The term “hotdog” (or hot dog) refers to two things: a sandwich made of bun and sausage is called a hotdog, and so is the sausage itself. To avoid confusion as to what was being referred to, people use the terms “hotdog sausage” to refer to the meat and “hotdog sandwich” to refer to the dish.
A hotdog is a meat product produced in manufacturing plants. It is commercially produced and is heavily consumed worldwide.
The hotdog sausage, or simply hotdogs, are made from skeletal meat trimmings or cuts (like roasts or steaks) that fail to meet the standards. When a pig is butchered and cut, the bones usually have pieces of meat in them. These meat trimmings are collected and ground to give it a homogenous texture, like how ground pork looks in the store. Additional ingredients are added like water, salt, nitrites to achieve desired color, taste, texture, appearance, etc. Hotdog companies rely on these factors in establishing their brand, which is why it is important for hotdogs to be produced in a consistent manner – they should look the same and taste the same.
Hotdog Trivia
- The most expensive hotdog sandwich in Guinness World Records came with a $145.49 price tag.
- How many hotdogs can you eat in 10 minutes? For Joey Chestnut, the answer is a record-setting 75 hotdogs.
- Hotdog is an easy name to remember. Keep in mind that in other places, they might be more familiar with a different name, like frankfurter, frank, or Frankfurter Würstel; wiener, wiener würstchen, wienerli, or weenie; or simply sausage. Others call them tube steak, banger, or coney.
- Another term for sausage is “dog”, which was in common usage during the 1800s. It was in reference to the belief of many people that sausages are made using dog meat.
Hotdog Buying Guide
If you are looking for hotdog sausages in the frozen section, know that some companies do not label the product as “hotdog” but rather, they label it as “franks” or “frankfurters”, which is the same sausage used in making hotdog (sandwich).
Aside from the traditional beef or pork hotdog, there are also other varieties of hotdogs sold today, like organic grass-fed beef and vegan hotdogs.
If you don’t have a preferred brand of supermarket hot dog, a recommendation from family or friends is useful in picking which brand to buy, because the frozen section holds a lot of different hotdog brands and it could be overwhelming having to choose without any preference in mind.
Hotdog Production & Farming in Texas
According to a 2019 article from USA Today, Texas is 12th in terms of hotdogs eaten per capita annually. There must have been some kind of improvement in the following year because two Texas cities made the list of top hotdog-consuming cities in the US in 2020, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC). Dallas-Fort Worth is third behind Los Angeles and New York City, while Houston is 7th overall.
Texas is an agricultural state and Texans love meat. You can find hotdog brands that are proudly Texan. H-E-B, an American supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas, has its hotdog line.
Pesticides, Additives, and Chemicals:
Preservatives and artificial ingredients are found in hotdogs.
- Sodium erythorbate
- Sodium nitrite
- Sodium phosphate
- Sodium diacetate
- Potassium lactate
- Potassium acetate
- Monosodium glutamate
- Culture dextrose
Geography
No one knows for sure who came up with the term “hotdog”. In the history of how the hotdog came to be, Germany and the US are two countries often mentioned. Food historians believe the earliest version of the hotdog was made in Germany and the modern version of the hotdog was made in the United States. Today, hotdogs are enjoyed all over the world. Experts predict that the hotdog sausage market is expected to grow in the coming years. Major companies involved in the global production of hot dog sausages are found not just in the US and Europe but in Asia as well.
Packaging:
Hotdogs are sold in vacuum-sealed packaging that contains important consumer information (brand name, location of manufacturer and production, best before or expiration date, storage, nutritional information, etc.)
Enjoying Hotdogs
Hotdogs are used in many dishes. The most popular is the hotdog sandwich (or simply hotdog). Roasted or steam hotdogs are sold as hotdogs on a stick. Pigs in a blanket is another dish that makes use of hotdogs. Hotdogs cut into smaller pieces are also used as toppings for pizza.
One of the reasons why there are people who don’t eat hotdogs is because hotdogs have been criticized as unhealthy food. Health and diet professionals believe that eating hotdogs increase the chances of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other types of illnesses.
Storage:
Uncooked hotdogs should be stored in the freezer. Leftover hotdogs can be refrigerated, but the quality of the taste and texture is different compared to freshly-cooked hotdogs.
Make your version of a taco hotdog
Tacos are not for ground meat alone, and hotdogs can be delicious without a bun. If you haven’t tried your hand on this fun and delicious snack, now is the time to see for yourself if you’ll love hotdog on a taco shell.
Yield: This recipe makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 20 oz to 25 oz of chili (depends on what size of can is available in the store nearest you)
- 6 hotdog sausages or franks
- 6 nacho shells
- 2 red onions, finely chopped
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Pickled jalapenos
- Guacamole or salsa
- Hot sauce
Method
Step 1. Grill the hotdogs. Another option is frying.
Step 2. Put the hotdog inside the taco shell
Step 3. Make sure to put the chili first before the garnishing
Step 4. Top with onions, jalapenos, and shredded cheddar cheese
Step 5. Enjoy!
