Air Fryer Spam. This is a cheap and easy way to cook spam in the air fryer. Coated in a homemade breading, spam slices are air fried and perfect for an alternative on the dinner table.
You will love how crispy your fried spam is when cooked in the air fryer and how simple this recipe is for recreating at home in your air fryer.
We originally shared with you how to cook spam in the air fryer back in 2018 and wanted to update it today for you with new photos and extra ideas.
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Spam In Air Fryer
My grandma was one of those amazing ladies that was feeding her kids on WW2 rations. She had five daughters and told me many stories of the WW2 rations that she had, how she did deals and how cans of spam or corned beef, became her best friend.
The idea that you can use spam instead of meat in meals and still feed the kids up during such a difficult time.
Even many years after the UK stopped rationing, my grandparents would still feed me canned spam and I loved it and have so many great childhood memories eating it.
That is why when I shared many of my favourite WW2 recipes back in 2018, spam in the air fryer had a prime position.
If you love spam, corned beef, or another meat from a can, note that you can follow this recipe and make your own in the air fryer.
Or like us make air fryer spam with a can from the pantry you forgot about along with leftover breading. For example, we made air fryer spam with leftovers from air fryer breaded pork chops.
Plus, as well as our free newsletter, we also have a free air fryer mini course. It is ideal for air fryer beginners or those that want to get more confident with their air fryer. The free course runs for 5 days with a new lesson delivered each day to your inbox.
Can You Air Fry Spam?
Yes, you can, and you will be amazed at how good spam tastes when it has been cooked in the air fryer.
Also, you can air fry other luncheon meats too. Don’t think it must be limited to spam because it doesn’t have to be. It can be canned corned beef, canned ham, canned chicken, or even canned turkey.
Do You Have To Cook Spam?
No, you don’t because when you buy canned spam it has already been cooked. Therefore, when you are cooking spam in the air fryer you are technically reheating it. Thus, this brings the length of the cook time way down.
Though of course, this depends on how you want your spam.
How Many Servings In A Can Of Spam?
My rationing grandma would disagree with me, when I say one can of spam is four servings.
I am sure she would have cut it down even further to feed a family of seven from one can!
But to make our air fryer spam recipe, you simply grab a can of spam and create four spam slices.
Then each of those spam slices is air fried to make four portions.
Best Way To Cook Spam?
The best way to cook spam is fried spam. It is delicious and you can add a nice breading to it. Then it makes a cheaper alternative to breaded chicken or breaded fish.
But to save a lot of mess and to keep your fried spam nice and crispy, the air fryer provides a fantastic alternative.
Air frying spam is incredibly crispy spam and because of the size of the average air fryer, you can often do four portions aka one can of spam at once.
Air Fried Spam Ingredients
Spam – I recommend that you use an original can of spam in this recipe. Though you can use one of the flavoured ones or swap it for corned beef. I also recommend prior to air frying your spam, that you place it in the fridge for an hour to help stiffen it a bit. This will help when you are slicing your spam and breading it to make sure the slices don’t fall apart.
Panko – You can use any type of breadcrumbs for your spam fritters, though we used panko. Note that when you use panko it is a dryer breadcrumb, and you need to make sure you have a good layer of egg otherwise you will have dry spam.
Egg. I recommend creating a production line with one bowl with your breadcrumbs, one with your egg and another with your flour. The egg can be any and I usually crack four eggs in a bowl, whisk them with a fork and then add in a little seasoning to make them more flavoursome.
Flour. For the flour, any will do the trick. But what I do recommend is that you season the flour before breading.
Seasoning – You can mix and match your seasonings in this air fryer spam recipe. I love salt, pepper, and parsley, but it’s all about personal choice. You can also season your breadcrumbs, egg, and flour for the ultimate taste sensation.
Then for the kitchen gadgets that we have used in this spam air fryer recipe, it has just been our Philips Air Fryer. We have this one and its wonderful for many types of air fryer breaded recipes and doesn’t stick to the air fryer.
Or if feeding more people you can double the ingredients, use two cans of spam to make eight slices and then increase the other ingredients like this:
How To Cook Spam In Air Fryer?
- Slice. Start by slicing your spam into four equal slices and seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Toss. Load your spam into the flour, the egg, then the breadcrumbs. Make sure it gets a good coating from each bowl.
- Load. Add to the air fryer and air fry until you have tender yet crispy spam slices.
What Can You Make With Spam?
This recipe that I am sharing with you today, is my favourite way to cook spam. But my #2 go to recipe is my instant pot spam fried rice. It is based upon using a can of spam to make a Hawaiian spam dish and its so easy to make.
Another alternative is to use spam in any of the ways that you would use corned beef, or when you would add leftover meat to a dish.
You could even use spam as an alternative in a stroganoff.
Listen To Air Fryer Spam Fritters
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More Air Fryer Breaded Favourites
Air Fryer Spam
Ingredients
Kitchen Gadgets:
Air Fryer Spam Ingredients:
- 200 g Spam
- 150 g Plain Flour
- 4 Large Eggs
- 150 g Breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp Chicken Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- 2 Tbsp Oregano
- 2 Tbsp Parsley
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Place spam in the fridge for an hour (still in its can) so that it can harden up and is easier to make into fritters. Then open your can of spam onto a clean worktop and cut into medium slices.
- Crack eggs into a bowl and mix with a fork and then season with salt and pepper. Place flour in a 2nd bowl and season well with chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper and garlic powder. Place breadcrumbs into a 3rd bowl and mix with salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano.
- Load sliced spam into the flour mixture, then into the egg, and then into the breadcrumbs bowl. Make sure each slice of spam is well coated from each bowl.
- Place the spam fritters into the air fryer basket on a single layer.
- Cook for 8 minutes at 180c/360f. Then serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!
This looks good and I’m going to try it. I have one question though: The Imperial recipe says to use 13.33 cups of SPAM. Is that correct?
Hi Robert
Yes that is correct as close to the software we use allows. 400g equates to 14.10 oz if that helps give you a better conversion 🙂