The Best Spam Flavor, According to Our Taste Test

Either you already love Spam, or you really ought to love Spam. A lot of Americans turn their nose up at this canned meat, but they’re missing out. Spam is delicious, easy to prepare, and great for weeknight dinners of fried rice, tacos, or sandwiches. 

Beyond Spam Classic, Hormel Foods produces 12 additional creative Spam flavors. But which ones are actually worth buying? We decided to find the answer, tasting all 13 Spam flavors side by side to determine the best and the worst. 

What is Spam?

Produced by Hormel Foods, Spam is a highly processed, canned luncheon meat, typically made from a combination of pre-ground pork shoulder and ham. Plain versions are firm and chewy in texture, with a salty, cured pork flavor similar to bologna. A can of Spam can last up to five years. Once it’s opened, it’s typically sliced lengthwise and sautéed until crispy. 

Although it is manufactured in Minnesota and Iowa, Spam made its way across the globe during World War II by way of American soldiers. When the infantry left, the cans of Spam remained, becoming a popular source of affordable meat, especially in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Spam is now a staple in all four of those cuisines, commonly served in stews, musubi, onigiri, fried rice, and alongside scrambled eggs.

How we tested

For this taste test, we purchased all 13 of Spam’s signature flavors. We did not include any seasonal or stunt flavors, like Pumpkin Spice or Figgy Pudding. 

Every flavor of Spam was cut into 1-inch thick slices and pan-fried with a teaspoon of vegetable oil over medium heat until browned on both sides. Unlike most of our other taste tests, the six participating Food & Wine editors were aware of the product they were tasting in order to properly evaluate the affectiveness of the flavor (i.e. does Spam Maple Flavored actually taste like maple syrup?). The editors scored each Spam on flavor, noting the quality of taste and execution of the branded flavor, and texture, considering firmness vs. softness, sponginess vs. moistness, and how well the Spam was able to fry. They also gave each Spam an overall score, which reflected how likely they’d purchase and prepare the product again.

The scores were added and averaged, then ranked from lowest to highest. While it’s worth trying these Spam flavors for yourself and forming your own opinions, we feel confident that this list reflects the Spam flavors that should be added to your lunchtime rotation … and the ones that could be left in your Spam folder for eternity.

13. Spam with Tocino Seasoning

With the prominent role that Spam plays in Filipino cuisine — often eaten for breakfast and in garlic fried rice — we were excited to see how Hormel would approach a flavor inspired by tocino, a sweet cured pork served in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the tocino-flavored Spam was overwhelmingly sweet, or, as senior news editor Karla Alindahao put it, “Like a wet napkin soaked in a too-sugary sauce.” 

“As a Filipino, no thank you,” she added. “It was mildly tocino-ish, but in the worst way. It’s like the version that you’d find in some sad Filipino breakfast buffet.” It didn’t help that the consistency was wet and mushy. For a quick tocino fix, you’re better off skipping this Spam and buying it frozen.

12. Spam Maple Flavored

Look, we understand the vision here. We have no problem with the savory-sweet mashup of breakfast sausage and maple syrup. But the problem is, this Spam’s maple flavoring tastes artificial and, like the tocino flavor, sickeningly sweet. The experience of eating Spam Maple Flavored is reminiscent of biting into a soggy, Eggo waffle, smothered with faux maple syrup. 

While the flavor combination here inherently works, we’d prefer to drizzle real maple syrup over plain Spam.

11. Spam Hickory Smoke Flavored

The problem with this Spam isn’t so much the flavor, but the lack of flavor. We expected to taste barbecue and campfire. But instead, the “hickory smoke flavoring” was indecipherable. The texture is even worse, akin to a soft-boiled hot dog. “Spam is about mush, but this is a particular mush,” said executive features editor, Kat Kinsman. “It’s waterlogged and unpleasant.”  

10: Spam 25% Less Sodium

For a Spam branded as having 25% less sodium, this flavor sure does taste salty. “Perhaps it’s because I was attuned to sodium due to the name of the product, but it felt almost violently salty,” said Kinsman. “Saltier than regular Spam.” Our editors also noted that it also had an offputting aftertaste, reminiscent of cardboard. Similar to the Hickory Smoke flavor, this Spam is too soft — even when fried with oil it remains limp and flabby. 

9. Spam Teriyaki

Out of all the Spam flavors we tasted, this flavor was the most divisive. Alindahao called it “the worst of the bunch, hands down,” noting that the teriyaki flavoring tastes “chemical.” But senior editor Audrey Morgan loved it. “It’s very reminiscent of more sugar-forward, American-style teriyaki,” she said. “I would eat it with rice without any sauce.” Kinsman agreed. “Meat and sweet aren’t generally to my taste but this had enough savoriness to it that I feel like it’s a good counterbalance.” If you’re a big teriyaki fan, we’d recommend giving this flavor a shot, but for a safer bet, simply glaze unflavored Spam in a homemade teriyaki sauce.

8. Spam Gochujang Flavored

Although this Spam is made with gochujang — the spicy, umami-packed Korean red chile paste — our editors felt like it had a more tangy, fermented flavor, more similar to kimchi. “If you asked me what the flavor of this was, I’d genuinely have no idea,” said Kinsman. “It doesn’t taste like gochujang, but it’s got a lovely sip to it and I don’t mind that at all.” All things considered, this flavor was a bit one-note, but we’d be perfectly happy dicing it up and tossing it into a Korean-style kimchi fried rice.

7. Spam with Real Hormel Bacon

There’s nothing exactly wrong with the flavor combination of Spam and Hormel bacon, but our editors were left a bit confused. Alindahao wondered, “If you have access to bacon, why would you settle for Spam bacon?”  And Morgan agreed. “Why does this product exist? Just eat bacon.”

The most logical solution is that this Spam is for people who yearn for the texture of a sausage patty with the flavor of bacon. If that’s your thing, congrats! This is the Spam for you.

6. Spam Oven Roasted Turkey

Spam Oven Roasted Turkey, made with 100% white, lean turkey meat and turkey broth, has a lot going on. The texture is firm, chewy, and juicy — exactly what we want from Spam. But the flavor really takes you on a journey (for better or worse). Morgan said that it reminded her of a BLT or a turkey club. “How did the Hormel gods pack the flavors of an entire sandwich into a slice of Spam?”

But while Hormel certainly achieved their goal of creating a Spam that tastes like a savory turkey breast, whether or not that flavor works is up for debate. “I like turkey and I like Spam. However, this is trying to be two things at once and not achieving the individual greatness of either,” said editorial director Dylan Garret. “It’s fine, but I’d rather just have a turkey and Spam sandwich.”

5. Spam Korean BBQ

If you can get past that soft, mealy texture, we recommend this Korean barbecue-inspired Spam, infused with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, paprika, sesame, and gochujang. “Gorgeous balance of sweet and spice, and joyfully not gloppy like barbecue sauce is often interpreted as,” said Kinsman. “It’s sharp and salty and I’m a fan.”

Since the Spam is so flavor-packed, we suggest keeping it simple — serve it over warm white rice with some pickled daikon to balance out the sweetness. 

4. Spam Jalapeño

Spam Jalapeño is the only flavor with textural variability — there are actual, small chunks of diced jalapeños dotted throughout the Spam. “This feels like Spam Classic but perhaps brined for an hour or two in jalapeño juice,” said Kinsman. “It’s not knocking the original off its perch, but it’s a nice alternative.”

The jalapeños add a subtle layer of spice and taste slightly pickled, like the type you’d get on movie theater nachos. Channel Tex-Mex and use this Spam for breakfast tacos, or fold it into a cheesy scramble. 

3. Spam Classic

Spam Classic is a classic for a reason. It’s firm, juicy, and just the right amount greasy, with a strong porky flavor. The only reason it’s not higher on our list is that our editors found it a bit too salty to eat on its own. “This is enough sodium to put an elephant down,” said Alindahao. “But it’s still something I would consume without you having to wring my arm out. I like the basic-ness of it.” Still, Spam Classic is the best for stews like budae jjigae, adding a boost of salty, savoriness to the pungent broth.

2. Spam Lite

Spam Lite has all the porky goodness of Spam Classic, without the excessive salt. “I think this makes for a better canvas for building a meal, so that other ingredients get to shine without being overpowered by that very specific Spam flavor,” said Alindahao. It’s less greasy and firmer than the Classic, meaning it will hold up well in a breakfast sandwich or an SLT (Spam-Lettuce-Tomato). We don’t even care about the fact that Spam Lite is more nutritious than most other Spam flavors, with 25% less sodium and 50% less fat — it’s the second best, because it’s the most versatile Spam available. Not horrible but less meaty – less complex, and more firm then the original.

1. Spam Hot & Spicy

This Spam was our favorite by a landslide — it topped every one of our editors’ lists for its firm texture (identical to Spam Lite) and boldly spicy flavor. Unlike Spam Jalapeño, Spam Hot & Spicy is seasoned with chiles, specifically red peppers and vinegar, for a tangy spice similar to Tabasco. 

“It has a nice heat that lingers,” said photo editor Doan Nguyen. Other editors noted that it reminded them of a spicy sausage, like chorizo. “This has everything I love about summer sausage in the sharpness and heat, but with a more pleasing texture,” said Kinsman. “I’d absolutely buy this and am dreaming of having some with cheese.”

Spam Hot & Spicy might not be as versatile as Spam Classic and Spam Lite, but for anything that you’d typically add hot sauce to — Spam and eggs, Spam and rice, or a simple Spam sandwich — this flavor is the way to go.