# Spam cans
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 30, 2014, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408 "2014-07-30T09:12:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/21 "2014-07-30T19:26:02Z")
Thanks to this thread, I now know that Spam comes in Jalapeno variety. That actually sounds worth trying. Once.
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/22 "2014-07-30T19:31:38Z")
I thought it was in case the label wore off you would be able to tell it was not dog food.
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### Author:  [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/23 "2014-07-30T19:32:34Z")
The benefits I can see for the shape of the Spam can are:
1. The cans pack tighter together, so more content per storage space. That could be an important issue, if you’re shipping Spam out with the military, as I’ve been told was the big original user of Spam
2. Lots of front label space. If your product is on a shelf, the Spam can shape makes it much easier to read and identify the label, vs. a round can.
3. It doesn’t roll. I know my grandfather at Spam while in the Navy in WWII. Maybe the almost rectangular shape was a benefit on board ship, because it wasn’t going to roll away if the ship was swaying.
But my money is on #1 and #2. Takes up less space and easier to recognize the label/brand.
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/24 "2014-07-30T19:41:40Z")
Holy crap!! There’s a [meat slicer](http://www.katom.com/370-LMSPP.html?CID=Shopzilla&utm_source=Shopzilla&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=CSE&zmam=29342707&zmas=1&zmac=26&zmap=370-LMSPP) just for SPAM-like products.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/25 "2014-07-30T19:42:24Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#):
>
> These techniques work fine with cans that have lip on both top and bottom. Many modern food cans, however, only have a lip at the top. The bottom is rounded to allow cans to nestle a bit when stacked. Getting some kind of opening in the bottom can only be done by poking a hole. An awl or ice pick is probably the best tool, but a knife properly wielded will work.
Granted, those kind of cans stack nicely but are otherwise a PITA. You also can’t remove the bottom from the empty can, making it hard to flatten them for easier disposal or recycling.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/26 "2014-07-30T21:02:37Z")
I read somewhere that for many types of products, packaging is very specific and almost traditional. The consumer expects to find the product in that package, so the manufacturers put it in them.
The example given was that Teflon tape used in wrapping pipe threads. It’s supplied in those odd flat containers. When one company changed to another form of packaging, sales dropped off so much that they changed back.
Likewise, flaked tuna and chicken meat is in flat wide cans. Spaghetti sauce is in jars. And processed luncheon meats like spam and corned beef are in rectangular tapered cans.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/27 "2014-07-30T21:19:39Z")
> [@snowthx](#):
>
> I thought it was in case the label wore off you would be able to tell it was not dog food.
Try feeding it to a dog, then you’ll know.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/28 "2014-07-30T21:29:32Z")
> [@panache45](#):
>
> Try feeding it to a dog, then you’ll know.
If he doesn’t eat it, it’s Spam.
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### Author:  [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/29 "2014-07-30T22:16:10Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#):
>
> Reported
Golf clap. Take one internet out of petty cash.
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### Author:  [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/30 "2014-07-31T02:20:24Z")
Its in my hurricane supply, so I eat a can once a year…to get rid of it. ☹
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/31 "2014-07-31T04:05:58Z")
_The key is there to open the can.
The can is there to hold in the Spam._
“Spam” - “Weird” Al Yankovic
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/32 "2014-07-31T14:19:17Z")
> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> Granted, those kind of cans stack nicely but are otherwise a PITA. You also can’t remove the bottom from the empty can, making it hard to flatten them for easier disposal or recycling.
It also makes it hard to cut off the bottom for moulding the rice for musubi. (I ended up buying a plastic form.)
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### Author:  [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/33 "2014-07-31T14:42:16Z")
Over here, I gather Spam is mainly used a bait for fish. For all things Spammy - go to [http://www.spam-uk.com/](http://www.spam-uk.com/)
I never heard of those openers being called a @church key’ - always just an opener here. A boy scot belt buckle was perfect for removing crown caps (Was it designed that way?) but the pointy bit was essential for a Party Seven.
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### Author:  [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/34 "2014-07-31T14:50:48Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#):
>
> Thanks to this thread, I now know that Spam comes in Jalapeno variety. That actually sounds worth trying. Once.
It’s good. Take my word for it. Yum.
Or, actually, don’t. I rather like SPAM in almost all its varieties\*. So my judgement may be somewhat suspect. 😃
\*Reduced-Sodium SPAM doesn’t really ring my bells. I guess I like salt.
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### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/35 "2014-08-01T01:22:49Z")
> [@gnoitall](#):
>
> \*Reduced-Sodium SPAM doesn’t really ring my bells. I guess I like salt.
Considering that the original SPAM (or really any commercial food) was designed to have just the right amount of salt to have the best taste, changing it in any way is bound to reduce its appeal.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/36 "2014-08-01T04:45:41Z")
> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> I never heard of those openers being called a @church key’ - always just an opener here. A boy scot belt buckle was perfect for removing crown caps (Was it designed that way?) but the pointy bit was essential for a Party Seven.
Church keys –
Prior threads:
[Church Keys](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=1679) Thread by (unknown user), started 06-25-1999.
[Why is a can opener called a “church key”?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=61758) Thread by **Delila** , started 02-28-2001.
[Church Keys](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=408479) Thread by **Zeldar** , started 02-14-2007.
[Do you know what a church key is?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=572588) Thread by **Ruby Slippers** , started 07-28-2010.
See also: [Why the switch from Pull Tabs on soda to those things that bend in?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638955) Thread by **aceplace57** , started 01-18-2012, where church keys are discussed here and there throughout the thread.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/37 "2014-08-01T05:03:31Z")
Now that we’re also talking about bottle openers, who knows what a [Gilhoolie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilhoolie) bottle opener is? Who has ever seen one? Or had one? Or used one?
When I was young, we had one of those.
See also [The Gilhoolie](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~dld58/652/gilhoolie.html).
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/38 "2014-08-01T06:57:16Z")
Never seen one of those before, but you can tell it was invented by a dentist.
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### Author:  [@cmdrpiffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmdrpiffle)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/39 "2014-08-01T07:51:37Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> All I know is the can is molded around the meat and sealed with the meat inside already so it’s probably easier to just give it a peel open top. I don’t know. The answer to your question most likely lies within the Spam Museum and as god is my witness I swore never to go there again.
Which means… you totally went!🙂
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### Author:  [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-cans/694408/40 "2014-08-01T12:47:18Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> All I know is the can is molded around the meat and sealed with the meat inside already so it’s probably easier to just give it a peel open top. I don’t know. The answer to your question most likely lies within the Spam Museum and as god is my witness I swore never to go there again.
You should go to the various Moxie (soda pop) Museums! :eek: 🆒😃
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