Spam vs Corned Beef: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Spam contains 334 calories and 12.5 g of protein, while corned beef has 251 calories and 18.2 g of protein. Corned beef is higher in protein and lower in calories.

Spam and corned beef are both popular processed meats, but they have distinct nutritional profiles. This comparison will highlight their differences in calories, protein, and fat content.

What Is the Difference Between Spam and Corned Beef?

Spam is a canned meat product made from pork and ham, known for its long shelf life. It is often used in various dishes or eaten on its own. Corned beef is a salt-cured beef product that is typically cooked and sliced. It is often used in sandwiches or as a main dish.

Spam vs Corned Beef: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Spam and corned beef nutrition.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Spam (canned pork)	Corned beef (cooked)
Calories	334 kcal	251 kcal
Protein	12.5 g	18.2 g
Carbs	2.1 g	0.5 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	30.3 g	19.0 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	1289 mg	973 mg

Which Is Better, Spam or Corned Beef?

For weight loss: Spam has 334 calories, while corned beef has 251 calories. For those focused on reducing calorie intake, corned beef may be a better choice.

For muscle and protein: Spam contains 12.5 g of protein, whereas corned beef has 18.2 g of protein. Corned beef is the superior option for protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Spam has 2.1 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar, while corned beef has 0.5 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar. Both options are low in carbohydrates and sugar.

How to Track Spam and Corned beef Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when consuming processed meats, which can impact dietary goals. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and are not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Corned beef has 18.2 g of protein, while Spam has 12.5 g of protein. Therefore, corned beef contains more protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Corned beef has 251 calories, compared to Spam's 334 calories. Thus, corned beef has fewer calories.

What is the fat content of Spam?

Spam contains 30.3 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium content of corned beef?

Corned beef contains 973 mg of sodium per 100 g.

How many carbs are in Spam?

Spam has 2.1 g of carbs per 100 g.

How much sugar is in corned beef?

Corned beef contains 0 g of sugar per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Spam has 334 calories per 100 g.
• Corned beef has 251 calories per 100 g.
• Spam contains 12.5 g of protein per 100 g.
• Corned beef contains 18.2 g of protein per 100 g.
• Spam has 30.3 g of fat per 100 g.
• Corned beef has 19.0 g of fat per 100 g.