When we think of healthy food, beef hot dogs may not be what pops to mind first. Contrary to popular belief, hot dogs are actually healthier than you might imagine.
The traditional hot dog has become ingrained in the culture of the United States, whether it be at baseball games, amusement parks, or backyard barbecues. They have a distinct flavor that is both savory and smoky, satisfying both children and adults. They are a well-known American classic because they are also very inexpensive and simple to make.
You might be interested in knowing a hot dog’s nutritional information and calorie count if you’re a devoted fan or just occasionally enjoy them on special occasions.
Don’t forget that a traditional hot dog makes the ideal base for a nearly infinite variety of additional calories thanks to the endless topping and condiment options.
History of the Hot Dog
Even though hot dogs are such an iconic American food, they did not originate here in the United States. They originated in Germany, which is where frankfurters were first served in the United States. in the 1800s.
A culinary tradition from Germany was brought to America by German immigrants. Dachshund sausages gained popularity after German immigrant Charles Feltman opened a small hot dog stand on Coney Island. Since they resembled dachshund dogs in shape, they were given the name “dachshund sausages.”
Hot dogs were initially made from only pork, but now there are many different types of hot dogs. The modern versions of the sausage contain:
- soy
- tofu
- beef
- pork
- turkey
- chicken
- a combination of all of these
Hot dogs grew to be an iconic American food when Chris Von de Ahe brought the world of hot dogs and baseball together.
They can be eaten almost anywhere and are inexpensive and simple to prepare. Hot dogs are an iconic American food that is celebrated for an entire month, despite the fact that they are frequently the target of unfounded rumors and anti-meat activists.
In celebration of the food cart institution, July is National Hot Dog Month, which includes events like dog races and a hot dog eating competition.
How Many Calories Are in a Hot Dog?
In a standard hot dog, there are around 150 calories in each but can differ slightly depending on the ingredients, size, and hot dog company.
Up to 300 calories per hot dog can be found in some jumbo-sized hot dogs or those that are stuffed with extras like cheese or bacon. Other low-fat options exist as well, such as plant-based dogs with only 100 calories.
Your hot dog bun will typically add another 100–150 calories, regardless of whether it is made of white bread or potato. The 270 calories in a regular hot dog, when combined with a few toppings, are still quite low. Even though we don’t advise eating a lot of hot dogs every day, they are not the worst thing you can put in your diet.
The next time someone wants to hot dog shame you, just be frank about the delicious iconic food’s nutrition facts. You can make substitutions to reduce a hot dog’s calorie count. You have options when grocery shopping because plant-based meals are becoming more and more popular and people are looking for meat substitutes.
Such ideas include the following:
Use low-fat cheese in place of high-fat varieties. There are health advantages to adding mozzarella to the top of a hot dog. The Dairy Council of California claims that mozzarella has half the fat and fewer calories per ounce than the more widely used hot dog cheese toppings, American and cheddar. Also, mozzarella offers 7 grams of protein, only 1 gram of carbohydrate, and has more calcium than American, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese.
Change to low-carb hot dog buns. These are available at supermarkets, or you can choose to eat your hot dog without a bun and save 20 grams of carbohydrates. You can make your own hot dog wrap by wrapping a hot dog in lettuce and adding additional products to your diet.
Replace the beef hot dog with a smoked turkey version. These are available in supermarkets. For instance, one frankfurter of the Ball Park brand of smoked turkey dogs has only 45 calories, no fat, five carbohydrates, two grams of sugar, and fifteen milligrams of cholesterol.
Additionally, there are no artificial flavors, colors, or byproducts in this product made entirely of white turkey meat. Additionally, a Consumer Reports article from July 2018 states that a turkey dog must contain real turkey and no more than 3.5% of nonmeat binders or fillers.
Are Hot Dogs Healthy?
Hot dogs are much healthier than you might realize, despite the fact that they may not be the healthiest food to eat.
Hot dogs can be a convenient and affordable way to get your protein intake, especially with high-protein diets and keto diets on the rise. If it is topped with fatty condiments or toppings like french fries or chili, it can unquestionably be unhealthy. A regular hot dog, however, is fairly healthy. One beef frank can contain up to 5 grams of protein; there are even more nutritious alternatives with leaner or plant-based protein.
Some people are also concerned that hot dogs, which frequently include additives to help keep meat safe and fresh, may contain large amounts of unhealthy nitrates or chemicals. Nitrates are a naturally occurring substance found in a variety of vegetables, despite their potentially scary sound. Hot dogs are an excellent, reasonably priced source of protein, though your diet shouldn’t just be them.
How Hot Dogs Are Made?
Some people might not be aware of the process involved in making hot dogs because of all the false headlines and rumors surrounding them. We take a look at how hot dogs are made to be completely frank and honest about the whole process.
Depending on the type of sausage being made, the hot dog process begins with carefully chosen meat trimmings. Even though trimmings may sound a little dubious, you can usually find them in the grocery section. The trimmings from real meat are then placed in stainless steel choppers that blend at a high speed. The meat mixture is made by mixing in seasonings and curing agents. The meat is then shot into its casings using an apparatus that receives the emulsion as a fuel source.
A satisfying crunch is produced when eating traditional natural casings, which are used by some businesses. Other companies choose to use cellulose casings instead, which are removed after cooking. After filling, the dogs are moved to the smokehouse to cook in perfect conditions. Usually, the hotdogs are smoked, which gives them their unique flavor and color.
To stop and keep cooking from continuing, they are cooled in water after cooking. If the dogs have the popular cellulose casing, they are then peeled and sealed automatically to maintain their freshness. The ingredients and nutrition information on the package is listed, along with the calories, to ensure safety and transparency.
To ensure that they are safe for consumption in the US, the entire process is meticulously regulated. Agriculturists’ Department.
Mystery Meat
Because of the affordable price and the questionable practices of the meat industry of the past, hot dogs have shifted into a negative light. Some anti-meat campaigners and those who dislike hot dogs refer to them as mystery meat sticks or other unappealing names in an effort to discourage people from eating them. You can be confident that the meat you are consuming is real even though it occasionally resembles extraterrestrial parts.
Due to their low cost, some people might have doubts about hot dogs. Despite the fact that the word “cheap” isn’t always a good thing, it applies to hot dogs because they’re an easy and quick meal. Your hot dogs and other mystery meat components are dog-free, so you can relax. There are many meatless options that do not detract from the beloved American classic, despite the dislike of anti-meat activists for the hot dog.
It’s possible that you’ve seen the pink slime videos going around the Internet. Despite its unappetizing appearance, making hot dogs and using its ingredients are both completely delicious and safe to consume.
Health Benefits of Hot Dogs
Although there are many nutrients in hot dogs, you should limit processed meats in your diet.
1. Beef Helps Maintain Muscle
The essential nutrients found in beef can help your body perform at its best and protect the structure you are working so hard to create.
Beef hot dogs contain a healthy amount of protein, at seven grams per serving. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), protein-rich foods are essential for constructing, maintaining, and repairing muscle, which helps optimize muscle training response both during exercise and afterward in the recovery period.
Also integral to muscle metabolism is iron, which helps red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the body, according to the NIH. Iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia can result from low iron levels, and these conditions can cause fatigue, weakness, gastrointestinal distress, immune system problems, and cognitive impairment.
Non-heme iron, which is obtained from iron-fortified foods or plant-based foods, and heme iron, which is present in animal products like beef, are the two main forms of iron.
You can fulfill your daily requirement for iron by consuming one beef hot dog, which provides 4% of the DV.
2. It’s Linked to Supporting Brain Health
According to the NIH, selenium is a necessary nutrient that plays important roles in hormone metabolism, reproduction, DNA synthesis, and defense against infection and oxidative damage.
Because of selenium’s antioxidant properties, selenium deficiency has been linked to age-related declines in brain function.
Hot Dog Health Risks
1. Nitrates and Nitrites
As a type of processed or cured meat, hot dogs may contain sodium nitrite or nitrate, two ingredients that prevent food from going bad. Some types of cancer risk have been found to be higher in association with them.
The American Institute for Cancer Research estimates that every 50 grams of processed meat consumed significantly raises the risk of colorectal cancer by about 20%.
Moderation is key when eating hot dogs, as it is with all processed foods.
2. Saturated Fat
Saturated fat content in hot dogs is well known. One all-beef hot dog contains 6.9 grams of saturated fat, which is 34 percent of the recommended daily intake.
Choose a plateful of vegetables and plant-based options to go along with your beef hot dog if you want to complete your meal.
3. Excess Sodium
Hot dogs are not an exception to the high sodium content of processed foods.
493 milligrams of sodium, or 21% of the daily recommended intake, are found in one beef hot dog. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sodium is frequently consumed in excess across the country, which may result in hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on what you eat because processed foods and restaurant meals are responsible for more than 70% of the sodium we consume.
4. Food Allergies
Hot dogs contain a few substances that could make someone allergic react.
One of them is sodium nitrate, a substance that is frequently used to preserve food. Headaches, breathing problems, rashes, or stomach discomfort are some of the symptoms of allergies.
The natural food coloring annatto seeds, which can be found in some hot dogs, is another potential allergen. Irritable bowel syndrome and this have been linked.
5. Drug Interactions
Despite the fact that there are no known interactions between hot dogs and any medications, talk to your doctor about any possible food interactions.
Hot Dog Preparation and Useful Tips
The fridge or freezer is the best place to keep hot dogs. According to the USDA, they can be kept unopened for up to two months in the freezer or two weeks in the refrigerator.
They must be consumed within a week of opening. Although hot dogs are already cooked when purchased, they should be heated up first. On a grill pan or outdoor grill, hot dogs can be grilled, steamed, boiled, baked, or roasted.
There are many different ways to use hot dogs. Here are some quick ideas.
- Grill and serve in a bun with toppings, such as mustard, ketchup, sautéed peppers, sauerkraut, or pickles.
- Macaroni and cheese should be sliced and added.
- Create pigs in a blanket by wrapping them in the dough.
- Slice and include in potato and vegetable hash.
- Peas, carrots, and slices should be added to brown rice.
- By slicing hot dogs, threading them on skewers with vegetables, and grilling them, you can make hot dog kebabs.
- Sliced hot dogs, chili, and cheese are combined in a slow cooker to make chili cheese dog dip.
Alternatives to Hot Dogs
In search of a substitute for the standard hot dog? There are vegetarian and vegan options as well as chicken and turkey hot dogs or sausages.
Some of our favorite vegetarian and poultry varieties include:
- Field Roast vegetarian hot dogs
- MorningStar Farms veggie dogs
- Thin ‘n Trim chicken hot dogs
Conclusion
This article explores everything you need to know about the hot dog and shows you truly what a Weiner it is.
Faqs
How Clean Are They?
In actuality, eating regular meat in the U.S., you can trust the hot dog (if you’re vegan or vegetarian altogether, there are plenty of vegan and/or hot dog options available to you as well!).
How Are Hot Dogs Made?
First, ground meat from a variety of animals such as beef, pork, chicken, or turkey must be prepared for cooking.
The finished meat is stuffed into casings after being mixed with various spices and ingredients. Depending on the manufacturer’s preference, the natural casing can be taken off either before or after cooking.
At this point, the hot dogs are ready to be packaged and sold as fresh products or frozen for later use.
What Are Hot Dogs Made Of?
Hot dogs, unlike the rumors, have to be made of quality cuts of meat, as part of USDA food standards. This means that the meat used to make them is the same as what you would typically find at your local supermarket (sometimes bacon, ham, etc.)
How Do Hot Dogs Get Their Shape?
We are aware that the next section does not sound as exciting. But after selecting the best cuts, hot dogs are ground into extremely fine pieces in a meat grinder, then mixed with herbs and spices.
