A spread is a prison meal made by inmates. Spreads are often made with commissary ingredients, such as instant ramen and corn puffs. Spreads can be simple meals, or elaborate and inventive combinations of ingredients. Spreads may be used to supplement or replace the government-mandated meals provided to prisoners by the prison, due to the unpalatable and insubstantial nature of many prison meals.[1]
The preparation and consumption of evening "spreads" can be a social bonding experience. Although the term "spread" was coined in US prisons, similar improvised meals are made in prisons around the world, including in the United Kingdom and many Asian countries.[2]
A study on self-catering in Danish prisons found that being able to make choices and exercise responsibility regarding their foods had a positive impact on prisoners. The study concluded that the ability to prepare their own food according to personal preferences and cultural affinity could have a positive impact on prisoners' social re-integration after prison.[3]
United Statesedit
The importance of spread and other commissary foods has led to the use of ramen as a currency in some prisons in the United States.[4][5] The Michigan Department of Corrections reported that ramen was the most sold commissary item in 2016, ahead of coffee, rice, soap and razors.[6] A 2016 study of a male state prison in the United States indicated that Top Ramen noodles were one of the most valuable prison commodities, due to the declining quality and quantity of food in many prisons.[7] Diminished access to commissary food during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused inmates in some prisons to have anxiety over their ability to obtain adequate food.[8]
Preparationedit
Typical instant noodles used in prison spreads
Spreads are often created using ingredients purchased from prison commissaries or saved from meals provided by the prison. Prisoners are forced to use substitutes for cooking appliances and tools due to prison safety regulations. Common substitutions include hot plates which do not reach boiling point in place of stoves, and ID cards in place of knives or other cutting tools.[9] Some prisoners create heating elements by improvising a "stinger" by using electricity and metal nail clippers to heat up a pot of water.[10]
Variations and ingredientsedit
The base ingredient for most spreads is cooked instant ramen noodles, to which other ingredients are added for flavor and nutritional value.[11] Shelf stable snack ingredients like pork rinds, corn puffs, drink mixes and canned tuna are often combined into improvised recipes. Some dishes are approximations of common meals enjoyed by inmates such as dumplings, tamales, or soups, while others are more experimental.[2][12] Inmates are limited in the ingredients available to them because of the expense of commissary food, often relying on money sent from relatives outside of prison.[13]
^Cate, Sandra (2008-08-01). ""Breaking Bread with a Spread" in a San Francisco County Jail". Gastronomica. 8 (3): 17–24. doi:10.1525/gfc.2008.8.3.17. ISSN 1529-3262.
^ ab"The Art of Gourmet Cooking in Prison". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^Kjaer Minke, Linda (2014). "Cooking in prison--from crook to cook". International Journal of Prisoner Health. 10 (4): 228–238. doi:10.1108/IJPH-09-2013-0044. ISSN 1744-9219. PMID 25764291.
^"Ramen Noodles Are Now The Prison Currency Of Choice". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^"In Prison, Sharing Ramen Can Be More Powerful Than Gang Affiliation". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^Cardinale, Alexandra (2018-11-14). "Why ramen is so valuable in prison". Vox. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^"Ramen noodles 'are most valuable US prison commodity', study suggests". BBC News. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^"Food In Prison". Impact Justice. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^Camplin, Erika (2016-12-08). Prison Food in America. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 82. ISBN978-1-4422-5348-3.
^"The Fine Art of Cooking in Prison". Thrillist. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^"Cooking with ramen: Prisoners get creative". BBC News. 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^"Behind Bars, Cheap Ramen Is As Good As Gold". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
^Genis, Daniel (2014-06-21). "Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet: How I learned to Cook in Prison". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
April 13, 2024
spread, prison, food, spread, prison, meal, made, inmates, spreads, often, made, with, commissary, ingredients, such, instant, ramen, corn, puffs, spreads, simple, meals, elaborate, inventive, combinations, ingredients, spreads, used, supplement, replace, gove. A spread is a prison meal made by inmates Spreads are often made with commissary ingredients such as instant ramen and corn puffs Spreads can be simple meals or elaborate and inventive combinations of ingredients Spreads may be used to supplement or replace the government mandated meals provided to prisoners by the prison due to the unpalatable and insubstantial nature of many prison meals 1 Contents 1 Purpose and history 1 1 United States 2 Preparation 3 Variations and ingredients 4 See also 5 ReferencesPurpose and history editThe preparation and consumption of evening spreads can be a social bonding experience Although the term spread was coined in US prisons similar improvised meals are made in prisons around the world including in the United Kingdom and many Asian countries 2 A study on self catering in Danish prisons found that being able to make choices and exercise responsibility regarding their foods had a positive impact on prisoners The study concluded that the ability to prepare their own food according to personal preferences and cultural affinity could have a positive impact on prisoners social re integration after prison 3 United States edit The importance of spread and other commissary foods has led to the use of ramen as a currency in some prisons in the United States 4 5 The Michigan Department of Corrections reported that ramen was the most sold commissary item in 2016 ahead of coffee rice soap and razors 6 A 2016 study of a male state prison in the United States indicated that Top Ramen noodles were one of the most valuable prison commodities due to the declining quality and quantity of food in many prisons 7 Diminished access to commissary food during the COVID 19 pandemic has caused inmates in some prisons to have anxiety over their ability to obtain adequate food 8 Preparation edit nbsp Typical instant noodles used in prison spreadsSpreads are often created using ingredients purchased from prison commissaries or saved from meals provided by the prison Prisoners are forced to use substitutes for cooking appliances and tools due to prison safety regulations Common substitutions include hot plates which do not reach boiling point in place of stoves and ID cards in place of knives or other cutting tools 9 Some prisoners create heating elements by improvising a stinger by using electricity and metal nail clippers to heat up a pot of water 10 Variations and ingredients editThe base ingredient for most spreads is cooked instant ramen noodles to which other ingredients are added for flavor and nutritional value 11 Shelf stable snack ingredients like pork rinds corn puffs drink mixes and canned tuna are often combined into improvised recipes Some dishes are approximations of common meals enjoyed by inmates such as dumplings tamales or soups while others are more experimental 2 12 Inmates are limited in the ingredients available to them because of the expense of commissary food often relying on money sent from relatives outside of prison 13 See also edit nbsp Food portalKarla Diaz performance artist whose work focuses on spreads Nutraloaf Prison food Prison wineReferences edit Cate Sandra 2008 08 01 Breaking Bread with a Spread in a San Francisco County Jail Gastronomica 8 3 17 24 doi 10 1525 gfc 2008 8 3 17 ISSN 1529 3262 a b The Art of Gourmet Cooking in Prison www vice com Retrieved 2021 07 31 Kjaer Minke Linda 2014 Cooking in prison from crook to cook International Journal of Prisoner Health 10 4 228 238 doi 10 1108 IJPH 09 2013 0044 ISSN 1744 9219 PMID 25764291 Ramen Noodles Are Now The Prison Currency Of Choice NPR org Retrieved 2021 07 31 In Prison Sharing Ramen Can Be More Powerful Than Gang Affiliation www vice com Retrieved 2021 07 31 Cardinale Alexandra 2018 11 14 Why ramen is so valuable in prison Vox Retrieved 2021 07 31 Ramen noodles are most valuable US prison commodity study suggests BBC News 2016 08 23 Retrieved 2021 07 31 Food In Prison Impact Justice Archived PDF from the original on July 31 2021 Retrieved 2021 07 31 Camplin Erika 2016 12 08 Prison Food in America Rowman amp Littlefield p 82 ISBN 978 1 4422 5348 3 The Fine Art of Cooking in Prison Thrillist Retrieved 2021 07 31 Cooking with ramen Prisoners get creative BBC News 2016 08 24 Retrieved 2021 07 31 Behind Bars Cheap Ramen Is As Good As Gold NPR org Retrieved 2021 07 31 Genis Daniel 2014 06 21 Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet How I learned to Cook in Prison The Daily Beast Retrieved 2021 07 31 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spread prison food amp oldid 1212867954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
