It might have an unfounded negative reputation, but plenty of people are still advocates for Spam. If you’re one of the many Spam fans, then do you know how to store it for the long term once it’s opened?
Can You Freeze Spam?
Yes, you can freeze Spam for up to 6 months. Remove the Spam from the can, then wrap it in the first layer of baking paper, followed by a layer of cling film, wrapped quite tightly to form a good seal. The wrapped Spam can then be frozen.
Do Does Spam freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Spam? No
How to Freeze Spam
Before you freeze Spam, there’s one important step you must take and that is to remove it from the tin. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t freeze Spam in the tin it came in. Once you’ve removed it, follow these steps:
- Portion Out: If you don’t think you’ll defrost and use an entire block of spam in one go then now is the time to portion it out. Try to cut it into even blocks so that it’s easier to wrap.
- Wrap Once: Wrap it in the first layer of baking or butcherās paper. The best way to do this is to be sure to allow a little bit of room between the Spam and the paper, as this gap will prevent frost from forming directly on the Spam itself.
- Wrap Again: The next step is to wrap the Spam in a slightly tighter layer of cling film. This layer should form a tight seal around the spam to keep it airtight.
- Freeze: Now all that’s left to do is to pop the wrapped Spam into the freezer. You could optionally pop it into a bag, especially if you have wrapped multiple portions.
3 Tips for Freezing Spam
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing Spam to have the best results:
Double Wrap
When youāre freezing any element of food thatās exceptionally high in protein, itās worth being sure to double-wrap it. This will prevent Spam from succumbing to freezer burn in a short amount of time.
Remove It From the Tin
When freezing Spam, make sure to avoid using the Spam tin. We recommend avoiding this as it can be a source of condensation in the freezer. This, in turn, could lead to a freezer burn.
Portion It Out
If youāre unsure if youād be able to use the Spam remaining in the tin in one go, it is a good idea to remove the Spam from the tin and portion it out. Spam cannot be refrozen, so ensuring that you only freeze portions you can use up is wise to avoid waste.
How Long Can You Freeze Spam?
You can freeze Spam for around six months – beyond that point, freezer burn may set in. Freezer burn isn’t harmful, but it can ruin the texture of the food it impacts. This is especially true with Spam which can become crumbly and dry.
When wrapped in a sheet or two of cling film, Spam can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. It must be kept airtight.
How Do You Defrost Spam?
The simplest way to defrost Spam is to transfer the Spam package to the fridge overnight while it thaws and then use it as though itās fresh.
As it’s a meat product, it’s a very bad idea to thaw it at room temperature. You can also ruin the texture by defrosting it in the microwave. This is why the fridge is the best option, even if it does take a bit of planning.
Can You Refreeze Spam?
Since Spam is a meat product, it cannot be refrozen. The risk of food poisoning is too high. Whenever freezing any meat products, it’s important to be cautious.
The negatives don’t end there either. Refreezing will ruin the texture of the Spam. It will become dry and brittle.
Does Spam Freeze Well?
Yes, Spam does freeze well.
Since itās quite heavily processed, the flavour is quite strong so that, combined with the texture being preserved with the double layer method, leads to a product that freezes well.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing Spam or Spam in general, then these may help:
Yes, spam musubi can be frozen. Spread them out on a lined baking tray and freeze them until solid for a few hours. Once solid, carefully place them into a freezer bag before returning them to the freezer.
No! This is a bad idea. It will take a long time to defrost and it can lead to condensation which results in freezer burn. There are no benefits to freezing it in the tin.