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Home & Kitchen

Don’t Even Think About Putting This Condiment On A Hot Dog

Americans love their hot dogs, eating about 7 billion from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. And Hulu’s hit show “The Bear” has not only sparked a great thirst for handsome line cooks, but it has also reignited a great debate over which condiments are acceptable on a hot dog.

Take, for instance, the following conversation from Episode 4 of Season 1:

Richie: “What kind of a**hole puts ketchup on a hot dog?”
Carmy: “A child, Richie.”

It turns out Carmy isn’t the only Chicagoan who thinks that way.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has identified 18 regional-style hot dogs across the United States, but there are likely way more. In New York, hot dogs are eaten with mustard and steamed onions. From Arizona through California, the Sonora hot dog is wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, jalapeños, spicy grilled peppers and crema.

But in Chicago, where “The Bear” is based and hot dogs are legendary, the idea of putting ketchup on a hot dog can be controversial.

The classic Chicago hot dog has mustard, neon-green relish, raw onions, a full pickle spear, tomatoes, a little bit of celery salt and a poppy seed bun; sport peppers are optional. Historians link the Chicago version to the Depression, when people could get a full meal from a hot dog and toppings.

Maren Caruso via Getty Images

A Chicago dog, in all its glory, and free from ketchup.

But don’t even consider putting ketchup on it, at least according to certain Chicagoans. Even President Barack Obama, a longtime Chicago resident, said several years ago on CNN that “it’s not acceptable past the age of 8.”

Some Chicagoland hot dog stands pride themselves on not serving ketchup, such as Gene and Jude’s in River Grove, just outside the city.

Other Chicagoans take a more live and let live approach. Bill Savage, a professor at Northwestern University and a Chicago historian, said the whole argument is about identity and authenticity.

“If you like ketchup on your hot dogs, and you put it on there, who really cares?” Savage asked. “Nobody, except some judgmental person who says, ‘Oh, you’re not really authentic.’”

But there may be some practical reasons why ketchup may not be an ideal condiment, from a flavor profile perspective.

“Generally the reasoning behind it is just the sweetness of the ketchup,” said Eric Mittenthal, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council president. “It’s just not an ideal complement to the hot dog.”

Doug Sohn, the founder of Hot Doug’s Inc. who is known for pushing the limits of encased meats with toppings of foie gras and other unique ingredients, doesn’t love ketchup as a condiment in general.

“I think the flavor elements of ketchup, both in its sweetness and acidity as well as the cinnamon, cloves, etc., that are in it, clash with the other hot dog condiments,” he said.

Other experts believe ketchup confuses and overpowers other condiments, and not just the ones on a Chicago-style hot dog, said Manolis Alpogianis, owner of America’s Dog & Burger, known for serving eight different kinds of regional hot dogs.

Mustard is a different story, observed Bob Schwartz, a Vienna Beef hot dog executive and author of ”Never Put Ketchup On A Hot Dog.” It “blends more with the hot dog,” he said.

Ketchup is kid’s stuff

Children tend to be given a pass. Of course, the cutoff age is a controversy as well. Obama said 8. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says 18.

ncognet0 via Getty Images

Carmy has a point. Kids really do love the sweetness of ketchup.

But the same reason that ketchup might not work for adults may be the reason that children like it: the sweetness. Alpogianis explained that kids tend not to like more complex flavors of mustard and onions.

But taste is not just a factor of age.

“Both age and genetics combine with our culture to shape our love of particular foods, including ketchup,” said Danielle Reed, associate director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. “Some people are born with genetic variants that promote a greater liking for sweetness, which can be exacerbated by age, with young children generally preferring sweeter foods than adults.”

For Reed, the ketchup vs. mustard debate is really about the war between sweet and savory. “Some people strongly object to what they view as the over-sweetness of many prepared foods while others love sweetness,” she said.

There’s shame in the ketchup game

Chicago may not be the only place to eschew ketchup. In the roster of regional-style hot dogs, none list ketchup as an ingredient.

But Schwartz and Alpogianis both agree that it’s really in Chicago where this debate rages on. Some places in the U.S. use ketchup as a matter of course, others just don’t. Culinary conflict is part of it, but it’s also cultural, explained Schwartz. In some places, it’s just tradition not to put ketchup on a hot dog.

Of course not everyone upholds tradition. A 2021 survey of 1,000 Americans ) found that mustard is the most popular condiment for hot dogs, followed by a tie between ketchup and onions.

At its core, the flexibility of toppings is one of the best things about the hot dog, allowing for personal creativity.

“There’s only two kinds of foods: good and bad,” Sohn explained. “And if it tastes good, then go ahead.”

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Home & Kitchen

Every Way To Cook A Hot Dog (And The One Way You Never, Ever Should)

My vegetarian brother hovered over the stove, staring at a package of uncooked beef hot dogs that he graciously planned to cook for the rest of us, his omnivorous family (he was eating Beyond Brats). “What do I do with these?” he asked, and I chuckled to myself at his naiveté.

But two days later, my meat-eating, hot-dog-loving friend asked me the same question, and I realized: Does no one actually know how to cook hot dogs?

First of all, most processed hot dogs are precooked, so you won’t likely give anyone food poisoning if you serve them cold, straight from the fridge in all their slippery, rubbery glory. (Reheating them, however, does ensure that you’ll kill any listeria that could potentially be lurking.) But you shouldn’t do that.

The ideal hot dog is heated up until it’s nice and plump on the inside and golden (or even charred) on the outside. However, if you ask someone about the best way to prepare a hot dog, you should get ready for a fight. Few people agree on whether you should grill them, pan-fry them, microwave them, roast them in the oven or boil them. You can even spiral-cut them or cook them up into creepy little octopuses. Food writers have tested every which-way in the name of science, but there’s still no consensus.

However you want to cook your dog, there’s a simple technique for each method that you should master before cookout season approaches. Check them out below, ranked from our favorite to least favorite methods.

1. Pan-Frying (starting with a good steam)

This ensures a plump interior and a crispy exterior, and allows you to control the level of golden brown on the outside. Don’t let the word “frying” fool you ― there’s no oil involved.

  1. Put half an inch of water in a frying pan and let it come to a simmer on medium-high heat.

  2. Add the hot dogs to the pan, a few at a time, and pop a lid on the pan for about 2-3 minutes to let them steam. If the water boils off and the bottom of the pan is dry before the 2-3 minutes are up, just add some more water, a little at a time.

  3. After 2-3 minutes of steaming, remove the lid from the pan and let the water boil dry. Now roll the hot dogs around for a few minutes to get them browned on all sides.

LauriPatterson via Getty Images

Start grilled hot dogs over low heat and finish them over higher heat.

2. Grilling

This’ll give you great char marks and a nice smoky flavor.

  1. Turn on your grill. You want one side of your grill to be hotter and one cooler.

  2. Start cooking the hot dogs on the cooler side of the grill (this prevents the outsides from burning too quickly). Cook them for one minute on each side.

  3. Move the hot dogs to the hot side of the grill until they reach the color you desire.

3. Oven-Roasting

This method is ideal if you’re making a big batch for a crowd.

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Put hot dogs on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with foil (this makes cleanup super easy!) and cook for 15 minutes. They’ll sizzle and start to turn brown, so keep an eye on them until you get your desired outcome.

4. Microwave

The folks at Leite’s Culinaria have shared an essential hot dog microwaving trick that uses a paper towel. To microwave a better dog, just wrap it in a paper towel before nuking for 30 seconds at 80% power. Covering it with a paper towel holds in the steam ensuring a plump, juicy dog. Easy and delicious.

Douglas Sacha via Getty Images

Look how sad these boiled hot dogs look.

5. Boiling

Just don’t do it. As the folks at Nathan’s Famous say, “Honestly we just don’t recommend it. We didn’t back in 1916 when Nathan Handwerker started it all, and we still don’t today. When you boil a Nathan’s, all that special flavor rushes out into the water. And let’s be frank: who wants to eat a watered-down hot dog?”

(But if you insist, you should bring your water to a rolling boil and cook the hot dogs for 5-6 minutes.)

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Home & Kitchen

Nutritionists Rank The Best And Worst Hot Dogs At The Grocery Store

OK, so hot dogs aren’t the world’s healthiest food, but admit it: If they weren’t on the menu at summer barbecues, it’d feel like losing a friend.

Fortunately, with a growing number of healthier hot dogs hitting supermarket shelves, it’s become possible to indulge and still go easy on your body. You just need to know what to look out for.

First things first: “Avoid traditional or ballpark-labeled hot dogs,” Nicole Avena, a New York-based nutrition consultant, told HuffPost. “These are usually the highest in sodium and contain the most additives and preservatives.”

All processed meats are a health risk ― they’ve been linked to certain types of cancer, like colorectal cancer, because of the way they’re preserved. But there are a few types of meat that offer less risk than the standard beef hot dog, Avena said. Look for a label that indicates whole beef, turkey or chicken, as opposed to mechanically processed and separated meats.

Another important factor is sodium content. “Choose hot dogs that have less than 400 mg (or less than 20% of the daily value) of sodium per serving,” said Gretchen Zimmermann, senior director of cardiometabolic care for Vida Health. (The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day.)

Other indications of a higher-quality hot dog are if they’re uncured and nitrate- and nitrite-free, and have minimal ingredients. “Overall, uncured chicken or turkey hot dogs would be a better option, because they’re usually lower in saturated fat and less processed than beef,” Avena said.

But even if the label says “uncured,” “no nitrates added” or “all natural,” it doesn’t mean these options are necessarily healthier. Natural preservatives, such as celery powder and celery salt, may sound better, but there’s no evidence they’re safer, so it’s still best to minimize your intake.

The same goes for veggie dogs: Choose dogs with minimally processed ingredients, such as tofu, instead of heavily processed soy protein concentrate or isolate.

“An occasional processed veggie dog isn’t likely to be harmful, but these soy ingredients haven’t been well-studied, so there are still some concerns about their safety,” said Samantha Cassetty, nutrition expert and co-author of “Sugar Shock.”

To save you time scanning nutrition labels, here are the healthiest and the least healthy store-bought hot dogs according to nutritionists.

Organic Valley

A healthy beef option: Organic Valley Uncured 100% Beef Hot Dogs

“The Organic Valley hot dogs boast healthy ingredients like organic grass-fed beef, organic spices, garlic and onion powder (although celery powder is used as a preservative),” Zimmermann said.

Because they’re uncured, this makes them your best bet for avoiding high amounts of carcinogens — and compared to traditional dogs, they’re lower in calories, sodium and saturated fat.

Applegate Naturals

A healthy beef option: Applegate Naturals Do Good Dog Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

Applegate Naturals Do Good Dogs are made with regeneratively sourced beef that’s 100% grass-fed. They use just four simple ingredients: beef, water, salt and spices.

“You are what you eat, and a healthier diet for the animal you’re consuming means a healthier diet for you too,” said Marissa Meshulam, a registered dietitian based in New York City.

Ball Park

An unhealthy beef option to avoid: Ball Park Brand Prime Uncured Beef Franks

Even though the packaging says “uncured,” it only takes one glance at the nutrition facts to know these hot dogs aren’t the best choice.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting calories from saturated fat to less than 10% of one’s total calories per day to promote heart health. “A 2,000-calorie diet would equate to less than 20g of saturated fat per day,” Zimmermann said. “The Ball Park Prime Uncured Beef Franks provides nearly half that amount in one serving.”

Even before the bun, ketchup and other salty condiments and accessories are added, these hot dogs pack a whopping 710mg of sodium in one serving, as well as 230 calories, 20g of fat, 9g of saturated fat, 2g of carbohydrates and 9g of protein. Bottom line: Yikes.

Applegate Naturals

A healthy pork blend: Applegate Naturals Natural Stadium Beef and Pork Hot Dogs

“Applegate Naturals uses antibiotic-free beef and pork to make these without any preservatives — just natural spices and herbs,” said Amy Shapiro, a New York-based registered dietitian. The franks contain no fillers and no added nitrates or nitrites (except for those naturally occurring in sea salt and celery powder).

Seemore

A healthy pork blend: Seemore La Dolce Beet-a Pork Sausages

The pork used to make these sausages is animal welfare-certified, and the dogs themselves are minimally processed. “Plus, the brand adds fresh beets, garlic and fennel, which further boosts the nutrient content,” Meshulam said.

There are no preservatives or phosphates, and the only nitrates or nitrites are those that naturally occur in cultured celery powder and sea salt.

Kayem

An unhealthy pork blend to avoid: Kayem Beef & Pork Hot Dogs

These dogs contain a boatload of fat and sodium, as well as corn syrup and dextrose (two types of added sugar), mystery flavorings and preservatives. “This can indicate the company uses pork byproducts to produce their product, not lean pork or beef,” Avena said.

Organic Valley

A healthy turkey option: Organic Valley Uncured Pasture-Raised Turkey Hot Dogs

These turkey hot dogs are made using meat from animals that have been humanely raised, and the hot dogs are free from fillers and potentially harmful salt sources like sodium nitrates and nitrites, Zimmermann said. They also contain 20% less sodium than the leading organic brand.

Applegate Naturals

A healthy turkey option: Applegate Natural Uncured Turkey Hot Dog

The turkey dogs from Applegate Farms are as clean as it gets — the turkey is organic and humanely raised with no antibiotics, and the hot dogs themselves contain no fillers or preservatives. “They simply contain organic turkey and organic spices and herbs,” Shapiro said. “They’re a lean and light option, coming in at 70 calories each with under 4g of fat.”

Ball Park

An unhealthy turkey option to avoid: Ball Park Brand White Meat Smoked Turkey Franks

Ball Park’s turkey franks contain mechanically separated turkey, which, “to keep it simple, means the meat isn’t coming from a good part of the turkey,” Meshulam said. “It’s more likely ground-up bone paste.” They’re also loaded with sodium, at almost 600mg per dog. (“That’s more than I recommend in a full frozen meal,” Shapiro said.)

Applegate Organics

A healthy chicken option: Applegate Organics Great Organic Uncured Chicken Hot Dog

“This is an excellent choice for a hot dog with just a handful of ingredients, including organic chicken, water, sea salt and spices,” Zimmermann said. “There are no artificial or naturally occurring nitrate or nitrite sources either, like celery powder, making it one of the best summer grilling hot dog options.”

Bilinski’s

A healthy chicken option: Bilinski’s Mild Italian Chicken Sausage with Bell Peppers

The line of chicken sausages by Bilinski’s are another excellent summer grilling option. “Not only are they made with only organic chicken breast, water and spices, they’re pretty lean,” Meshulam said. The brand’s mild Italian option has only 2.5g of fat per dog (0.5g of that being saturated fat) and 13g of protein.

Gwaltney

An unhealthy chicken option to avoid: Gwaltney Original Chicken Hot Dogs

While Gwaltney’s chicken dogs are lower in fat, they contain mechanically separated chicken, which means “you’re not just eating chicken meat, but also tendons, veins and skin,” Shapiro said. On top of multiple sodium sources in the ingredients, this hot dog uses “natural” flavors, which may contain unknown chemicals added during the manufacturing process.

“The word ‘natural’ isn’t regulated by the FDA and can mislead consumers,” Zimmermann said. “Overall, the high sodium content and long list of ultra-processed ingredients make this chicken dog a no-go.”

Upton Naturals

A healthy vegetarian option: Upton Naturals Updog Vegan Hot Dog

This vegan hot dog alternative has a texture similar to meat. “It contains 19 grams of protein from vital wheat gluten or seitan (the main protein of wheat),” Avena said. “The limited ingredients and preservatives make it a great meat-free hot dog option.”

Jack & Annie’s

A healthy vegetarian option: Jack & Annie’s Jackfruit Sausages

Many “not dogs” out there contain iffy ingredients (like soy protein isolate), inflammatory oils (canola) and lots of stabilizers and additives to make them taste good. “While they’re 100% better for the environment, they’re still very processed products and may not be that much better for your health,” Meshulam said.

Instead, go for a real plant-based protein (like tofu, beans or legumes). Jack & Annie’s Jackfruit Sausages, for instance, are made with a base of jackfruit — a plant that eats like your favorite meat — and prepared with natural seasonings.

Lightlife

An unhealthy vegetarian option to avoid: Lightlife Smart Dogs

To make these non-meat dogs taste like meat, Lightlife uses a lot of processed ingredients, including soy protein isolate, “a very processed and broken-down form [of] soy I tell my clients to avoid,” Shapiro said. “They also use three different sweeteners, soy and canola oil, guar gum and xanthum gums, too — so many ingredients that cause inflammation in the body.”

What if your favorite hot dog is one of the “unhealthy” options listed above?

If any of your go-to dogs made the “steer clear” list, it doesn’t mean you have to ghost them. “Going to barbecues and eating less healthy foods are part of living a joy-filled life,” Cassetty said.

Her advice? If you feel that no family barbecue is complete without a Ball Park frank in your hand, then have one and enjoy. Just don’t make hot dogs a way of life.

“The occasional hot dog at a barbecue when you’re otherwise eating a mostly healthy diet isn’t going to wreck your health,” Cassetty said. “So pick the one you’ll enjoy and be mindful of your diet as a whole.”

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