Tiffany Haney
Spam is a hugely popular canned spiced pork product that was first introduced to the market in 1937 and gained popularity during World War II. It is a versatile and inexpensive food that can be cooked in many ways, one of which is using an air fryer. Air-fried spam is a convenient, easy, and quick way to cook up to eight slices of spam to perfection without using excess oil. It is a great method to achieve a crispy exterior and soft interior, making it perfect for a variety of dishes.
Cooking Spam in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat temperature | 400° F (200° C) |
| Preheat time | 5 minutes |
| Spam slices | 6-12 slices, preferably 8 |
| Slice thickness | 1 cm (0.4 inches) |
| Cooking temperature | 370-400° F (200° C) |
| Cooking time | 10 minutes |
| Flip time | After 5-7 minutes |
| Sauce application | Last 2 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Musubi, sandwich, salad, with rice, with potatoes, with eggs |
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What You'll Learn
How to cut Spam for the air fryer
There are a few different ways to cut Spam for the air fryer, depending on your desired outcome.
Firstly, decide how many slices you want. Most recipes suggest cutting the Spam into 8 equal slices, but some people prefer to cut it into 6 slices, or even 12. If you want to make Spam fries, cut each slice into 4 thick matchsticks.
Next, lay the Spam on its side and cut it in half lengthwise. Then cut each half in half again, and maybe once more, until you have your desired number of slices.
If you are making Spam fries, you will need to cut the slices into matchsticks. To do this, take each slice and cut it into 4 thick matchsticks.
Once you have cut your Spam, you can place the slices or fries into the air fryer basket and cook according to your chosen recipe.
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Air fryer temperature and timing
To cook SPAM in an air fryer, you should set the temperature to between 370°F and 400°F. The cooking time is around 10 minutes, but this can be increased for crispier results.
Some sources suggest preheating the air fryer for around five minutes before adding the SPAM. However, others recommend placing the SPAM in the air fryer and allowing it to heat up with the meat inside, which takes around 2-3 minutes.
Halfway through the cooking time, after about five minutes, the SPAM should be flipped. If you are adding sauce, this should be brushed onto both sides of the SPAM with around two minutes of cooking time remaining.
If you are cooking SPAM fries, the cooking time is shorter, at 10-15 minutes in total.
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How to get crispy Spam
Air-frying is a great way to cook crispy Spam without using lots of oil. It's also very easy to do. You can cook up to eight slices at once, and it only takes about 10 minutes.
First, cut your Spam into slices. The number of slices you cut it into is up to you, but most people recommend about eight slices. This will give you a good thickness so that the Spam doesn't overcook and get too hard. Plus, eight slices will fit perfectly in most air fryers.
Next, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This will take about five minutes. While you're waiting, you can make a sauce by mixing together brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and mirin. You can also make a spicy dipping sauce by whisking together mayonnaise, Sriracha, and ketchup.
Once the air fryer is preheated, place the Spam slices in a single layer in the basket and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you want your Spam extra crispy, you can cook it for a few minutes longer.
When the Spam is finished cooking, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool slightly. Then, serve it however you like. Some popular options include making a sandwich, serving it with rice and nori to create Spam Musubi, or chopping it up and adding it to a salad.
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Serving suggestions
Air fryer SPAM is a versatile dish that can be served in many different ways. Here are some serving suggestions to get you started:
Hawaiian-Style
SPAM is extremely popular in Hawaii, so it's no surprise that one of the most common ways to serve air fryer SPAM is in the Hawaiian style. To do this, prepare some rice and nori to create SPAM musubi, a type of Hawaiian snack or light meal. You can also add furikake, avocado, cucumber, green onion, or a fried egg to the side.
Sandwiches
The salty, savoury flavour of SPAM makes it an excellent filling for sandwiches. Try a classic grilled cheese with SPAM and cheddar cheese, or a breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs. You can also make SPAM into a katsu sando by breading the SPAM with panko breadcrumbs and serving it between two slices of white bread.
Salads
SPAM is a tasty addition to a variety of salads. It can be a great replacement for bacon in a potato salad, or it can be chopped up and added to a simple green salad for some extra flavour and texture.
Sides
Air fryer SPAM goes well with a variety of side dishes. Try serving it with homemade fries, pan-fried potatoes, or hash browns. You can also add some fried mushrooms, baby spinach, or a fried egg on the side.
Dipping Sauces
If you're serving SPAM as a snack or appetiser, consider providing some dipping sauces on the side. Spicy Sriracha mayo can be made by whisking together mayonnaise, Sriracha, and ketchup. Alternatively, a simple side of ketchup or your favourite BBQ sauce can also work well.
With its salty, savoury flavour and crispy texture, air fryer SPAM is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. These suggestions are just a starting point, so feel free to get creative and experiment with your own favourite flavours and combinations!
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How to make Spam Musubi
Air Fryer Spam Musubi is a combination of Japanese and American cultures, featuring its signature slice of Spam atop a traditional Japanese onigiri. It is a Hawaiian snack that is both sweet and savoury. Here is a recipe for you to try:
Ingredients:
- Spam
- Brown sugar
- Shoyu (or soy sauce)
- Sesame oil
- Mirin
- Short-grain rice
- Furikake
- Nori seaweed sheets
Method:
- Slice the Spam into 8 equal pieces.
- Make a marinade by mixing brown sugar and shoyu in a shallow pan.
- Place the Spam slices in the marinade and leave for 10-15 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 370-400°F.
- Place the Spam in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- When there are 2 minutes of cooking time left, brush the sauce onto both sides of the Spam. The sauce is made by mixing brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and mirin.
- Remove the Spam from the air fryer and allow it to cool slightly.
- Make the musubi by adding 4 tablespoons of short-grain rice into a musubi mold or a cleaned Spam can.
- Top the rice with furikake and then the cooked Spam.
- Cut nori seaweed sheets into 4 pieces and wrap them around the rice and Spam.
- Serve and enjoy!
You can get creative with your serving suggestions. Spam Musubi can be served with rice and nori to create katsu musubi, or with white rice and a fried egg. You can also chop up the Spam for a salad or pair it with pan-fried potatoes.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 10 minutes to cook SPAM in an air fryer.
The air fryer should be set to 400° F or 200° C.
To make SPAM crispy, you can spray it with a bit of oil before cooking. However, SPAM usually has enough fat that extra oil is not necessary.
You can cook up to 8 slices of SPAM at once.
SPAM cooked in an air fryer can be served in many ways. Some suggestions include serving it with rice and nori to create katsu musubi, with white rice and a fried egg, or in a sandwich.
