can cook several slices at once without the need for oil. It turns out super crispy and delicious, with a nice balance between crispy edges and a tender centre.

How to make Spam in an air fryer

Ingredients

• 1 can of Spam (12 oz)
• Brown sugar
• Shoyu (Japanese-style soy sauce)

Method

• Prep the Spam: Slice the Spam into 8 equal pieces and set aside.
• Make the marinade: Add the brown sugar and shoyu to a shallow pan and mix. Place the Spam slices in the marinade and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F.
• Air fry the Spam: Place the Spam in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. For crispier Spam, increase the cooking time slightly.
• Serve: Remove the Spam from the air fryer and let it cool slightly before serving.

Tips:

• Get creative with serving! Spam is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways. Try it with rice and nori to create Spam musubi, or with white rice and a fried egg. You can also chop it up for a salad or pair it with pan-fried potatoes.
• Add spices or seasonings to suit your taste. If you're using dry herbs, add a touch of oil so they stick to the surface of the Spam.
• Don't forget to flip the Spam halfway through cooking for crispy and evenly cooked results.

Tips for making the best air fryer Spam

Air-fried Spam is a quick and easy way to cook up a tasty treat. Here are some tips to help you make the best air-fried Spam:

Preheat Your Air Fryer

Don't forget to preheat your air fryer before adding the Spam slices. This ensures that each piece of Spam cooks evenly and gets that perfect, crispy texture. It only takes a few minutes for the air fryer to preheat, and it makes a big difference in the final result.

Cut Even Slices

Cut your Spam into 8 equal slices. This ensures that all the slices cook at the same rate and helps them fit nicely in the air fryer basket. The best way to get even slices is to cut the Spam block in half, then cut each piece in half again, and maybe even once more, depending on how thick you want your slices.

Single Layer

Arrange the Spam slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This allows the hot air to circulate properly and cook the Spam evenly. If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the Spam in batches to ensure they're not overcrowded in the basket.

Flip Halfway Through

Be sure to flip the Spam slices halfway through the cooking time. This helps them brown up on all sides and ensures that you get that perfect crispiness on both sides. No one likes soggy Spam!

Get Creative with Seasonings

While Spam is delicious on its own, you can experiment with different seasonings to add some extra flavour. Try sprinkling garlic powder or paprika over the slices before cooking, or brush on a mixture of honey and sriracha for a sweet and spicy kick. You can also coat the Spam with teriyaki sauce during the last few minutes of cooking for an Asian-inspired twist.

Serve Hot and Crispy

For the best texture and flavour, serve your air-fried Spam while it's still hot and crispy. It's a versatile dish that can be served on its own, in a sandwich, with rice, or even as a topping for salads or potatoes.

Serving suggestions for air fryer Spam

Air fryer Spam is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways. Here are some serving suggestions to get you started:

Sandwiches and Rolls

Air fryer Spam is perfect for sandwiches, whether served between slices of bread or wrapped in seaweed sheets. For a simple sandwich, pair it with scrambled eggs or serve it with a fried egg and avocado. You could also add sliced carrots, chopped cucumber, pickled radish, sautéed spinach, and rice for a more substantial meal.

Rice Bowls

Create a rice bowl by serving air fryer Spam with white rice and a fried egg. You can also add vegetables such as cucumber, avocado, green onion, nori, and furikake.

Salads

Chop up your air fryer Spam and toss it into a salad. Pair it with pan-fried potatoes for a heartier meal.

Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi is a popular Hawaiian snack. To make it, start by adding short-grain rice to a cleaned spam can or a musubi mold. Top with furikake and then add the spam. Cut nori seaweed sheets into pieces and fold them around the rice and spam.

Breakfast

For a delicious breakfast, serve air fryer Spam with scrambled eggs and sweet cream pancakes.

Sides

Air fryer Spam goes well with a variety of sides, including cream jalapeno corn, macaroni corn casserole, or mashed potatoes.

Fries

Cut your Spam into thin strips to make fries. You can even bread them to create chicken-fried pork fries. Serve with a spicy dipping sauce on the side.

With its crispy texture and salty flavour, air fryer Spam is a versatile dish that can be adapted to suit your taste buds and dietary preferences.

Variations for air fryer Spam

There are many ways to enjoy air fryer Spam, a Hawaiian favourite. Here are some mouth-watering ideas to get you started:

Savoury Delights

For a savoury kick, sprinkle some garlic powder or paprika over the Spam slices before cooking. Or, for an Asian-inspired twist, coat the slices with teriyaki sauce during the last few minutes of cooking.

Sweet and Spicy

For a sweet and spicy flavour, brush the slices with a honey and sriracha mix before the final minutes of cooking.

Cheesy Treats

Take your Spam to the next level by adding a slice of cheese during the last minute of cooking for a melty, cheesy delight.

Creative Combinations

Get creative and combine your air-fried Spam with other dishes. For example, use it to make a sandwich or burger, or serve it with rice and nori to create katsu musubi. You can also chop it up for a salad, or pair it with pan-fried potatoes. The possibilities are endless!

How long to cook Spam in an air fryer

Cooking Spam in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare this Hawaiian classic. It's also a versatile dish that can be served in many different ways.

To cook Spam in an air fryer, first, cut the Spam into 8 equal slices. You can do this by cutting the Spam block in half, then cutting each half in half again, and then cutting each of those pieces in half again.

Next, preheat your air fryer to between 370-400°F. Place the Spam slices in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out and not overlapping.

Cook the Spam for around 10 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through. For crispier Spam, you can increase the cooking time slightly, cooking for up to 12 minutes.

Once the Spam is cooked to your desired level of crispiness, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool slightly before serving.

You can serve your air-fried Spam as it is, or get creative with your serving. Spam is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas:

• With rice and nori to create Katsu Musubi.
• With white rice and a fried egg.
• Chopped up in a salad.
• With pan-fried potatoes.
• In a sandwich.
• As a filling for sushi.
• With homemade fries and fried eggs.
• In a classic grilled cheese sandwich with cheddar cheese and butter.
• As part of a full breakfast with fried mushrooms, eggs, hash browns, and baby spinach.
• Mixed through scrambled eggs.
• Added to a range of different salads, such as potato salad or a simple green salad.

Frequently asked questions