Both Taylor Ham and Spam are widely regarded as two of the very best types of ham available. For most, Taylor Ham is considered the better option, but it is also limited by being a regional meat originating and abundant in New Jersey.
In fact, it’s easily one of the most popular foods in the entire region and all those surrounding it. Spam, on the other hand, is a brand of canned, processed ham with a completely different texture and taste.
The original core product is the flavor that we all know, and to this day, Spam still boasts outstanding value for money, which makes it one of the world’s favorite low-cost solutions for lunches and breakfast.
Our upcoming comparison looks at all the defining characteristics of these two fine products, pairing Taylor Ham vs. Spam in an overview that covers everything a pork fan could want to know.
Taylor Ham Vs. Spam Comparison
| Taylor Ham | Spam | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Regional Processed Breakfast Meat From New Jersey Made From Pork And Best Described As A Pork Roll | Processed Canned Pork Brand From Hormel Foods Similar To Meatloaf |
| Ingredients | Ground Pork Shoulder, Salt, Sugar, Spices, Lactic Acid, Sodium Nitrate, Nitrite | Pre-Cooked Finely Ground Pork Shoulder, Preprocessed Ham, Salt, Water, Modified Potato Starch, Sugar, Naturally Forming Gelatin |
| Origin | John Taylor In Trenton, New Jersey - 1856 | The Hormel Foods Corporation - Austin, Minnesota - 1937 |
| Texture | Firm, Non-Gelatinous, Similar To Firm But Mushy Pork Sausage With Bacon-Like Crispy Exterior | Gelatinous Texture With Springiness Similar To Sausage Patties |
| Taste | Rich Savory Pork Flavor Combining The Ham-Like Taste Of Canadian Bacon With The Salty, Fattiness Of Regular Bacon Without The Smokiness | Mild Pork Flavor With Subdued Smokiness And Ham-Like Sweetness & Richness |
| Affordability | $20+ Per Pound Online, $4-$6 Per 6-Ounce Pack In Local New Jersey Stores | $3-$4.50 Per 12-Ounce Can |
| Availability | Readily Available In New Jersey, Philadelphia & Online | Global Availability |
| Substitutes | Cotto Salami, Sandwich Ham | Canned Spam Clones, Taylor Ham, Tofu |
| Suitability | Best As A Breakfast Meat When You Want Prominent Pork Flavor And Crunchy, Firm Texture | Opt For Spam When You’re Looking For Versatile Pork Flavor And When One Wants To Cook The Processed Meat Into A Meal That Requires Extended Cooking Period |
Taylor Ham Vs. Spam
Pork lovers will likely find it hard to choose a winner between Taylor Ham and Spam. After all, each has a unique taste and texture when raw and cooked. Our breakdown of these two tasty types of processed meat has everything that you need to know coming up.
Taylor Ham
To fans of Taylor Ham and, to a large degree, most people who taste the New Jersey favorite, Taylor Ham offers the ultimate pork flavor in luncheon meat. It’s pure pork, and prominently so, with a texture that beats almost any other processed pork roll out there.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes Taylor Ham so popular that people from all around the country simply have to have it on hand.
What Is Taylor Ham?
Taylor Ham is a variety of processed breakfast meat and a regional specialty of New Jersey and the surrounding states made by Taylor Provisions that is best described as a fatty pork roll that’s similar to Spam but with a taste that resembles salami.
While the name Taylor’s Ham was discontinued and the term pork roll adopted instead, the world still refers to the meat roll by its original name.
What Is Taylor Ham Made Of?
The exact recipe for Taylor Ham is a secret. However, the popular processed breakfast meat is known to contain a blend of pork such as the ground pork shoulder meat often used in sausages, salt, sugar, spices, lactic acid, sodium nitrate, and nitrite.
The pork shoulder is coarsely ground before undergoing salt-curing with sodium nitrate to develop flavor and the deep pink coloring. Finally, the ground solution is reconstituted into the pork roll sliced sold today.
Origin
Taylor Ham was created by the Trenton businessman and New Jersey Senator John Taylor in 1856.
The signature pork roll product that we know today was marketed as Taylor’s Prepared Ham up until 1906, when it was forced to change names due to being non-compliant with the country’s new legal definition of the term “ham.”
The name changed several times and has been seen as Taylor’s Pork Roll and Trenton Pork, but almost all local citizens still call the product Taylor Ham anyway despite being packaged today as Taylor Pork Roll.
Texture
One of the most prominent differences between Taylor Ham and Spam is the texture. Taylor Ham is totally different from the firm but gelatinous texture of Spam.
It has a crispy firmness that’s similar in hardness to a midway point between pancetta and pork sausage, which makes it textured but mushy – the very defining quality that most end up loving Taylor Ham for.
Taste
Taylor Ham has a rich pork flavor with a light smokiness that combines the sweet, ham-like taste of Canadian bacon with the salty, fattiness of regular bacon.
Affordability
Expect to pay in the region of $4 to $6 for a 6-ounce package of Taylor’s Ham when shopping in a New Jersey store. Those ordering the delicacy online are looking in the region of $20 per pound.
Availability
The only place that you’ll find Taylor Ham sold in supermarkets in New Jersey and Philadelphia, and the immediate vicinity. Here, pork roll is available in just about every deli, sandwich, and bagel store.
Otherwise, online retail giant Amazon has the tasty breakfast product available to order.
Taylor Ham Substitutes
There’s no true replacement for a pork roll. This being said, Cotto salami comes close, especially when lightly salted. Salami is similar. Spam can be substituted in a pinch, but a regular sandwich ham would be a better option.
Is Taylor Ham Better Than Spam?
Taylor Ham is a breakfast meat that’s served in the same way as bacon. This makes it better suited than Spam when you’re looking for processed meat with a crunchy texture.
It’s also the ideal choice when you’re in the mood for a meat variety that has a bold pork flavor instead of an amalgamation that results in a unique taste of its own.
Spam
The world has grown up with Spam. It’s so well-known that it even had a digital technology named after its notoriously widespread use.
Here’s a breakdown of the canned pork known as Spam from Hormel Foods – the beloved pre-cooked processed meat that can be enjoyed cooked or as-is.
What Is Spam?
Spam is a highly affordable brand of processed, canned pork meat that’s similar to a meatloaf in taste and texture, just with a sweet albeit subtle pork taste that’s free from smokiness as well.
What Is Spam Made Of?
Spam is made from a combination of pre-cooked finely ground pork shoulder and already-processed ham that’s combined and reconstituted after salt curing with sodium nitrite into a solid loaf by adding salt, water, modified potato starch, and sugar.
Gelatin forms naturally within the tin, aiding the consistency, texture, and flavor. Contrary to rumors, Spam does not contain any pork scraps. Just ham and pork shoulder.
Origin
The Austin, Minnesota-based food processing company, The Hormel Foods Corporation, launched Spam canned pork in 1937.
It rose to popularity as a World War II food, and by 2003, Spam had global distribution to over 41 countries with further trademarks registered in no less than over 100 countries.
Texture
Spam has a gelatinous texture with a similar degree of springiness to sausage patties. When raw, it’s best described as a solid, spongy brawn-like meat.
However, once cooked, Spam develops a slight crispiness that’s still not as crunchy as Taylor Ham and nowhere near the mouthfeel of bacon.
Taste
The flavor of Spam is best described as a very mild pork flavor that’s so subdued that it loses its smokiness and ham-like richness and instead gains a neutral sweetness with an underlying and extremely versatile pork taste.
Affordability
A 12-ounce can of Spam sells for between $3 and $4.5 depending on where you’re shopping and whether or not you’re buying a single tin or in bulk.
Availability
You’ll find Spam available all around the world. It is distributed in 41 different countries across 15 varieties.
Spam Substitutes
There are many other canned meat products that are similar to Spam. Look for other processed canned pork that often includes other meats like chicken and beef in the blend. These are a good replacement.
However, for an alternative that delivers pure pork flavor only and a slightly firmer consistency, Taylor Ham or a competing pork roll product is an excellent option. The best vegan substitute for Spam is tofu soaked in a stock.
Is Spam Better Than Taylor Ham?
Most consider Taylor Ham to be a higher quality product with a purer pork flavor. This being said, Spam is better than Taylor Ham when you want to fry cubes instead of slices or whole chunks of meat at a time.
Most will find Spam preferable for when making luncheon or breakfast scrambles similar to bubble and squeak, or when looking for a processed meat variety that works well in quick stews and cheap stir-fries.
What Is The Difference Between Taylor Ham And Spam?
The main difference between Taylor Ham and Spam is that Taylor Ham is the colloquial term of reference for a regional processed pork breakfast meat sold in and around New Jersey and Philadelphia that’s made from ground pork shoulder meat, whereas Spam is a more affordable pre-cooked processed canned meat product sold around the world that contains pork shoulder and pre-processed ham.
Taylor Ham Vs. Spam, Final Thoughts
The winner between Taylor Ham vs. Spam largely comes down to your personal taste preferences.
The vast majority of foodies who have tried both find John Taylor’s Pork Roll from Taylor Provisions to be superior in taste, texture, general value for money, product quality, and versatility despite being best cooked and served as a lightly fried breakfast meat.
