Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask about New Jersey's breakfast meat, from the naming feud to how to fry it.
Is Taylor ham the same as pork roll?
Yes. They are two names for the same food, a cured and smoked processed pork product from New Jersey. North Jersey tends to say Taylor ham; central and South Jersey say pork roll. The sandwich is identical either way.
Why does it have two names?
John Taylor of Trenton sold his product as a kind of ham in the 1800s, and people called it Taylor ham. After the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 tightened what could be labeled "ham," it was sold as "pork roll" instead. Both names stuck, and which one you use mostly depends on where in New Jersey you are from.
Is pork roll the same as Canadian bacon, ham, or Spam?
No. It is its own thing. It is saltier and tangier than ham, firmer and more savory than bologna, and not sweet or canned like Spam. The closest comparison is honestly just "pork roll." That is why people who grow up on it miss it so much when they move away.
How do you cook pork roll?
Slice it about a quarter inch thick, cut a few notches around the edge of each slice so it lies flat instead of curling into a dome, and fry it on a griddle over medium heat until the edges are brown and crispy. Then build it into a roll with a fried egg and American cheese.
Is pork roll already cooked?
It is cured and smoked, so it is safe to eat without further cooking, but it is almost always pan-fried first. Frying is what gives it the crispy edges and the flavor people are after.
How do you order it at a deli?
Ask for a pork roll (or Taylor ham), egg and cheese, usually on a hard roll. Add "SPK" for salt, pepper, and ketchup. The ketchup is optional and, in some circles, controversial.
Where can I buy it outside New Jersey?
Check the store filter on the map for specialty grocers and delis near you that stock it. If there are none, the Trenton makers and a few mail-order shops ship it frozen nationwide. Local "ex-New Jersey" groups are also a reliable way to find the one store in town that carries it.
Where does the Taylor ham / pork roll line fall?
Roughly through the middle of the state, often placed around Trenton and the I-195 corridor. It is informal and much argued over. The closer you get to the line, the more strongly people defend their word for it.
Still hungry for context? Read the great debate, learn how to cook it, or just find some on the map.