Hormel Foods Recipes

FAQs

General Questions

Are recipe submissions accepted?

We accept recipes during periodic promotions. Periodically, recipe contests are held at State Fairs. Please contact your State Fair board if this interests you.

Where do I get coupons for Hormel Foods products?

Coupons for products provided by all of the companies within Hormel Foods are most often available through promotions and advertising in print media, such as daily newspapers, Sunday newspaper inserts, and general interest magazines; promotions provided by stores selling Hormel Foods products; and online promotions that may appear on this site or on any of the individual Hormel Foods brand sites.

Unfortunately, we do not have coupons available for mailing. Watch for coupons in publications or for promotions by local stores in local media. Check our Web site "Our Promotions" page for a listing of current marketing campaigns that could include coupons in the future for products being promoted.

Do you have shelf stable products available for an emergency preparedness kit?

Our line of shelf stable canned and microwaveable items are fully cooked and can be eaten cold. They make a perfect addition to your emergency kit.

Where can I find Hormel Foods products not carried at my local grocery store?

Use the Product Locator to enter a zip-code to display a listing of items and if there is a store within your area carrying this item. A few items can be purchased directly from the Hormel Foods Online Store. If you need assistance, contact our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-523-4635.

What is the corporate address for Stagg Foods?

Stagg Foods, LLC
PO Box 800
Austin, Minnesota 55912

Food Storage

Refrigerated Products

Can I serve refrigerated meat products after the expiration date?

Products should be used or frozen by the "Use By" or "Freeze By" date printed on the product. You can safely refrigerate the meat products until the "Enjoy By", "Use By", or "Freeze By" date as long as the package is unopened.

How long can I use my refrigerated meat products after I’ve opened the package?

Once the package is opened, the general rule is to keep the product refrigerated and use it within three to five days.

There are some exceptions to this rule. Those exceptions are:

Raw Bacon, Ham, Natural Choice® lunch meats - refrigerate, use within one week
Fully Cooked Bacon, Pepperoni - refrigerate, use within three weeks

Cure 81® Ham

Since all Cure 81® hams are smoke cured and precooked, they are ready to eat after oven baking for a short period of time. Cure 81® hams store easily and safely either refrigerated or frozen. Here are a few tips:

Once opened, ham can be stored in the refrigerator for five to seven days.
Leftover cooked ham should be tightly wrapped and refrigerated promptly after the meal.
Ham may be frozen for up to sixty days. The nutritional value of the ham won't suffer but the flavor and texture will. If you must freeze it, wrap it tightly.
Always check the label for storage and handling instructions as well as the "best if purchased by" date which indicates the length of time suggested for consumption of the ham in order to provide the best flavor and texture.

For over thirty-five years the Cure 81 ham brand has insured consumers their special occasion will be perfect. Each Cure 81® ham is hand prepared and trimmed to insure its quality. They are inspected throughout the process to maintain the high standards the Cure 81® name stands for. The final result is a tender ham that provides real meat texture and natural ham flavor.

Canned Products

Can we serve a product beyond the "Best By" date shown on the container?

For best quality, flavor and freshness, we recommend using our canned items by the dating on the container. After this time, the product should be safe to use as long as the can has not been compromised (no dents, split seams, etc.).

We recommend storing canned items in a cool, dry place to adequately preserve the flavor.

What is the date code and how is it interpreted on the food container?

The date code for products produced in the United States is most often printed on the bottom of each container to provide the following information:

The first letter indicates the manufacturing facility: S02057
The first two numbers indicate the month it was processed: S02057
The second set of two numbers indicate the day it was processed: S02057
The last number indicates the year it was processed: S02057
Example: date code printed is S02057
Interpretation: Produced in Stockton, California on February 5, 2007

Some imported canned products are manufactured in Brazil or Argentina which will contain a date code structure that is different from products produced in the United States. For assistance with foreign date codes or for any questions concerning our products, please call our consumer hot line number of 1-800-523-4635 anytime between 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Central Standard time, Monday through Thursday, and 7:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Central Standard time Friday.

What is the shelf life of a Hormel Foods product after it has been opened and is it safe to repackage and store the product in the original container?

Once a Hormel Foods product is opened it should be removed from the package, transferred to an air-tight container, placed in a refrigerator, and then consumed within two to three days.

What is the shelf life of a Hormel Foods product in an unopened can?

The processing techniques utilized by Hormel Foods makes the canned product safe for use indefinitely if the product seal remains intact, unbroken and securely attached to a can that has been well maintained. It is suggested that all canned products be stored in a cool and dry environment to keep the flavor adequately preserved. For maximum flavor it is recommended that the product be used within three years of the manufacturing date. After that period of time, the product is still safe to use however, the flavor gradually declines.

What is the shelf life of a Hormel Foods product after it has been opened and is it safe to repackage and store the product in the original container?

Once a Hormel Foods product is opened it should be removed from the package, transferred to an air-tight container, placed in a refrigerator, and then consumed within 2 to 3 days.

Glass & Plastic Jars

What is the shelf life of products in glass and plastic jars after they have been opened?

After a product packaged in a glass or plastic jar is opened, it should be placed in a refrigerator immediately, and consumed within three to five days. There are three exceptions to this:

CHI-CHI'S® Fiesta Salsa - refrigerate, use within seven days
Hormel® Bacon Bits - refrigerate, use within six weeks
Hormel® Dried Beef, Pickled Pigs Feet/Hocks and CHI-CHI'S® Original Salsa - refrigerate, use within thirty days

Microwaveable Containers

If the product is frozen, will it affect shelf life? Should I freeze the container in order to provide a longer shelf life?: We do not recommend freezing the container. Freezing will not harm the integrity of the container, but the quality of the product may suffer in loss of texture and flavor. For example, vegetables that have been processed have a tendency to lose both flavor and texture when frozen.
What is the expiration date on products in microwaveable containers?: We recommend that the product be consumed anytime up to the "Best By" date printed on the container.
What is the shelf life of a Hormel Foods product after it has been opened and is it safe to repackage and store the product in the original container?: Once a Hormel Foods product is opened it should be removed from the package, transferred to an air-tight container, placed in a refrigerator immediately, and then consumed within two to three days.

SPAM® Family of Products

SPAM™ History & Trivia

What is SPAM®?

A family of meat products that are very versatile and tasty, which can be served in a variety of ways, such as sandwich meats, salad ingredients or to make a meaty mac & cheese food dish. With eggs, cheese, or pineapples, sliced, diced, baked or fried, the combinations are endless for adding SPAM® to any meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks.

The story of SPAM® luncheon meat began in 1936. Hormel Foods devised a recipe for a twelve-ounce can of luncheon meat. Jay C. Hormel was determined to find a brand name with a distinct identity that would set it apart from the competition. The company offered a $100 prize for the best name for the luncheon meat product. The winner was Kenneth Daigneau, the actor brother of Hormel Vice President Ralph Daigneau. Hormel Foods first produced SPAM® luncheon meat in 1937 in Austin, Minn. One of the first moderately priced, convenient and great-tasting food products on the market, SPAM® became America's favorite luncheon meat almost immediately.

Through seven decades, SPAM® has remained a contemporary product by consistently providing what consumers want - versatility, high quality and good taste. In 1962, the original twelve-ounce SPAM® can was joined by a seven-ounce can for the convenience it provided small families and single people. Almost ten years later, Hormel Foods developed SPAM® Hickory Smoke Flavored to lend a delicious flavor to already great-tasting SPAM® Classic. In 1986, SPAM® Less Sodium entered the market for consumers concerned with sodium intake. SPAM® Lite was introduced in 1992, allowing SPAM™ devotees to enjoy the great taste of SPAM® with reduced fat and sodium. And in 1999, Hormel Foods introduced SPAM® Oven Roasted Turkey. Featuring white, lean turkey, it meets consumers' increased interest in foods that are light, nutritious, low fat and great tasting. Recently, Hormel Foods spiced things up by introducing SPAM® Hot & Spicy featuring Tabasco brand pepper sauce, SPAM® with Cheese, and SPAM® with Bacon.

Where did the name SPAM® come from?

Is there a Web site dedicated to SPAM®?

Yes, SPAM® has its own Web site: www.spam.com

There is also a fan club Web site full of fun facts and trivia. Click here to join: http://www.spam.com/games/FanCLub/default.aspx

How can I join the SPAM™ Fan Club?

Click here for information on the SPAM™ Fan Club.

What is the SPAM® Museum?

In Austin, Minnesota, a 16,500 square-foot SPAM® Museum opened in September 2001. Museum visitors are welcomed to the world of SPAM® Family of Products with a variety of interactive and educational games, fun exhibits and remarkable video presentations.

The SPAM® Museum is located at:

1937 SPAM™ Boulevard
Austin, Minnesota 55912
Call: 1-800-LUV-SPAM (1-800-588-7726)

If you would like Austin, Minnesota, lodging and restaurant information click here.

For more information, visit www.spam.com or www.hormel.com.

MUSEUM HOURS:
Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 Noon to 5 p.m.

NO ADMISSION FEE.

The SPAM® Museum is closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day.

SPAM™ MERCHANDISE

Where do I purchase SPAM™ merchandise?: SPAM™ merchandise can be purchased at: http://www.spam.com/shop/default.aspx

HEALTH-RELATED QUESTIONS

Allergen Labeling

Which food allergens are recognized in Hormel Foods products?

We recognize the top eight allergens:

Peanuts
Tree Nuts
Milk Products
Eggs
Soy
Wheat
Crustaceans
Fish

These will be clearly listed on the ingredient listing.

To avoid food allergens in our products, always read the ingredient label on every package. This ingredient listing should be reviewed prior to every purchase, as ingredients and product formulations may change.

We also provide information on Hormel Foods products that are gluten free. Click here to learn more about our gluten free product offerings.

Gluten Free Products

Do you have a listing of gluten free products?: Click here for a list of our gluten free products.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Are Hormel Foods products clearly labeled if they contain MSG?: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) used in any of our products is clearly listed in the ingredient label of all Hormel Foods products.