If you don’t live in the Mid-Atlantic states such as Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, you may not know what scrapple is. But scrapple is one of the most delicious breakfast foods. With a crispy outside and a juicy and tender inside, this flavorful breakfast dish will soon be one of your favorites!
What is Scrapple?
Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is scrapple? Scrapple is a traditional breakfast dish that is considered an ethnic food of the Pennsylvania Dutch. This meat dish is made of pork trimmings from the head, heart, liver, and other parts of the pig, cornmeal, and wheat flour. While this mix may not sound appetizing to some, it is definitely worth a try. The pork trimmings and fat are minced together, and they are the perfect blend for juicy scrapple. Scrapple also has lots of seasoning such as sage, thyme, and black pepper that make this dish flavorful and aromatic.
How Do You Cook Scrapple?
Scrapple is a quick and easy dish to make! To cook scrapple, you first have to cut the meat into ¼ to ¾ of an inch thick. This is the best thickness to get a perfect crisp on the outside while keeping the inside moist. Once your scrapple is cut into pieces, you can pan fry it or even put it in the oven. While most people recommend pan-frying scrapple, it will be less oily if you put it in a loaf pan and bake it. Depending on your personal preference, you can either cook it as is or dip it into seasoned flour and then fry it until it is crispy and golden brown.
How Long Does Scrapple Last In the Fridge?
Scrapple is similar to cooking a breakfast sausage, meaning once you cook it, you should eat it right away. At least within an hour or two. Uncooked scrapple has an extremely long shelf life and can be refrigerated for up to 50 days. Make sure to check the expiration date of your scrapple to make sure you have not exceeded the 50-day shelf life. Once you have opened a pack of scrapple, the breakfast meat is only good for 7-10 days in a refrigerator.
Can I Freeze Scrapple?
Yes! You can freeze scrapple. You can place the entire pack of breakfast meat into the freezer, or you can even freeze the individual slices by sealing them in freezer bags. By freezing scrapple, you can keep the meat preserved longer, and it can even be easier to slice and cook when you are ready to eat it. The frozen scrapple will be more firm than thawed scrapple, and it will hold better in the pan.
What Can I Serve With Scrapple?
It can be served with sweet or savory condiments as a breakfast side dish, depending on what you are feeling. For example, you can add ketchup, grape jelly, honey, or applesauce to the dish if you are craving sweets or serve it with mustard, scrambled eggs, or bread. A drizzle of maple syrup can also enhance the flavor profile for those who enjoy a touch of sweetness. Scrapple is a versatile and delicious breakfast item that will work well with whatever side dishes or condiments you decide to use.
Scrapple block
Dust with flour
Pan fry with a little butter to desired crispiness
