The Legendary Pork Roll, Egg, and Cheese: A New Jersey Staple

TLDRExperience the iconic pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich that has become a rite of passage in New Jersey. Learn about the history, preparation, and debate over the name of this legendary breakfast favorite.

Key insights

🥯The pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich is a New Jersey specialty that is considered a rite of passage.

🥓Pork roll is a unique processed meat that has a salty, spicy, and smoky flavor.

🍳The sandwich is traditionally made with six slices of pork roll, fried eggs, and American cheese.

🌭There is ongoing debate among New Jersey residents about whether to call it 'pork roll' or 'Taylor ham.'

🌍Pork roll is a regional specialty and can't be found in supermarkets outside of New Jersey.

Q&A

What is pork roll?

Pork roll is a smoked and precooked processed meat that is commonly eaten as a breakfast sandwich in New Jersey.

What does pork roll taste like?

Pork roll has a salty, spicy, and smoky flavor, similar to a combination of bacon and ham.

How is the pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich prepared?

The sandwich is made by searing slices of pork roll on a flattop griddle, frying eggs, and melting American cheese on top of the pork roll slices. All the ingredients are then sandwiched between a hard kaiser roll.

Why is there a debate over the name of the sandwich?

The original name of the product was 'Taylor's prepared ham,' but it had to be changed due to food regulations. It was renamed 'Taylor pork roll,' leading to the confusion over whether to call it 'pork roll' or 'Taylor ham.'

Can you buy pork roll outside of New Jersey?

Pork roll can be found in supermarkets in other states, but it is not the same as the authentic New Jersey pork roll. The presliced packages lack the same taste and texture.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Discover the legendary pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich that has become a rite of passage in New Jersey.

01:02Learn about the unique flavor profile of pork roll, which is salty, spicy, and smoky.

01:46Observe the process of searing the pork roll slices on a flattop griddle to achieve the desired crispiness.

01:56Witness the assembly of the sandwich with six slices of pork roll, fried eggs, and melted American cheese.

02:33Explore the debate among New Jersey residents over whether to call it 'pork roll' or 'Taylor ham.'

03:34Understand the origin of the name confusion and the history of John Taylor's original pork roll.

03:39Experience the popularity of the sandwich in New Jersey, where it is considered a Jersey staple.

05:23Learn about the love and nostalgia that New Jersey residents have for the pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich.