Caution Advisedīut that being said, you shouldn’t assume any old dusty can of Spam you find is safe to eat if you don’t know when it was purchased.Īny canned food, meat, fruit or vegetable is completely dependent on the structural Integrity of its can and the seal to ensure freshness and safety. That’s the sum of Spam’s shelf life: meat preservatives in conjunction with minimal human handling, and excellent food preparation and packaging at the factory means unopened Spam will reliably have a several-year shelf life. After that it’s off to get a label and adios! The cooking process renders the Spam ready to eat, of course, and further kills off any microorganisms that may be lingering. But we’re not done yet.Īfter the vacuum sealing process is finished the cans are cooked and then cooled in a process taking about three hours. The vacuum sealing process by itself destroys any microorganisms in the can, halts enzymes from reacting, and prevents bacterial growth from occurring. These cans are moved by conveyor belt, not human hands, to a machine where the lids are added through a vacuum sealing process. Once this mixture comes up to temperature it’s time to put it in cans.ġ2 ounces of the delicious Spam mixture is added to the familiar oval metal can. Spam starts its life as pork and ham, which are then pre-ground and mixed together.Īfter that they pile in the salt (itself a preservative), the sugar, and the rest of the ingredients then mix it all up for 20 minutes. The cooking and packaging process at the factory also has a big role.
The preservatives in Spam are not solely responsible for its long shelf life. What processes or ingredients yield such a long shelf life, and how dependable is that estimate? The Rest of the Shelf-Life Story But perhaps we should dig a little deeper.Įven three years is a long time for canned meat. So, hopefully now you can enjoy Spam with a little less guilt and concern that you’re eating some quasi-food. This is the ingredient that ensures Spam will maintain its texture, color and of course freshness. And even more good news, at least for the purposes of making sure we have fresh meat to eat in a SHTF situation, is that sodium nitrite is an effective and potent preservative. So the good news is Spam is not some crazy unknown mystery meat product. It turns out that, just like Twinkies (another member of the eternally fresh mythos), they won’t keep perpetually.ĭespite rumors of being made from at least 50% meat preservatives, Spam in actuality only has six ingredients, and none of them are super preservative. Per Hormel Foods website its ingredients are pork and ham, salt, sugar, water, potato starch and sodium nitrite. What?! I thought SPAM was supposed to last forever?! The manufacturer, Hormel Foods, recommends that you always consume your Spam by the sell-by date on the can. Temperature extremes may alter this time somewhat. Despite having a shorter sell-by date Spam, in a can that is undamaged and in good shape, should last anywhere between 3 and 5 years sitting on the shelf. Spam does not keep forever, but it will last for a very long time in your pantry. The latter is an important question at least: how long does Spam last? How long before it spoils on you, potentially making you sick? Spam’s iconic status has led to a fair share of urban legends regarding its composition and lifespan. Spam is a tasty, versatile and, most importantly for our purposes, shelf-stable source of protein and calories.
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