Whether you grew up with it as a pantry staple or are only coming around to its salty goodness, here's everything you need to know about slinging some canned corned beef in the kitchen.
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00:00:00Whether you grew up with it as a pantry staple or are only coming around to its salty goodness,
00:00:05here's everything you need to know about slinging some canned corned beef in the kitchen.
00:00:09What makes corned beef corned? Why is the can shaped like that? What kind of beef is
00:00:15it exactly? If you're embarrassed to ask these questions of anyone else, we've got ya.
00:00:21Corned beef's name is a little bit confusing. Why? Well, the product contains no corn. The
00:00:26corned in the name refers to the rock salt used to preserve the beef. The word corn comes from
00:00:32the Proto-Germanic word for a seed or piece of grain, kernem. Large chunks of rock salt are
00:00:38roughly the size of a kernel of grain, so they came to be called salt corns. This use of the
00:00:43word is very old, with the first written instance of corn dating back to the 800s.
00:00:48According to Bon Appetit, English speakers used corn as a generic name for any type of grain
00:00:53long before they encountered maize in the New World. When indigenous people in the Americas
00:00:58showed Europeans their staple crop, the colonists initially dubbed it Indian corn.
00:01:03This name stuck until the 19th century. English importers started to use the word
00:01:08corned beef to describe Irish salted meat in the 1600s. That means corned beef had
00:01:14its name for almost two centuries before Americans started calling maize corn.
00:01:19Spam has an illustrious history as a military ration. The U.S. Armed Forces fed 150 million
00:01:26pounds of the canned ham product to its troops during World War II. Canned meat has its obvious
00:01:32advantages for combat use — it doesn't require refrigeration and can be eaten without cooking.
00:01:37I don't like spam!
00:01:39Don't make a fuss, dear. I'll have your spam. I love it. I'm having spam, spam, spam, spam.
00:01:44So how did spam lead to the popularity of canned corned beef?
00:01:47According to the Jewish News, the Israeli Defense Forces wanted to feed
00:01:51tinned meat to their conscripts, but they had a problem. Spam wasn't kosher because it's pork.
00:01:57After World War II, the Israeli Defense Forces developed their own kosher canned corned beef
00:02:03called luff. It continued to serve luff to soldiers through the early 21st century because
00:02:08the product could last decades if stored correctly. One Israeli soldier said in
00:02:122011 that he ate a can of luff made before he was born.
00:02:17The familiar rectangular or trapezoidal corned beef can that U.S. consumers are familiar with
00:02:23was patented in Chicago by Arthur A. Libby in 1875. The distinctive shape allows corned beef
00:02:29cans to stack more efficiently than round cans. This made it ideal for the military as it reduced
00:02:34shipping costs. Although corned beef's heyday as an army food is now decades in the past,
00:02:39manufacturers haven't found a reason to mess with a formula that has worked for over 100 years.
00:02:44A perfectly rectangular can would stack just as well as a trapezoidal can,
00:02:48but the irregular shape of a corned beef tin serves a purpose besides conserving space.
00:02:53The can's shape allows the delicate minced meat to slide out of its package without breaking.
00:02:58Despite the advantages of this canned design, no other product has adopted the trapezoidal tin.
00:03:03If you see that can on a shelf, you know exactly what's going to be inside it.
00:03:08Although corned beef has its roots in Europe, the Philippines might love it more than any
00:03:12other country. Canned corned beef is one of the most popular breakfast foods there.
00:03:17It fills a similar cultural role to bacon in the U.S. The combination of fried corned beef,
00:03:22white rice, and eggs is a classic Filipino breakfast. Part of the country's affection
00:03:27for the product might be that their version is better than the kind available in most of the
00:03:30world. Outside of the Philippines, most canned corned beef is made from finely minced meat.
00:03:36Filipinos use a brand from New Zealand called Palm that's made of shredded beef and has a
00:03:41texture similar to pulled pork. Although corned beef isn't as popular in the U.S.
00:03:45as it is in the Philippines, it's still a fairly common breakfast option stateside.
00:03:49According to The Nibble in America, most canned corned beef is consumed in the form of corned
00:03:54beef hash, a mid-century diner favorite that combines minced salt beef with diced potatoes
00:04:00and other seasonings. Ireland has a long history of raising cattle for dairy production,
00:04:05but beef has not traditionally been a popular meat in the region.
00:04:09The ancient, pre-Christian, Gaelic religion believed cows were sacred,
00:04:13and most Irish farmers preferred to keep their cows alive to produce milk rather than
00:04:17slaughtering them. Expensive beef was mostly consumed by the highest levels of ancient
00:04:22Irish society, with most of the country's residents eating pork as their animal protein of choice.
00:04:27What can I say? I am a man of great taste! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Very funny!
00:04:34Ireland didn't produce beef on a mass scale until it was conquered by England in the 1500s,
00:04:39and the English conquerors started raising cattle to export back home.
00:04:43The English Parliament forbade the export of fresh beef from Ireland in the 17th century,
00:04:48so landowners switched to selling corned beef. As a result,
00:04:52the Irish city of Cork dominated global corned beef production for almost two centuries.
00:04:57We have the French Revolution to thank for the invention of canned food.
00:05:01The revolutionary government sought a way to deliver food to its troops at home and abroad
00:05:06while avoiding spoilage. Multi-hyphenate kitchen inventor Nicolas Appert figured out that food
00:05:11boiled for five hours in sealed containers would stay fresh indefinitely. The British wasted almost
00:05:17no time in stealing Appert's idea, patenting an improvement to his method in 1810, the same year
00:05:23he publicized his new technology. While Appert relied on glass jars, the British used iron
00:05:28canisters coated with tin to make them rust-resistant. There was only one problem — no
00:05:33one invented a tool to open the new cans. The first patent for a can opener in the U.S. is from 1858,
00:05:39over 40 years after canned food had become a popular military ration. Before that,
00:05:44cans came with instructions that told users to open with a hammer and chisel.
00:05:49Sometimes desperate servicemen would shoot their corned beef to get it open.
00:05:53When the first self-opening corned beef can debuted in 1866,
00:05:57it paved the way for corned beef to become a household staple instead of merely a wartime
00:06:02necessity. Modern corned beef production was spurred by the English conquest of Ireland,
00:06:07and the British Empire spread the product across many of the regions it ruled.
00:06:11The English rulers of Ireland made so much money from selling salted beef that they were
00:06:16even permitted to sell it to England's enemy, France. Both the French and the English supplied
00:06:21their colonial holdings with corned beef, exporting it to Africa and the Americas.
00:06:25As Time notes in an exploration of the history of Spam in Asia,
00:06:29former colonies have a fraught relationship with the canned meats that were introduced
00:06:33by conquering powers. Canned meat often showed up in tandem with violence,
00:06:37but it also served as vital sustenance during lean times. In an era when many people in the
00:06:43countries that invented canned meat view it with disdain, cooks in places like the Philippines
00:06:47embraced canned corned beef as an integral part of the national food identity. In recent years,
00:06:53Western consumers have embraced the delicious canned meat recipes that Asian cooks innovated
00:06:57because of necessity.
00:07:00Irish corned beef production diminished at the end of the 19th century.
00:07:03By the start of World War II, South America had replaced Ireland as the leading producer of corned
00:07:08beef. During the first half of the 20th century, Uruguay led the way, making 16 million tins of
00:07:14corned beef in 1943. The drive to produce more cattle for corned beef is a leading contributor
00:07:20to Amazon deforestation in Brazil. Cattle ranchers who raise meat for Brazilian firm
00:07:25JBS have been linked to the illegal destruction of large swathes of the Amazon rainforest.
00:07:30According to Dig Jamaica, Jamaica joined several other countries in temporarily banning all imports
00:07:36of Brazilian corned beef in 2017. The ban was triggered after an investigation found that
00:07:41some Brazilian meat producers had been selling spoiled products and paying off inspectors to
00:07:46avoid detection.
00:07:48Deli-style sliced corned beef is typically made from beef brisket,
00:07:52but the cuts of meat used for the canned stuff are mysterious. A breakdown of the
00:07:56nutritional content of Hormel corned beef on Innit reveals that the product contains just
00:08:01six ingredients. The list is surprisingly short for a shelf-stable processed food,
00:08:06consisting mostly of stuff you would recognize from a home kitchen, with a couple of preservatives
00:08:10added. Despite this apparent simplicity, the beef component of the recipe could come from
00:08:15almost any part of the cow, including some cuts that people don't customarily eat as food in the
00:08:20U.S. U.S. law permits products labeled as beef to contain diaphragm, esophagus, blood vessels,
00:08:25nerves, sinew, and skin. It's not allowed to, quote, include significant portions of bone,
00:08:31but it's permissible to have, quote, the portions of bone, which normally accompany the muscle
00:08:35tissue. No amount of brain is allowed in beef due to the risk of mad cow disease. These rules give
00:08:41a lot of wiggle room for meatpackers to decide what exactly the beef in corned beef is composed
00:08:45of, although they do exclude organ meats like liver, lungs, and tripe. You may be hesitant to
00:08:51consume mystery meat like canned corned beef, but if you've ever eaten a hot dog or a Slim Jim,
00:08:56you've likely already eaten parts of an animal you would never cook at home.
00:09:00Like most cured meats, canned corned beef uses a small amount of sodium nitrite as a preservative.
00:09:09The BBC explains that sodium nitrite helps kill bacteria during the curing process,
00:09:14allowing the meat to be safely stored at room temperature. The chemical also
00:09:18changes the color of the meat, making it stay pink even when fully cooked.
00:09:22Although the nitrites in cured meats protect us from food poisoning,
00:09:26they may have negative long-term health effects. People who consume a moderate
00:09:30amount of preserved meat every day are only slightly more likely to develop cancer,
00:09:34and nitrites aren't the only potential carcinogen lurking in red meat.
00:09:38Furthermore, most of the nitrites in a typical person's diet occur in vegetables rather than
00:09:43meats. These nitrites may actually improve cardiovascular fitness. The health effects
00:09:48of nitrites are complex, and more research is necessary to unpack their risks and potential
00:09:52benefits. That said, corned beef is still best enjoyed as an occasional treat,
00:09:57as it contains big doses of sodium and saturated fat in addition to the nitrites.
00:10:02Libby's canned pumpkin starts taking over supermarket shelves when the leaves turn.
00:10:07It satisfies Americans' annual autumnal cravings for pumpkin desserts. Although you can cook and
00:10:12puree your own pumpkin to make pie, most people rely on the ease and consistent flavor of the
00:10:17canned stuff. Libby's is made from a special variety of squash called Dickinson pumpkin
00:10:22that can only be grown in the region around Morton, Illinois. This extra-sweet pumpkin
00:10:27makes for the perfect pie filling. But before Libby's was in the pumpkin business,
00:10:31the Libby's Corporation started as a corned beef canning operation. Run by Arthur and
00:10:36Charles Libby, along with their business partner Archibald McNeill. Founded in 1868,
00:10:41the company pioneered many innovations in the canned beef industry, including the tapered can
00:10:46and refrigerated trucks. The company began branching out into other canned goods in the
00:10:50early 1900s, selling sauerkraut, A1 sauce, fruits, and vegetables. Libby's bought the company behind
00:10:56canned Dickinson pumpkin in 1930, and it's been known by the Libby's name ever since.
00:11:02As we've discussed already, the British invented canned corned beef as a way to preserve and export
00:11:07Ireland's cattle in the early 19th century. Jewish deli corned beef — the sliced,
00:11:11cured brisket you order piled high on rye with spicy mustard — has a much older history.
00:11:17Curing meat in brine has been a Jewish tradition since ancient Hebrews started pickling meat to
00:11:22eat during Tisha B'Av, a commemoration of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
00:11:27At the time, priests thought that the curing process made the meat less
00:11:31celebratory and more suitable for the somber holiday.
00:11:35This tradition of cured red meat continued all the way through the 1800s,
00:11:39when Jewish Germans ran delicatessens inspired by the charcuterie shops of France.
00:11:43When German Jews began fleeing en masse to America to avoid persecution in their home country,
00:11:48they opened delis all over the U.S. that served corned beef brisket.
00:11:52These Jewish immigrants often settled in neighborhoods close to Irish migrants
00:11:56who had escaped the potato famine. The Irish, many of whom had been workers in the corned beef
00:12:01industry before they immigrated, began buying corned beef brisket from kosher butchers.
00:12:05This ultimately solidified it as Irish food in the American imagination.
00:12:10There's a lot more to making canned corned beef than just dumping some meat in a can.
00:12:15From choosing the cut of meat to adding preservatives to sterilizing the can,
00:12:19this is all that goes into it.
00:12:21There are a few different ways to make canned corned beef. Science Direct describes one method
00:12:26in which the meat is canned without being cooked or cured. More commonly, though,
00:12:30it's precooked and cured before going through the canning process.
00:12:33Delighted Cooking confirms that this is the case with most canned corned beef products.
00:12:37This method is sometimes called hot packing in the canning community,
00:12:40according to Wild Heaven Farms. While most consider beef safe to be canned raw,
00:12:45also known as raw packing, hot packing has its benefits. For one, hot packing can ensure that
00:12:50meat will keep its shape. This also prevents it from sticking to the sides of the can,
00:12:53which is definitely handy from a consumer perspective. Once it comes out of the can,
00:12:57it's preferable that canned corned beef stays formed into a solid block, which enables it to
00:13:02be sliced or diced for preparation. Cooking canned meat first helps to make it into a
00:13:06ready-to-eat final product. Around the 1600s, the British came up with the name
00:13:11corned beef to refer to beef cured using these kernel-sized pieces of salt.
00:13:15Although you may not see these large pieces of salt in your can of corned beef,
00:13:19salt is still a primary ingredient. However, since the meat in canned corned beef is usually
00:13:24cooked before canning, salt isn't the only thing helping with preservation.
00:13:27According to one Quora user who claimed to have worked for a canned corned beef processing plant,
00:13:32salt is added after the meat is cooked. This helps manufacturers to more easily obtain a
00:13:37concentrated meat product. The large grains of salt added after cooking also provide flavor
00:13:41to the final product.
00:13:43How is that?
00:13:46Salty.
00:13:48Canned corned beef falls under the category of processed meats in a few different ways.
00:13:52The first reason it's processed, according to PBS, is simply by virtue of it being canned.
00:13:57Second, as Meat Science explains, processed meat can also refer to cuts that are cured or
00:14:02smoked, such as sliced ham, Canadian bacon, pastrami, and others, corned beef among them.
00:14:07Third, because canned corned beef is also refined into smaller pieces during production,
00:14:11it's considered processed by that definition. The meat within a can of corned beef may start
00:14:16in large pieces, but after cooking and salting, its shape starts to change.
00:14:20During this stage of the production process, canned corned beef must be minced or ground
00:14:24up before getting packed and shaped within cans. For this reason, it qualifies as a type
00:14:29of restructured meat. Meat Science defines that term as meat made from flaked, ground,
00:14:34or sectioned beef or pork, which is shaped into roasts, steaks, or loaves.
00:14:38No matter what method is used to break down the canned corned beef,
00:14:41it must also be chopped up to take on a new shape.
00:14:44When fresh corned beef — not the canned stuff — is being made, a few spices are usually added.
00:14:49Seasonings including black pepper, coriander, allspice, dill seeds, and mustard seeds are used
00:14:54to flavor the meat, giving dishes such as corned beef and cabbage their flavor.
00:14:59But canned corned beef is different. Check the ingredients list of cans of Hereford or
00:15:03Palm canned corned beef, and the only seasonings listed are salt and sugar.
00:15:07And the salt serves more as a preservative than a seasoning. Sugar is added to aid in
00:15:11the preservation process, as well as cancel out some of the taste from all the sodium,
00:15:15according to Meat Science. Another preservative you'll often find listed is sodium nitrate.
00:15:20It's an ingredient in Iberia and Excelsior's canned corned beef. This ingredient gives the
00:15:25meat a pinkish color, which canned corned beef is known for having. It also extends its shelf
00:15:29life and improves the flavor. According to WebMD, there are some health concerns surrounding sodium
00:15:34nitrate involving its link to diabetes and heart disease. Some sources recommend against consuming
00:15:39too much of it. The BBC explains that sodium nitrate is added to canned meat during the
00:15:44middle of its production process, when a preserving liquid made of salt, water,
00:15:47and sodium nitrate is usually mixed in. Then, the mixture is injected into various parts of the
00:15:52meat. The injection, as well as the addition of water, helps to ensure that the whole meat
00:15:56product will be preserved. The cut of beef chosen for the tinned product isn't the same as what
00:16:02you'd buy at a deli counter to make homemade corned beef. As Science Direct explains,
00:16:06traditional corned beef uses brisket, which comes from the cow's chest area,
00:16:10but canned corned beef isn't always made from brisket.
00:16:13No brisket!
00:16:14Tough, lean cuts of meat, such as round steaks, chuck roasts, or ribs, work best for canning.
00:16:19According to Very Meaty, canning meat also requires that as much fat as possible be removed.
00:16:24If too much fat is left in, it can cause multiple issues, including rancidity,
00:16:29sealing, and heat penetration. This is why canned corned beef makers opt for
00:16:33leaner cuts that have less fat. Brisket can often be pretty fatty, so that's why
00:16:37canners don't always use it.
00:16:39After the corned beef is packed into cans, another step is sometimes employed.
00:16:43Factories may sterilize the meat-filled cans. As Britannica explains, these sterilization
00:16:47processes usually involve bringing the cans to a certain temperature to prevent bacteria,
00:16:52such as the one that causes botulism from forming. To achieve sterilization,
00:16:56corned beef cans should be brought above boiling temperature, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:17:01During this process, containers of canned corned beef are placed inside a pressure cooker,
00:17:05then covered in hot steam, allowing both the food and its container to be sterilized
00:17:09simultaneously, Science Direct explains. Not only does this process sterilize the can,
00:17:14but also tenderizes the meat inside in a short amount of time. After the cans are finished
00:17:18sterilizing, they'll be removed from the pressure cooker, then set aside to dry off and cool down.
00:17:23The steps of the canned corned beef production process are focused on making the meat survive
00:17:28in a can as long as possible. The steps involved are pretty laborious, because cooked beef only
00:17:33lasts three to four days in the fridge, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However,
00:17:38canned corned beef will last much longer. According to Very Meaty, unopened cans will
00:17:42last three to five years on the shelf. Once opened, though, canned corned beef's days are numbered.
00:17:47Leftovers will only last three to four days in the fridge. It's best to keep it stored in
00:17:52a glass or plastic container. If you opt to put your leftovers into the freezer,
00:17:55corned beef out of a can will last around three months, according to Still Tasty.
00:17:59Survival Freedom recommends putting your leftover canned corned beef into freezer-safe storage bags.
00:18:05Canned corned beef is produced so that it is ready to eat right away.
00:18:09And now, who's ready to eat my meat?
00:18:12It's not necessary to cook the meat before eating it, but before you start chowing down,
00:18:15you may find that just getting the can open comes with some unique challenges.
00:18:19Square cans of corned beef must be opened with a key. Luckily, this key comes attached to each
00:18:24can. Following the instructions carefully will best ensure your can gets opened.
00:18:28Instructables advises that you remove the key and find where a small metal tab
00:18:32protrudes from the side of the can. Next, place the tab through a hole in the long part of the key.
00:18:37Finally, rotate the key around the side of the can, bringing the tab with it.
00:18:41This will create a cut in the can's side that runs along the entire edge.
00:18:45When you're finished, the entire top of the can can be removed,
00:18:48exposing part of the inner brick of meat.
00:18:50If eating the meat out of the can with a fork isn't for you,
00:18:53there are plenty of ways to use the meat in recipes.
00:18:56Yummy! recommends going light on the salt when using corned beef in cooking.
00:19:00Some ways to eat canned corned beef include corned beef hash with eggs, a quiche, or egg rolls.
00:19:05Despite the convenience of canned corned beef, it's not considered especially healthy.
00:19:09According to Very Meaty, canned corned beef is high in sodium, as you might expect,
00:19:13given how important salt is in the production process. It's also pretty high in fat and
00:19:18cholesterol. It's been linked to illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
00:19:22However, some potential nutritional benefits come with eating canned corned beef.
00:19:26It typically has no carbohydrates, and each serving is high in protein.
00:19:30Ox & Palm brand corned beef, for example, has 11 grams of protein per serving. The Mayo Clinic
00:19:35suggests that a 165-pound person should consume about 60 grams of protein per day,
00:19:40so a serving of corned beef is a good start toward that goal.
00:19:44Snouts, tongues, feet, and a whole lot more.
00:19:47Once you find out what's inside a can of corned beef, you may never eat again.
00:19:52From time to time, you might find yourself wondering just what kind of meat you're eating
00:19:57when you open up a can of corned beef. You might even have cause for concern,
00:20:01as meat byproducts such as hot dogs and deli meats are often made from less-than-stellar
00:20:07cuts of meat. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization,
00:20:11meat byproducts can contain small amounts of fat, connective tissue, snouts, tongues,
00:20:17tripe, and giblets. In other words, if there are edible bits left of the animal after the preferred
00:20:23cuts have been removed, the leftover trimmings are added to sausages and deli meats.
00:20:29If that's how they make hot dogs, I don't want one. I'm good. That was all cut.
00:20:34What bits of beef actually go into corned beef?
00:20:38First, let's deal with the deli version of corned beef. As you might expect,
00:20:42deli corned beef is better quality than the canned stuff. Generally,
00:20:46it consists solely of cured brisket meat. Simple enough, right? However,
00:20:51when it comes to canned corned beef, things start to get a bit murkier.
00:20:55While the product certainly does contain the lean end of the brisket,
00:20:59producers aren't often willing to reveal what else is mixed into their recipes.
00:21:04For instance, if you look up Hormel's canned corned beef on Innit,
00:21:08you'll see that the label simplifies the meat mix to merely
00:21:11beef. And beef, as hot dogs often demonstrate, can apply to just about every scrap of meat on a cow.
00:21:19Skin, feet, blood, you name it. If it's edible, it's probably going to be used for something,
00:21:25and the chances are good that your can of corned beef contains at least some of these scraps.
00:21:31It's probably fair to say, then, that corned beef isn't for everyone. But hey, that's true
00:21:36for a lot of other things that people enjoy eating. After all, Cheez Whiz exists for a reason.
00:21:42The best you can do is make changes to your diet based on what we do
00:21:46or don't want to put into our bodies. Or you can just keep chowing down on that
00:21:50corned beef without worrying too much about what's inside it. Who are we to judge?
00:21:55Which canned corned beef tastes best when it's cold? Which tastes best hot? Which tastes awful
00:22:02at any temperature? Keep watching for our ranking of canned corned beef brands from worst to best.
00:22:08If you want tasty Vienna sausages, opt for Armor. But if you're in the market for canned corned
00:22:13beef, stay far, far away. First off, the texture is so fatty and jello-like that it doesn't even
00:22:19look like it's meant for human consumption. Second, if you dare take a bite of this canned
00:22:23meat, you'll find that it lacks any savory goodness that should be a requirement of canned
00:22:28corned beef. If you absolutely have to buy corned beef from Armor, go with the corned beef hash.
00:22:33By adding potatoes to the mix, it improves the texture and taste a bit,
00:22:36though it's still a bottom-tier option.
00:22:39Although it sounds finger-licking good in theory, Oxenpalm corned beef is a major
00:22:44disappointment in practice. It's made from first-rate Australian beef that's
00:22:48been grass-fed, and it's free of antibiotics and hormones.
00:22:52Sadly, though, it's just not worth it. The primary issue is inconsistency. From
00:23:01can to can, you never know what to expect from Oxenpalm. But even if you get one of the better
00:23:05cans, you'll still be massively underwhelmed, especially when factoring in the high price.
00:23:10It's way too fatty, and while the taste is okay, it's nothing to write home about.
00:23:14To make matters even worse, in 2021, Oxenpalm had to recall nearly 300,000 pounds of canned
00:23:20corned beef. So skip the gamble and pick a better brand.
00:23:24Chef Mate is owned by Nestle, the Swiss conglomerate that's worth more than $300 billion.
00:23:29But despite the pedigree of its ubiquitous parent company, Chef Mate corned beef hash is so boring
00:23:34that you'll yawn after each mouthful. The ingredients list insists that each can has
00:23:39corned beef, potatoes, and onions, but it tastes like it's purposefully made to be as flavorless
00:23:43as possible. The only flavor you'll be able to notice is a dash of saltiness, and that's about
00:23:48it. And on top of it all, Chef Mate corned beef hash is also extremely greasy. So be kind to
00:23:54yourself and just say no to this brand. Be sure you know what you're getting before
00:24:00you purchase a can of Underwood corned beef spread. As the name implies, this is a spread.
00:24:05The difference from regular corned beef may be more drastic than you're anticipating.
00:24:09It has a saltier, stronger flavor as well as the consistency of toothpaste.
00:24:13The best way to eat Underwood's spread is to put some on a cracker, and a little goes a long way.
00:24:18If you make the mistake of using a heap of this spread to make a sandwich, you'll likely be
00:24:22grossed out. If you use this spread correctly, though, you won't be thrilled, but you can at
00:24:26least avoid ruining your meal. Iberia is a brand that's been around since 1930 that can be found
00:24:32in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. All of its canned meat offerings
00:24:37will leave a smile on your face thanks to their taste. Unfortunately, the texture of its canned
00:24:42corned beef holds it back from climbing higher on our list. The best corned beef is moist when
00:24:47you take it out of the can. Iberia canned corned beef, however, is too dry and crumbly. It too
00:24:52easily breaks into tiny pieces, and it's not easy to put it back together again. Another issue is
00:24:57the greasy taste that'll have you thinking twice before ever buying this brand again.
00:25:02If you pick Excelsior, make sure that your kitchen is well-ventilated. That's because this
00:25:07brand has a really strong smell, and it's not a pleasant aroma. Instead, it smells like canned
00:25:12dog food that expired many moons ago. The good news is that Excelsior tastes a lot better than
00:25:17it smells. As an added bonus, there's also nothing to complain about in terms of texture.
00:25:21That said, despite the positives, the smell is probably all you'll be able to remember.
00:25:25So don't settle for something that'll stink up your kitchen when you don't have to.
00:25:29It Stinks
00:25:31The first brand on this list that you won't regret picking is Great Value.
00:25:35Not everything about this Walmart store brand is worthy of your hard-earned dollars,
00:25:39but it's good enough to serve its purpose, especially when you factor in the low price.
00:25:43Texture-wise, Great Value is close to perfect. It holds its form whether you
00:25:47want to eat it hot or cold. Flavor-wise, though, it's not quite as rosy. The main
00:25:51problem is a subtle yet unmistakable metallic taste. When it first enters your mouth,
00:25:56it'll instantly hit you, and once the aftertaste kicks in, the metallic flavor re-emerges.
00:26:00It's not bad enough that you'll want to spit it out, but it's still pretty annoying.
00:26:05Canned corned beef is popular in the Caribbean, so considering that Goya is known for selling
00:26:10Caribbean food items, it's no wonder that Goya corned beef exists. And it's definitely above
00:26:15average, but only if you warm it up first. The best canned corned beef tastes great regardless
00:26:20of whether you eat it hot or cold, but this isn't something you'll want to eat at lower temps.
00:26:24The texture is too rubbery, and the flavor is muted right out of the can. When you heat it up,
00:26:28though, the texture drastically improves and the realistic beef-like flavor emerges.
00:26:33If you always heat your canned corned beef, you're good to go. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
00:26:38Back in 1937, Hormel introduced Spam to the world. Even if you think Spam is disgusting,
00:26:43you should still give Hormel corned beef hash a try. It's bursting with flavors,
00:26:47and surprisingly hearty. If you eat it for breakfast, you can be sure that you'll start
00:26:51your day on the right foot. Simply put, there are good reasons why this is one of
00:26:54a million ways to eat hash. Be forewarned, though, that when you go shopping for this brand,
00:26:59you'll need to be on your toes. If you accidentally buy Hormel corned beef instead,
00:27:04you'll be mighty disappointed. This version isn't even comparable to the hash. The texture
00:27:09is too mushy, and the flavor is too nondescript. You might taste a little bit of salt, but that's
00:27:13about it. You can think of Grace corned beef as the opposite of Goya. Whereas Goya needs to
00:27:19be served warm, Grace is much better when it's cold. Open the can, cut off a slice,
00:27:23and put it directly on your sandwich. That's all you need to do to make a wonderful meal.
00:27:27Even if your sandwich is just bread and corned beef, that's still enough for culinary success.
00:27:32If you warm up this corned beef instead, it won't be completely ruined as it's still
00:27:35easily above average. Grace was founded in Jamaica a century ago. Today, the company
00:27:40and its subsidiaries operate across the Caribbean, UK, and Central and North America. It's one of
00:27:46the most popular brands on the island, and you'll immediately understand why after your very first
00:27:50bite. You may need to grab a map to understand Argentina corned beef. Argentina is just the
00:27:56brand name as the South American country actually has nothing to do with this product. In fact,
00:28:01this particular brand is owned by Century Pacific Food, which is headquartered in the Philippines.
00:28:06And interestingly enough, Argentina corned beef is made in the United States, which is actually
00:28:10rare in this industry. Meanwhile, Brazil, Argentina's neighbor in South America,
00:28:14is the leading manufacturer of canned corned beef. Once you forget about the geography and
00:28:19let your taste buds take center stage, you'll discover that this corned beef is actually really
00:28:23good. Look for the shredded version if you want a unique treat as it's firmer and less fatty
00:28:28compared to other brands. And to enhance the flavor, it comes in a delectable sauce that
00:28:32adds an extra savory dose of meatiness. If you're looking for canned corned beef that
00:28:39tastes like it's homemade, go for Exeter. It comes in a slick retro can and it tastes like
00:28:44the stuff your grandmother used to make. The flavor is a beautiful marriage of beef and salt
00:28:48with nothing else interrupting the proceedings. It even manages to taste fresh even though it's
00:28:53in a can and that's especially notable because a lot of the competition on the market tastes
00:28:57extremely processed. A can of Exeter corned beef looks like something that you might find
00:29:02in the back of your grandmother's cupboard or like a piece in an antique collection.
00:29:06Just make sure that the can says that it's a product of Brazil. If it says that it was
00:29:10made in Argentina, it's a counterfeit, in which case you should eat it only at your own risk.
00:29:15If you want the top store brand of canned corned beef, then head directly to Aldi.
00:29:19That's where you'll find Brookdale's Corned Beef and Corned Beef Hash. This brand is cheap
00:29:24in price and rich in flavor. The hash may be a little bit better, but neither option will let
00:29:28you down. If you opt for the hash, you owe it to yourself to eat it with eggs. Fry a couple sunny
00:29:33side up and then allow the yolk and the hash to mingle. The resulting combination will be so
00:29:38spectacular that you'll be thinking about it all day. Aldi has a lot of cans on its shelves and
00:29:43there are a lot of outstanding values to be found. So before you head to one of its stores,
00:29:47be absolutely sure to add this corned beef to your shopping list.
00:29:51If you've ever enjoyed a delicious Jamaican meal that prominently features corned beef,
00:29:55and you want to try to replicate the recipe in your own kitchen, then go with the Jamaican
00:29:59Country Styles canned corned beef. This stuff is amazingly rich and has a surprisingly complex
00:30:04flavor profile. The corned beef is salty once it hits your tongue, and then moments later,
00:30:09you're met with a flood of savoriness. And before you swallow, you'll be able to detect a pleasing
00:30:13hint of sweetness. If a Jamaican local tells you to try some bully beef, this is the exact
00:30:18sort of thing they're talking about. While there are other options on the market, Jamaican Country
00:30:22Style does it best. This brand has been around for almost four decades, and it's completely
00:30:27owned and operated by Jamaicans, although the canned corned beef is produced in Uruguay,
00:30:31a small nation in South America between Brazil and Argentina.
00:30:35We're almost to the very best canned corned beef in the world.
00:30:38Hereford doesn't quite rank number one on our list, but it's definitely worth trying at least
00:30:43once in your life. It tastes different than every other brand, and the quality is pristine.
00:30:47It's also free of added hormones and contains no MSG or gluten.
00:30:51While lesser brands are known to use fillers, this canned meat is 98%
00:30:55beef. Hereford is a French company that's primarily known for its corned beef,
00:30:59and it's used the same exact recipe for decades. Once you taste it, you may struggle to justify
00:31:04ever switching to another brand. Simply put, the flavor of the beef is top-notch.
00:31:09Comparing other brands to this one would be like comparing a steak at a dirty diner to
00:31:12one at a fancy steakhouse. It's just not even a contest.
00:31:17It's impossible to go wrong when it comes to the canned corned beef made by Libby's.
00:31:21First of all, it's widely available throughout the United States, so it's easy to track down.
00:31:25Second, whether you prefer corned beef or corned beef hash, Libby's has you covered.
00:31:29Both are equally excellent. And finally, this canned meat tastes great if it's hot,
00:31:34cold, or any temperature in between. If a recipe calls for canned corned beef,
00:31:39Libby's is always more than capable of doing a fantastic job.
00:31:42So how did Libby's become the king of the corned beef universe?
00:31:45Experience plays a major part. Since their very beginning back in 1869,
00:31:50the company has focused on canned corned beef. More than 150 years later,
00:31:54it's safe to say that Libby's has mastered the art of this particular canned delicacy.
00:31:59You'll like Libby's.
00:32:01Corned beef, lifesaver or planet destroyer? How can something that wreaks havoc on your heart
00:32:07health also be such a steadfast historical staple? Cured meats, like salami and other
00:32:13standard cold cuts, are a common meal option. But curing meat, which means treating it with a
00:32:18blend of salt, sugar, and nitrites to extend its shelf life, wasn't popular post-1867.
00:32:24According to the book, A History of the City of Chicago, Its Men and Institutions,
00:32:29meat was cured only during winter until then. So what happened?
00:32:33In the summer of 1867, a certain gentleman named Arthur A. Libby showed that one didn't have to
00:32:39wait for the temperatures to dip to start curing the meat. It could be a year-round production.
00:32:43Libby's was founded shortly after this revelation and set the standards for
00:32:47preserving and packing meat. The beef was stuffed into cans and sealed airtight,
00:32:51preserving the meat. It was a stroke of genius that changed the industry.
00:32:56Libby's outgrew their original facility in just a few years. Eventually, it expanded to the then
00:33:01widely popular meatpacking district in Chicago, the Union Stockyards. A number of meat processing
00:33:06plants, pens, and slaughterhouses came together to occupy a 450-acre swath of land that, according
00:33:13to NPR, saw a whopping 13 million livestock sold annually. It also brought in about half a million
00:33:19tourists each year. And while the idea of animal slaughter as a tourist attraction seems bizarre
00:33:24today, it was a big deal then, and Libby's and its corned beef were a part of this important history.
00:33:29According to A History of Chicago, Libby's operations spanned about 10.5 acres in the
00:33:34multi-billion-dollar livestock plant, with 2,500 employees helping churn out as many as 5 million
00:33:41cans of meat per month by 1901. Over the years, with the construction of highways and the launch
00:33:46of refrigerated trucks, the many processing plants clustered in the area for easy access
00:33:51to the railroad decided to disperse out to different locations, and in doing so,
00:33:56they left what was once the pride of Chicago to be demolished in 1971.
00:34:01Opting for canned corned beef, no matter what the form, means that you are not being very
00:34:05environmentally friendly. According to Green Choice Now, Libby's corned beef has a very high
00:34:11carbon and water footprint. But it's not just the brand in particular. Beef and lamb are associated
00:34:16with high greenhouse gas emissions compared to, say, pork or chicken. A little more than 2 pounds
00:34:21of beef generates over 130 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per UK climate change website,
00:34:27Carbon Brief. And that's not the only bad news. Just one pound of beef requires 1,847 gallons of
00:34:34water for production, according to the Water Footprint Network. Then, of course, there is
00:34:39the cattle feed, which requires more land and resources. Per a study published in a scientific
00:34:44journal called Animals, 13 pounds of feed is required for a quarter pound hamburger. To make
00:34:50all the food available for the herds of cattle, large areas of forests are cleared to be used as
00:34:54pasture, a practice that affects ecosystems and aggravates climate change. And that can lead to
00:35:00a pretty bleak future. Millions of acres laid waste by thoughtlessness and neglect.
00:35:05Back in the late 1880s, you would have been considered cool if you casually brought out a
00:35:10bright red can of Libby's corned beef for your guests. Not just because of the uniquely shaped
00:35:15can, but that the product was world famous. It had earned a name in international expositions.
00:35:20According to Libby's, its corned beef bagged the highest gold medal award in Paris back in 1878,
00:35:27even before the Statue of Liberty was gifted by France to the US or the Eiffel Tower rose on the
00:35:32Paris skyline. Over the years, Libby's expanded beyond Chicago throughout the rest of the United
00:35:37States. And by the 1920s and 1930s, it had built plants in England, Poland, France, and Germany.
00:35:44Some Libby's corned beef cans have been in brutal places. For starters, all of the American troops
00:35:49in World War I had a can of Libby's corned beef in their emergency ration kit, per Libby's
00:35:54International. If you think about it, there couldn't have been an easier way for the army
00:35:58folks to consume 130 calories conveniently. Naturally, the product was popular among those
00:36:04on the battlefield. Turns out it wasn't just used by American troops, but by armies across the globe.
00:36:09The company's contribution to war efforts extends beyond feeding the army. Libby's played its part
00:36:14in getting the world back on its feet after World War II by establishing plants in England,
00:36:19the Netherlands, and Germany that could produce employment opportunities. Today, it's possible to
00:36:24have breakfast in Paris and dinner in New York on the same day, in part because of the pioneer
00:36:30aviator Charles Lindbergh. While Lindbergh's claim to fame was completing the first solo flight
00:36:35trip from New York to Paris, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in about 34 hours, the National Air and Space
00:36:41Museum says that he also explored different international routes alongside his partner,
00:36:46Anne Morrow Lindbergh. But what has that got to do with Libby's? Turns out, Libby's canned corned beef
00:36:51was among the emergency rations that the Lindberghs carried with them on their flight adventures,
00:36:56per the Pioneers of Flight Gallery. This means Libby's corned beef was probably part of the very
00:37:01first flight that charted the path from Newfoundland to Europe. But the product, it turns out,
00:37:06went on more adventures than one. According to Libby's, cans of corned beef were also part of
00:37:11Admiral Richard Byrd's expeditions to the North Pole in 1905. There is little else that equals
00:37:17the feeling of having ready-to-eat food after a long day of work. Libby's guarantees that comfort.
00:37:23The meat that's inside the can is cooked and ready to be consumed directly out of the can.
00:37:27You don't even have to heat it. While scooping it out with a spoon or fork is one way to eat it,
00:37:32you could also turn the block of meat into cubes or slices and serve them as hors d'oeuvres. Whether
00:37:37you jazz it up with some seasoning or opt for an already flavored one, like corned beef with smoke,
00:37:42is up to you. Corned beef can be a star ingredient in your turnovers, sandwich, or hash. There are
00:37:48tons of good ways to eat canned corned beef, whether it's with an egg or in a delicious
00:37:52appetizer. Plenty of recipes use it as the star of the show. And given its versatility and pre-cooked
00:37:58nature, it won't take long to turn a can into a full entree that's as fancy as you want to get.
00:38:05Canned corned beef might not be a go-to ingredient, but for every culinary catastrophe,
00:38:11there's a glimmer of gastronomical hope that transforms this back-of-the-pantry staple
00:38:16into a mouth-watering masterpiece. If you think about it, a lot of good things come in pairs.
00:38:23Two heads are better than one, the old saying goes. And it's true for food, too. Take, for example,
00:38:28the following dynamic food duos. Cake and ice cream, peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies,
00:38:35and of course, bacon and eggs. In this case, make it canned corned beef and eggs.
00:38:41This protein-packed breakfast meat is arguably best served with a fried egg.
00:38:46Even better, opt for corned beef hash with an egg on top. And honestly, keep the bacon, too.
00:38:53The running yolk in a fried egg acts like a creamy sauce and helps cut the saltiness of
00:38:57the canned meat. If you want to get fancy, add a poached egg instead of a fried one for the
00:39:02same effect. You might be wondering if it's suitable to sub in a scrambled egg instead.
00:39:08And the answer is no. Why? For one thing, canned corned beef has a specific texture.
00:39:14A scrambled egg doesn't have much texture going for it and can add an unappetizing mush factor
00:39:19to an already soft meal. Don't treat yourself so harshly if you haven't been eating as well
00:39:25as you'd like to be. Self-care is not an indulgence. It's a necessity. So, you're eating meat from a
00:39:31can. So what? Use your creative genes and make something of it. Don't just be plain and mundane.
00:39:37One of the worst things you can do is leave your corned beef totally untouched.
00:39:41Transform your canned meal into something you truly want to eat. Let those fantastic,
00:39:47savory smells waft from your kitchen and let everyone know there's a meal on the way they're
00:39:52going to want to eat. It doesn't even have to be anything major, either. Even adding some simple
00:39:57herbs will really lift your canned corned beef to another level. They can be dried or fresh herbs.
00:40:04Just remember that dried herbs are more concentrated in flavor. So a little goes a long way.
00:40:09I like it better than tuna helper myself. Don't you, Clark?
00:40:13You're the gourmet around here, Ed.
00:40:15Canned corned beef is considered to be a breakfast food by many. And this mighty meaty meal has tons
00:40:21of potential to be a transformative breakfast experience because it's truly more versatile
00:40:26than you might think. Almost any savory morning meal can most likely benefit from adding or
00:40:31substituting the salty, fatty goodness of canned corned beef. For example, if you're a lover of
00:40:37breakfast tacos or burritos, just fry up some canned corned beef and substitute it in place
00:40:43of the protein. If you can't start the day off without a nice, hearty omelet, consider adding
00:40:48some canned beef, sauteed tomatoes, and feta or goat cheese to your next egg wrap. What about
00:40:54adding some canned corned beef to a frittata or quiche? Or if you're going to a brunch picnic,
00:40:59consider making some crescent rolls filled with canned corned beef, scrambled eggs, and gooey
00:41:05cheese. Butter is delicious, but it does have its time, place, and purpose. Butter is great when
00:41:11used for browning or sauteing, but it might not be the best fat for getting a good crisp.
00:41:17Masterclass notes that butter has an incredibly low smoke point, or burning point, which means
00:41:22that your chances of scorching your beloved breakfast are much greater. Plus, using butter
00:41:27to fry your canned corned beef is also a way to add unnecessary fats and calories to your diet.
00:41:33And it's really not needed. Canned corned beef already contains fat that will cook down and help
00:41:38with the cooking process. But if you really feel the need to add something, opt for refined oils
00:41:43or those with a high smoke point, like canola or vegetable oil. Still stuck on the buttery flavor?
00:41:49Then check out clarified butter or ghee instead, but save the butter for where it belongs.
00:41:55If you've recently been invited to a party, picnic, or other social gathering,
00:42:09it would only be natural to bring some tiny finger foods to show off your cooking prowess
00:42:13and appreciation, right? That being said, canned corned beef is probably not high on your list of
00:42:19go-to items to feed the party masses. But it should be. It's a relatively cheap ingredient
00:42:25to buy in bulk, and it can save you time and money if you can think outside the box.
00:42:30Remember, imagination is key. Hiding canned corned beef inside a fried wonton wrapper is
00:42:36such a great and sneaky way to transform it. Everyone loves egg rolls, so why wouldn't a
00:42:41corned beef and cabbage egg roll work? In today's foodie world, it really is all about creative food
00:42:48fusion. You can also try taking a spin on another finger food classic and use canned corned beef,
00:42:54along with some cheese and taco seasoning, as a filling for some homemade taquitos.
00:42:59You're sure to be the life of the party. Hey there! Perhaps one of the reasons why you don't
00:43:03like cooking canned corned beef is because it inevitably ends up clinging to the pan so tightly
00:43:09that nothing can break its eternal embrace. It's no fun once you've got a blackened, burnt mess
00:43:14to deal with. Lucky for you, this issue could be as simple as switching up the pan that you're using.
00:43:20The best way to properly fry up your canned corned beef, and pretty much any other food
00:43:24that you want to get perfectly crisp, is by cooking it in a cast iron skillet. The durable
00:43:29pan can stand up to the super high temperatures you need for rendering fat, frying meats, and more.
00:43:35If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can opt for a Teflon or nonstick pan to ensure an
00:43:40easy cleanup. But steer clear of stainless steel cookware, as it's very easy for your
00:43:46corned beef to get stuck to the bottom while cooking. That's a recipe for disaster.
00:43:51Sometimes making meat-based soups and stews can take more than a few extra steps,
00:43:56and that can end up taking more time than you actually have. Using canned corned beef to
00:44:01replace not only the protein element, but also any extra salt, is a great way to use up that
00:44:06magical mystery beef, and cut your cooking time down. Think of it like a foodie win-win situation.
00:44:17Carne beef is Puerto Rican stewed corned beef, and calls for using the canned version specifically.
00:44:23At its most basic, no frills level, this homestyle stew incorporates the canned meat,
00:44:29potatoes, sweet corn, tomato sauce, sofrito, all-purpose adobo seasoning,
00:44:34as well as sazon seasoning. This is an incredibly simple dish to make, and takes less than 20
00:44:40minutes. Serve it with avocados and white rice, or get really traditional and fry up some sweet
00:44:45plantains. If you happen to have a carrot or two, a few ribs of celery, an onion, and some pearl barley,
00:44:51you can always substitute another grain or rice-like pasta too. Try making some vegetable
00:44:56beef and barley soup, or even minestrone soup, with canned corned beef. Or maybe crisp up some
00:45:03corned beef and add it to a corn or potato chowder. The creaminess will dull the sodium,
00:45:07and the crunch will bring some nice texture to your bowl of comfort food.
00:45:11Science states that there is no downside to eating a nice rainbow assortment of fruits and vegetables.
00:45:17And while produce of pretty much all colors can be touted as having anti-inflammatory properties,
00:45:22each individual variety benefits a different bodily component. Another great thing about
00:45:27fruits and veggies is that you can't really have too many of them. The more, the merrier.
00:45:32When it comes to canned corned beef, a dish filled with vegetables will help tone down the sodium
00:45:37level and give your mushy meat some much-needed textural and flavor variety. If you've been eating
00:45:43plain canned corned beef, it's time to liven it up with some color. If you're a little weary of
00:45:49creating your own flavor combinations, just start small and add some potato, onion, and an herb like
00:45:55basil or rosemary. Mushrooms are another great option. Then try roasting some brussels sprouts
00:46:01along with your crispy meat. Or make a melange of roasted vegetables and serve them alongside
00:46:06your protein sauté. Don't forget to marvel at all the healthy colors. Although canned corned beef is
00:46:12a 100% American foodie creation, that hasn't stopped it from circumnavigating the globe
00:46:18and unsuspectingly plopping itself down at the tables of different international cuisines.
00:46:23In Jamaica, canned corned beef is called bully beef. The canned corned beef is cooked with bell
00:46:29peppers, onions, garlic, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers and served alongside starchy foods like
00:46:35boiled green bananas or rice. The Chamorro, the indigenous peoples of Guam and the Mariana Islands,
00:46:42are particularly fond of corned beef with cabbage and onions. This classic comfort dish incorporates
00:46:48canned corned beef, sautéed onion, thinly sliced green cabbage, and sometimes green beans or
00:46:54eggplant. Canned corned beef also lends itself quite well to the humble and filling casserole
00:47:00type dish, cottage pie. Cottage pie is pretty much the same as its sibling, shepherd's pie,
00:47:06except that the latter uses ground lamb and not ground beef. In addition to your protein of choice,
00:47:11in this case, that would be your beloved canned corned beef, this traditional homey British pub
00:47:18food contains garlic, onions, and carrots, as well as tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce,
00:47:24and a few other kitchen staples. And of course, it all gets topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.
00:47:30It all sounds pretty delicious, right? It is, and it's a great reason to keep a few cans of
00:47:35corned beef around for those nights when you want something different, but still delicious and
00:47:40simple. Just avoid the pitfalls. From bully beef sandwiches to a dip you simply can't resist,
00:47:47you'll never think of canned corned beef the same way again. Corned beef hash is a staple meal at
00:47:53diners all over the nation, and for good reason. Crispy, savory hash is a great accompaniment to
00:47:59so many different breakfast foods, playing well with eggs, toast, and a good cup of coffee.
00:48:05But why let line cooks have all the fun? You should be making it at home using canned corned beef.
00:48:11For at-home corned beef hash, you'll need a can of corned beef, diced potatoes, onions, three or
00:48:17four eggs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, paprika, parsley, salt, and pepper. First,
00:48:23preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then saute the onions in a cast iron pan until they become soft
00:48:31and slightly translucent. Next, add the garlic, paprika, and a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce
00:48:37to the pan. When you're done with all of that, add the potatoes to the mix, along with a generous
00:48:42amount of salt and pepper, and fry it all for a few minutes. Now, pop some of the canned corned
00:48:48beef into the pan and press everything down with a spatula so that the whole mass gets crispy on the
00:48:53bottom, then flip. As the other side crisps up, crack your eggs and put them on the hash. Place
00:48:59the pan in the oven to cook the eggs. After you remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle with
00:49:04parsley before serving. When your appetite is demanding that you jump into something delicious,
00:49:10there's only one way to roll, or should we say, casserole?
00:49:17If you have some canned corned beef available, then all you need is a few more ingredients to
00:49:22whip up a super savory casserole. Along with the corned beef, you'll need some thinly sliced
00:49:27potatoes, diced onion, cabbage, a quarter cup of milk, a teaspoon of dry mustard, and a can of
00:49:34cream of celery soup. First, mix the cream of celery soup with milk and mustard. Grab yourself
00:49:40a casserole dish and layer the bottom with some of the thinly sliced potatoes. Then hit them with
00:49:45salt and pepper and scatter the diced onion all over. After that, add the chopped cabbage, followed
00:49:51by the canned corned beef. Layer the top of the dish with the rest of the sliced potatoes, and
00:49:56then pour the soup mixture on top. Bake the dish for an hour and a half at 375 degrees, and then
00:50:03you'll be casseroling your way down to flavor town. A Bully Beef Sandwich is simply one that
00:50:09is chock full of that delicious canned corned beef. To make one of these savory handheld meals,
00:50:15you need just a few ingredients that may already be waiting for you in your kitchen.
00:50:19Those would be canned corned beef, a white onion, a can of diced tomatoes, garlic, and ketchup.
00:50:25This may be a simple list, but we assure you that it yields a supremely yummy meal. Start by sautéing
00:50:32the diced onions, tomatoes, and garlic in a skillet. Once the veggies soften, add the corned
00:50:38beef and break it apart with a spatula. Give the mixture a few minutes in the heat until it all
00:50:43starts to caramelize. Once that's happened, add in the ketchup and give it a couple more minutes
00:50:49to warm up. All that's left is to grab a couple of slices of your favorite bread and pile on the
00:50:54corned beef. If you're a mustard enthusiast, a little smear of the condiment will give the sandwich
00:51:00extra flavor and a bite of acidity. If you've ever wanted to dive headfirst into the wonderland
00:51:06of Filipino cuisine, then kick off your morning with this Filipino-style canned corned beef.
00:51:12To make it, you'll need just a few basic ingredients — namely, canned corned beef,
00:51:17diced potatoes, diced white onion, minced garlic, halved cherry tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Start by
00:51:25sautéing the potatoes until they soften. Then add in the onions and cook both veggies for a few
00:51:30minutes until the onions become fragrant. Once the pan gives off that lovely oniony smell,
00:51:36add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to release all their juices, too.
00:51:42Toss in the corned beef and sauté the whole thing until the meat cooks and all the veggies have been
00:51:47cooked to a perfect texture. Add salt and some freshly cracked black pepper to taste, then sit
00:51:53down to enjoy the flavors of this Philippines-inspired meal. You can't talk about St. Patrick's Day
00:52:00without mentioning the classic combo of corned beef and cabbage. For some diners, this is the
00:52:05one day of the year that they will indulge in corned beef, but there's no reason to only enjoy
00:52:11this meal on a single day in March. If you're looking to eat a corned beef and cabbage meal
00:52:16any time of the year, make it easy by using canned corned beef. To prepare it, simply snag
00:52:22yourself some corned beef in a can along with four strips of bacon, coarsely chopped cabbage,
00:52:28butter, salt, and pepper. Start by cooking the bacon until it's almost entirely crisp.
00:52:34Set the strips aside for a moment and start cooking down the cabbage in a large pan with
00:52:39a few tablespoons of butter and a dash of water to keep things from burning.
00:52:43While the cabbage cooks, cut the bacon into small pieces. Then add the diced bacon and canned corned
00:52:49beef to the cabbage and cook it all until you reach your desired doneness. The only thing left
00:52:55is to enjoy. If you want to kick your day off properly with a good breakfast, it's hard to go
00:53:00wrong with quiche. You can add so many different veggies and meats to it that you'll be dizzied by
00:53:06the seemingly infinite number of delicious quiche possibilities. If you have some canned corned beef
00:53:12lying around, you can bet your bottom dollar that there's a savory quiche just waiting to be made
00:53:17with that pantry staple. To make your corned beef quiche, first assemble your ingredients.
00:53:23You'll need that corned beef, as well as a pie crust, a half cup of shredded Swiss cheese,
00:53:29minced onions, and garlic, five eggs, a quarter cup of heavy cream, a quarter cup of milk,
00:53:35and pepper. After preheating your oven to 425 degrees, mix the corned beef, eggs, onions,
00:53:42garlic, milk, cream, cheese, and pepper in a bowl. Pour the bowl's contents into the pie crust,
00:53:48then pop that bad boy in the oven for about an hour. Don't forget to keep an eye on it towards
00:53:53the end to make sure that you don't overcook things. According to the American Egg Board,
00:53:59a knife-inserted midway should come out clean. Be sure to take it out of the oven before the
00:54:04center is fully set, as the residual heat will keep things cooking for a few minutes more.
00:54:09Few meals are as deliciously messy as Sloppy Joe's.
00:54:14I know how to use kids like I'm sloppy.
00:54:19Lady, you're scaring us.
00:54:20However, the Sloppy Joe game gets kicked up a few notches when you combine canned corned beef
00:54:25with the regular ground beef that forms the bulk of this classic. Get ready for a zestier version
00:54:31of your favorite messy sandwich. Taking cues from a standard old-fashioned Sloppy Joe recipe,
00:54:37start by browning ground beef in a skillet. While it cooks, stir in the canned corned beef.
00:54:43For some extra flavor, we recommend adding diced onion as well as diced celery.
00:54:48Once the veggies become soft, add the contents of the skillet into a crock pot.
00:54:53Then stir in the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. You may also want to add in a
00:54:58dash of chili powder or some diced green onion. The whole concoction will simmer for around
00:55:04three hours on low heat. Once it's ready, grab a bun and start eating.
00:55:09When Old Man Winter shows his frigid face and chills you to the bone,
00:55:13there are few better meals to eat than a hot bowl of stew. Why not add corned beef to the mix?
00:55:19For a meal that makes you forget about the blustery, freezing discomfort happening outside,
00:55:25all you need is a couple of cups of water, some canned corned beef, diced carrots,
00:55:30onions, and potatoes. The first step is to get your water boiling in a deep pot or Dutch oven.
00:55:36Then add all of the diced veggies to the pot. This will cool the water down a bit,
00:55:40so let the water reach a boil again before adding the corned beef. Stir it around until the meat
00:55:46breaks up. Taste it occasionally to make sure the broth is flavored by the corned beef,
00:55:51adding salt and pepper as needed. Once it's rich and savory, serve and enjoy.
00:55:57This awesome creation is a delicious marriage between shepherd's pie and corned beef hash.
00:56:02For this dish, we'll riff on a classic shepherd's pie recipe. You'll need a pound
00:56:07of mashed potatoes, diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, chicken broth, parsley,
00:56:13thyme, and canned corned beef. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees.
00:56:18To make the cottage pie filling, grab a skillet and cook down the onions until they become fragrant
00:56:24and slightly translucent. Then add the chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, parsley,
00:56:30and thyme. Once the broth reduces by half, add the corned beef and let the whole thing simmer
00:56:35until there's almost no liquid left. Spoon the contents of the skillet into a baking dish and
00:56:41top it off with a hearty serving of mashed potatoes. If cheese and breadcrumbs are your
00:56:46things, then you can sprinkle a little on top before popping it all in the oven.
00:56:50Then let it bake for 15 minutes or until the top is nicely browned.
00:56:56If you're a fan of Mexican cuisine, then you probably love a good burrito.
00:57:00It doesn't matter what kind of veggies or meat you roll up in a tortilla,
00:57:04the result is always pretty damn…
00:57:07"...language."
00:57:08Sorry, darn delicious. You might not have come across corned beef stuffed burritos before,
00:57:14but this variation on a beloved classic makes it happen. Grab some canned corned beef,
00:57:19cooked white rice, red onion, diced jalapeno, avocado, thyme, and ketchup.
00:57:25Grab yourself a skillet to cook the diced jalapenos, onions, and thyme in a bit of oil
00:57:30until fragrant. Then add in the corned beef and ketchup and stir the mixture until the
00:57:35corned beef is thoroughly warm. Finally, lay down a warm tortilla and spoon the contents
00:57:40of the skillet in the middle, along with some rice and slices of avocado. If you want some spice,
00:57:46add on your favorite zesty salsa.
00:57:49We all know that just because something is simple doesn't mean it won't taste as awesome
00:57:53as an intricately crafted meal. With that in mind, corned beef spaghetti is one of the easiest
00:57:59dishes you can whip up using canned corned beef. To make it, you'll need corned beef,
00:58:04spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, minced garlic, and diced onion. In a skillet, cook the garlic,
00:58:10onions, and corned beef in oil until the meat is warm and the onions are translucent.
00:58:16Get the pasta boiling in a different pot, then add spaghetti sauce into the skillet and let it
00:58:21simmer. Once the pasta is done, drain it and add the sauce. Then you can top it with a sprinkle
00:58:26of shredded cheese and serve. No matter what time of day or year, you really can't go wrong with
00:58:33chips and dip, as long as you don't double dip.
00:58:36Double dipped? What are you talking about? You dip the chip, you took a bite, and you dipped again.
00:58:43So if you enjoy the taste of corned beef, why not create an awesome dip out of it?
00:58:48It's super easy to make, and if you invite some friends over to share,
00:58:52they'll ask you for the recipe before they leave. All you need is three simple ingredients,
00:58:57and you're ready to rock and roll the chips and dip way. Grab your canned corned beef,
00:59:02an envelope of dry onion soup mix, and a 16-ounce container of sour cream. Combine all three
00:59:08ingredients in one bowl, and once they're mixed thoroughly, let them chill for an hour.
00:59:13Now, call up your buddies and tell them you have a savory surprise that's eagerly awaiting
00:59:18their appetites. We're not kidding when we say that there are so many delicious ways to get
00:59:24creative with canned corned beef. For this list of corned beef ideas, we consulted a couple of
00:59:30culinary experts. Jessica Nerthling, the Associate Manager of Public Relations and Digital Media at
00:59:36B&G Foods, Inc., and Jason Horan, Foods Brand Manager for Retail Marketing and for Convenient
00:59:41Meals and Protein at Hormel. First up is a classic deli favorite. Restaurant Reuben sandwiches
00:59:47typically use fresh corned beef, but there's no reason you can't make a Reuben at home with the
00:59:52canned version. You may even end up liking it better because all the ingredients intermingle.
00:59:57You can go ahead and mix in Thousand Island salad dressing and a bit of horseradish. For
01:00:02the full experience, use rye bread, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. To make it even better,
01:00:08toast the assembled sandwich in a skillet with melted butter, and you can ultimately adapt canned
01:00:13corned beef to any Reuben sandwich recipe by just subbing in the canned version for the fresh beef.
01:00:20Another fun idea is to use canned corned beef to make sloppy joes.
01:00:24And of course, you can always get a little more gourmet and make your sloppy joe from scratch.
01:00:30Just substitute in canned corned beef for ground beef and simmer it with grilled onions, peppers,
01:00:36garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Onion powder, garlic
01:00:42powder, salt, and pepper are all the seasonings you need. Then put the mix between two buns or
01:00:47pieces of bread. Another option for making sloppy joes with canned corned beef is to use a powdered
01:00:52mix. Cook as directed with the powder and tomato paste and just substitute the corned beef for
01:00:57cooked hamburger meat. There's a certain Filipino corned beef hash dish made with potatoes, garlic,
01:01:04onions, tomatoes, and rice. It's known as silog. There are actually multiple versions of silog,
01:01:10and the corned beef variety is called corn silog. Many variations of corned silog include a fried
01:01:16egg served on the side or on top. Some people even use grated cabbage in the mix. Everything
01:01:22is fried up together in a skillet and served over rice. Plain rice works fine, but garlic rice is
01:01:27even better. And if you would prefer to avoid cooking the tomatoes along with everything else,
01:01:32you can serve sliced tomatoes on the side instead.
01:01:37Mexican flavors taste great with corned beef, so it makes an excellent stand-in for the meat
01:01:42that's typically used in tacos or burritos. There are a couple of ways to make this happen.
01:01:47One is to simply add the meat to a skillet and sauté it with two or three tablespoons
01:01:52of tomato sauce and your favorite taco seasoning mix. Alternatively, you can sauté the meat in
01:01:57olive oil with diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and seasonings like oregano, cumin, garlic,
01:02:03and cilantro. For a breakfast version, add an egg to the rest of the ingredients while cooking.
01:02:09Serve the meat in a taco shell or wrapped in flour tortilla to make a burrito. Some ideas
01:02:15for fixings include lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
01:02:21What do I love about tacos? What's that? Everything.
01:02:24Corned beef and cabbage are often served side by side or together. You can enhance the canned
01:02:29version with a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce, spices like paprika and thyme, and herbs
01:02:34like parsley and dill. Another way to add some zing is to sauté the cabbage with a couple of
01:02:39tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce. For even more bite, add two or three tablespoons of vinegar.
01:02:44Season it with garlic, caraway seeds, and Italian seasoning before adding this mixture to the hot
01:02:49corned beef. Worcestershire sauce also tastes pretty dang good in classic corned beef hash
01:02:54recipes. Sauté the canned meat with the sauce as well as diced potatoes, diced onions, caraway seeds,
01:03:00salt, and pepper. Grainy mustard is a good addition as well. And don't forget the option
01:03:04of topping it with a fried egg and maybe even a bit of brown sauce.
01:03:09One inventive way to turn canned corned beef into a gourmet breakfast is to add eggs,
01:03:14tomatoes, and spices to turn it into shakshuka. All you have to do is add the meat to an ordinary
01:03:20shakshuka recipe. To make basic corned beef shakshuka, simply sauté the meat with onion
01:03:26and bell peppers in olive oil in an ovenproof skillet. Then add spices and crushed tomatoes,
01:03:31and make nests in the sauce for holding the eggs. You can also crumble feta cheese or
01:03:36cooked potatoes into the mixture for extra flavor, texture, and nutrition.
01:03:40The skillet then needs to go into the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit to set the
01:03:45eggs. Some basic spices that you can add include garlic, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes,
01:03:51caraway, and nutmeg. For some extra heat, try adding jalapenos or chipotles in adobo sauce.
01:03:58Since potatoes combine so well with canned corned beef, it's not too much of a stretch to imagine
01:04:04how it might combine with potato salad. You'll want to use a variety that really brings out
01:04:09the flavors of the canned meat. The strong profile in a dill pickle, mayo, sour cream,
01:04:15or Dijon mustard-based potato salad works especially well with corned beef.
01:04:20Make sure to add extra dill to amp up the flavor.
01:04:22Another option is to make Irish potato salad. In addition to the canned meat,
01:04:27cooked potato cubes, and mayo, it includes flavorful ingredients like vinegar,
01:04:31dill pickle relish, green onions, Dijon mustard, chopped cabbage, and chopped radishes.
01:04:37You can also add in celery seed, dill, and mayo.
01:04:41Show me potato salad!
01:04:43You can use canned corned beef as the protein in any stir-fry recipe. If you want to wing it,
01:04:49start by tossing the beef in a wok together with your favorite veggies. Tasty options include green
01:04:54onions, bell peppers, broccoli, napa cabbage, and mushrooms. Finish it off with some sauce
01:05:00and serve over rice. If you want to make your own stir-fry sauce, consider using beef stock,
01:05:06red wine vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and a little cornstarch for thickening.
01:05:12Garnish with cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, or chili garlic sauce for maximum flavor.
01:05:19Another way to elevate canned corned beef is to add it to fried rice, thereby making it an overall
01:05:25more filling meal. Simply season the meat with freshly minced or ground ginger and garlic,
01:05:30then cook it on the stove with chopped onions and mixed veggies.
01:05:34Next, either add pre-scrambled eggs directly to the pan or push the ingredients to the side
01:05:39and lightly scramble two eggs before adding leftover cooked rice to the pan. Then mix it
01:05:44all together with a dash or two of soy sauce or a more complex mixture of soy sauce, brown sugar,
01:05:49and rice wine vinegar. If you're looking for shortcuts, you can combine the meat with leftover
01:05:54restaurant fried rice and warm it all together in a skillet. You could also combine it with
01:05:59frozen fried rice from the grocery store. Consider combining corned beef with noodles,
01:06:05tomatoes, and a hearty cheese. You can go two different directions with this idea,
01:06:09either Italian or Filipino. The Italian version involves simmering together corned beef with
01:06:14spaghetti sauce, serving it over spaghetti noodles, and topping it with grated Parmesan cheese. You
01:06:20can also make your own sauce by simmering together sauteed onion and garlic with the meat,
01:06:24then adding blanched and peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, and fresh basil. For even more flavor,
01:06:30try boiling your noodles in chicken broth or water flavored with chicken bouillon.
01:06:34The sauce in the Filipino version has quite the flavorful twist in the form of banana ketchup,
01:06:40which joins tomato paste, tomato sauce, soy sauce, white sugar, and black pepper.
01:06:45Serve over noodles and top with shredded or grated cheese.
01:06:49When combining corned beef with mac and cheese, you could just use the boxed version,
01:06:54but for a more gourmet approach, make it from scratch or turn it into a casserole.
01:06:59Bless this highly nutritious microwaveable macaroni and cheese dinner,
01:07:03and the people who sold it on sale. Amen."
01:07:06To add it to the homemade version, combine the meat with some more nae sauce,
01:07:10then follow a standard baked mac and cheese recipe to add the rest of the ingredients.
01:07:14To take it up a notch, cooked diced onions with the meat first,
01:07:18and add a can of cream of mushroom soup before popping it in the oven.
01:07:22You could also make a stovetop version of this dish. Further enhancements include a can of cream
01:07:26of chicken soup and minced onions with buttery cracker crumbs crumbled and then sprinkled on top.
01:07:33Adding corned beef to cornbread muffins is a great way to be both spicy and cheesy.
01:07:38If you're using a whole can of corned beef, grab two boxes of cornbread mix.
01:07:42Make the muffins according to the directions on the package,
01:07:44then mix in the canned corned beef with wet ingredients like milk.
01:07:48You can really take things to the next level with diced jalapenos and shredded cheddar cheese.
01:07:53Once you've mixed everything together, bake it according to the package instructions.
01:07:57Another option is a layered muffin that starts with a greased tin
01:08:01and a couple of tablespoons of corned beef. Make a well in the meat and add an egg,
01:08:05topped with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper,
01:08:08then pour prepared cornbread muffin mix on top to fill the muffin cups,
01:08:12and bake according to the directions.
01:08:15Sweet potatoes and other veggies are excellent additions to corned beef,
01:08:18either in hash or baked form. If you want to make them into a hash, start by boiling or
01:08:23baking cubed sweet potatoes, then combine them in a skillet with meat and other veggies like onions,
01:08:28peppers, or cooked beets. Alternatively, you can add mashed sweet potatoes to an
01:08:33oiled skillet with sauteed onions, sauteed zucchini, corned beef, hash browns, and cheese.
01:08:39If you'd like to make it for breakfast, make wells in the hash and add eggs to cook until set.
01:08:44You can also add corned beef hash to baked sweet potatoes. Start out by baking the sweet potato,
01:08:49then scoop out the insides and mix the fluffy interior with the corned beef, sauteed kale,
01:08:54green onions, and shredded cheese before refilling the potato and reheating it in the oven.
01:08:59Another interesting idea is to incorporate corned beef into a party dip.
01:09:04My name is Rod, and I like to party.
01:09:08A strong and flavorful cold dip option combines a can of crumbled corned beef
01:09:13with diced onion, mayonnaise and sour cream, fresh parsley, and dried or fresh dill.
01:09:19If you want something even easier, simply mix together a can of meat
01:09:23with an envelope of onion soup mix and a carton of sour cream.
01:09:27A hot-baked version combines the beef with cream cheese, sour cream, chopped bell peppers,
01:09:33scallions, Worcestershire sauce, onion salt, horseradish, hot sauce, and chopped pecans.
01:09:39Another option brings together corned beef with sauteed onions, cream cheese, sour cream,
01:09:44mayonnaise, Swiss cheese, and garlic powder. It's especially delicious when served inside bread bowls.
01:09:51Corned beef can even be a part of meatballs. You can either mix it in with ground beef
01:09:56or use only the corned beef. Then just fry or bake them according to your favorite meatball recipe.
01:10:02Serve them as you would regular meatballs or alongside cooked cabbage.
01:10:06When making a combined version, mix a can of corned beef with a half pound of regular ground
01:10:11beef. Then add a beaten egg, breadcrumbs, and a spicy brown mustard along with garlic powder
01:10:16or any other seasonings. A corned beef meatball recipe without additional meat
01:10:21can also incorporate chopped cabbage, eggs, flour, and whole grain mustard.
01:10:27Finally, you can go ahead and make corned beef part of your favorite soup or stew.
01:10:32You could choose cream of mushroom or vegetable soups, or opt for a meat-filled stew and make
01:10:37it even meatier. One potential homemade option is a simple soup with shredded cabbage, corn,
01:10:43garlic powder, butter, water, salt, and pepper. Simmer it for about an hour before serving with
01:10:48sour cream and crusty bread. A heartier stew combines canned beef with sautéed onions,
01:10:53beef stock, carrots, and potatoes. Add cauliflower, apple cider vinegar,
01:10:58salt and pepper during the last 10 minutes, and finish with cornstarch to help thicken the result.
01:11:04It's the showdown of the century, the royal rumble of the food world. Classic corned beef
01:11:09versus good ol' spam. But what are the actual differences between these two tin titans?
01:11:14The main difference between spam and canned corned beef is the type of meat that is in the can. The
01:11:18name of canned corned beef is pretty clear about the main ingredient, of course — it's made of
01:11:23beef. Spam is slightly less obvious, although the fact that its name rhymes with ham is a bit of a
01:11:28giveaway. This second product contains pork? Mostly. You might assume that spam and corned
01:11:34beef are highly processed with tons of preservatives and additives, but they're
01:11:38actually much simpler than many other products on grocery store shelves. In fact, both have
01:11:42fewer than 10 ingredients. Libby's canned corned beef ingredients label lists only water, sugar,
01:11:49salt, and sodium nitrite after beef. Spam has a similar ingredient list, swapping out beef with
01:11:54pork, and the extra addition of potato starch. Compare that to Oscar Mayer hot dogs, for example,
01:12:00which list 13 ingredients including mechanically separated chicken and turkey, along with several
01:12:05additives. Both spam and corned beef look pretty good in comparison. Sodium nitrite is the sole
01:12:11additive found in spam and canned corned beef, and it's also present in most other cured meats.
01:12:16There have been some health concerns surrounding this preservative, since some research links
01:12:20it to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. That said, eating excessive amounts
01:12:25of any animal protein may cause heart disease and high blood pressure.
01:12:29If you're worried, just avoid eating too much of it. Put simply, spam is cheaper than canned corned beef.
01:12:48The fact that pork is usually cheaper than beef helps explain the difference in price.
01:12:52Meat prices depend on the amount of feed animals need over their lifetime up until slaughter.
01:12:57Producers raise pigs only five or six months while most cattle live between 12 and 22 months.
01:13:03That makes cows far more costly to raise and farm. Interestingly, the per pound prices of fresh meat
01:13:09versus canned meat are actually pretty similar. That might make spam look like a bad deal. It costs
01:13:14about the same as pork chops, but has worse taste and texture. But that's not quite the case. During
01:13:19the canning process, manufacturers cook the meat, meaning that the weight on the label is the exact
01:13:24amount the consumer can eat. But if you buy fresh meat and cook it, it loses some of its weight and
01:13:29size. For example, one pound of raw ground beef reduces to three quarters of a pound when cooked.
01:13:35That means cans tend to enjoy a better price-quantity value. Obviously, though, that's not
01:13:41to say the same is true when it comes to quality. Search for canned meat on any major grocery store
01:13:46website and you'll probably find several flavors of spam versus a much smaller selection of corned
01:13:51beef. Hormel's website lists 12 types of spam including classic, teriyaki, jalapeno, and maple.
01:13:58Redditors seem to hold a number of opinions about which is best. Many recommended the classic,
01:14:03low-sodium, bacon, or teriyaki flavors. Korean barbecue seems to be an exception,
01:14:08with customers rating it around three and a half stars on Hormel's website.
01:14:12The biggest complaints concern the unauthentic Korean spices and an unpleasant flavor combination.
01:14:17If you head to the canned goods aisle for corned beef, you're going to have the choice of about
01:14:21three flavor options. Classic, a low-sodium version, and canned corned beef hash. You'll
01:14:27still have a wide range of brands to pick from, though, since so many companies make canned corned
01:14:32beef. That creates a wider market with more variation in quality and price than is available
01:14:36for spam. Libby's may be the biggest name in the corned beef game, but Goya, Iberia, Ox & Palm,
01:14:43Armor, and even Hormel all pack and sell it, too.
01:14:46The textures of spam and canned corned beef are undeniably different. Spam comes out of the can
01:14:51in a unified block. It's squishy, spongy, and easy to cut into slices. Canned corned beef,
01:14:56on the other hand, is drier and stringier. You can easily identify individual meat fibers, too.
01:15:02Whereas spam is homogeneous, canned corned beef seems more heterogeneous.
01:15:07It doesn't always come out of the can in a whole block and isn't as easy to cut into slices.
01:15:11Spam. Don't knock it till you've fried it.
01:15:15The difference in texture between the two canned meats has to do with the difference in ingredients,
01:15:20as well as the canning and cooking process. To make spam, machines grind pork and mix it with
01:15:25salt and potato starch. Cans are filled with this meat paste before being sealed and cooked
01:15:30in a pressure cooker. The potato starch is likely the ingredient that gives spam
01:15:41its uniform, solid texture. Canned corned beef plants use a similar but not quite identical
01:15:46process. Raw beef is cut, cubed, or shredded, but never ground into a paste. Starch isn't added
01:15:52either, giving the final product a looser texture. Like spam, though, corned beef is most often
01:15:58cooked after the can is packed. Cans of corned beef and spam have
01:16:02interesting shapes, nothing like the cylinders used for other types of canned food. Factories
01:16:06usually pack corned beef into rectangular cans, larger at the base than the top with a key
01:16:11attached. Spam, meanwhile, comes in an untapered, oblong receptacle with rounded corners. The
01:16:17resulting shape is somewhere between an oval and a rectangle, and has a pull ring for easy opening.
01:16:23It's been a long road to get to this point. The history of canned meats began when innovator
01:16:27Nicolas Appert of France first packed meat into heavy glass and ceramic containers. It was the
01:16:32early 1800s, and Appert won a cash prize for his idea from none other than Napoleon Bonaparte.
01:16:42The French emperor needed a more reliable way to feed soldiers, and canned meat seemed promising.
01:16:47After this, English inventor Peter Durand proposed using metal cylinders instead.
01:16:53Others improved upon Appert and Durand's ideas over the next century. In the 1870s,
01:16:58manufacturers such as Arthur A. Libby and William J. Wilson began placing preserved
01:17:03meat into rectangular cans. They may have thought it would be easier to remove the product and then
01:17:08slice evenly. Interestingly, Wilson wanted to patent this model, but the commissioner at the
01:17:12time refused, citing that the St. Louis Beef Canning Company and Robert D. Hunter already
01:17:17used this type of can. Fifty years later, George A. Hormel put ham in a can. He imitated earlier
01:17:23canners, choosing to use a rectangular design. Nicolas Appert invented canned meat to feed
01:17:29soldiers and sailors when fresh food was unavailable. More than a century later,
01:17:33World War II put millions of soldiers from around 70 countries in that same situation.
01:17:38Governments used these preserved products to sustain militaries far from home.
01:17:42Britain fed soldiers mainly canned corned beef and hardtack, and men on the front lines created
01:17:47their own recipes to make the dry, stringy canned meat more palatable. Stew with ground hardtack
01:17:53crumbs, corned beef, and the occasional vegetable was preferable to eating the stuff cold from the
01:17:57can. The United States, on the other hand, provided its men with both Spam and Hormel's
01:18:02infamous K-rations, which consisted of canned ham with vegetables and eggs. The company had just put
01:18:08Spam on the market in 1937, which turned out to be something of a lucky strike due to the coming war.
01:18:14By 1944, the U.S. government was purchasing 90 percent of the company's products to feed its
01:18:20troops. In total, Hormel shipped around 133 million cans overseas to feed U.S. soldiers,
01:18:26Allied forces, and civilians. But while Spam tasted better cold than canned corned beef did,
01:18:32the troops still didn't love it. Hormel's website makes no secret of the fact,
01:18:36sharing this quote from Dwight Eisenhower,
01:18:39"'I ate my share of Spam along with millions of soldiers. I'll even confess to a few unkind
01:18:43remarks about it. As former Commander-in-Chief, I officially forgive you your only sin,
01:18:49sending us so much of it.'"
01:18:51Your preference of canned meat likely depends on where you live. If you're from Puerto Rico or
01:18:55Samoa, your family probably has several well-loved corned beef recipes, such as hash or stew. If
01:19:01you're from Korea or Hawaii, you probably eat Spam and musubi, sandwiches or army-based stew.
01:19:08History and geography forced these regions to develop a taste for canned protein.
01:19:12The British Navy likely introduced canned corned beef to the Caribbean in the 1800s
01:19:17while combating the slave trade. Meanwhile, South Korea began its love affair with Spam
01:19:21because of the American soldiers who were stationed there, as many traded rations for
01:19:25services from locals. Islands such as Samoa and Hawaii hosted military bases and had limited
01:19:31access to fresh meat, so these products quickly became popular.
01:19:35People have an emotional attachment to Spam because we all grew up with Spam.
01:19:41For obvious reasons, areas with cattle and abundant fresh meat have remained generally
01:19:46uninterested by Spam and corned beef. Freybentos, Uruguay, is one example. You won't find canned
01:19:52meat easily in the grocery stores there. Ironically, though, one of the largest corned
01:19:56beef canning factories in the world opened in Freybentos in 1863. In the years after,
01:20:02the town revolutionized the canned meat industry. Despite that, the locals have so much access to
01:20:07fresh beef that canned corned beef simply isn't eaten as a regular part of their diet.
01:20:12A hundred years ago, the word Spam was meaningless. Ever since the product came
01:20:16out in 1937, however, people have wanted to know what it means.
01:20:20What do you think Spam stands for?
01:20:22Super protein ambivalent meat.
01:20:28Hormel plays up to the mystery surrounding the brand name, too. Its official website reads,
01:20:32The real answer is known by only a small circle of former Hormel Foods executives,
01:20:37and probably Nostradamus. If you've only been eating sliced Spam sandwiches or mixing cubes
01:20:43into your macaroni and cheese, you'll be pleased to find that there are endless recipes for the
01:20:47stuff, and they come from all around the world. Take, for example, Spam musubi. This Hawaiian
01:20:53dish places a slice of Spam on a rectangle of rice before wrapping it all in a strip of nori.
01:20:57It's mostly reminiscent of sushi, but without using raw fish.
01:21:01If you're craving Korean flavors, try a recipe for kimchi fried rice with Spam.
01:21:06This is the perfect thing to whip up if you're short on time and have some leftover cooked
01:21:09white rice in the refrigerator. Saute the three main ingredients with pepper flakes,
01:21:14then add soy sauce for flavor. After that, scramble in some eggs.
01:21:18This recipe only takes about 15 minutes, and it's incredibly flavorful and filling to boot.