TIP OF THE DAY: Hot Dog Toppings ~ What’s On Your Dog?

July 3, 2015 at 7:26 am · Filed under Meat & Poultry, Tip Of The Day

Americans eat more hot dogs on July 4th than any other day of the year: 150 million of them.

In previous years we’ve done articles about regional hot dog toppings toppings, like these and these; and gourmet hot dog toppings such as bruschetta and fresh basil leaves, caramelized onions, crumbled blue cheese, corn relish and fresh cilantro, pickled jalapeños and slaw, and fruit salsa (mango, peach, pineapple).

“Don’t be fooled,” says Restaurant-Hospitality.com. “A closer look at which toppings customers specify when they purchase hot dogs indicates that most stick with old standbys, even when more exotic options can readily be had.”

As an example, JJ’s Red Hots of Charlotte, North Carolina, offers its toppings list in order of customer preference.

TOP 10* HOT DOG TOPPINGS

1. Mustard
2. Onions
3. Chili
4. Slaw
5. Pimento cheese
6. Relish/pickles
7. Bacon
8. Sauerkraut
9. Salsa
10. Caramelized onions

The choice of toppings at JJ’s Red Hots. Photo courtesy JJ’s | Charlotte.

*There are regional preferences, of course: Pimento cheese is popular spread in the South; and ketchup, which many Americans prefer to mustard on their dogs, is not on their Top 10 list!

Our own favorite toppings are our parents’ favorites, what Mom served in our house (and from our family’s favorite hot dog stand, long gone): sauerkraut and green pickle relish with grainy mustard. But give us a gourmet dog with bacon and blue cheese and we’ll have seconds.

There is a proper order to topping a hot dog, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. Condiments should be applied in the following order and always on top of the dog, not between the dog and the bun:

Wet condiments like mustard and chili are applied first.

Chunky condiments like relish, onions and sauerkraut, are next.

Shredded cheese.

Spices, like chili flakes, celery salt or pepper.

A Chicago-style hot dog: an all-beef dog on a
steamed poppyseed bun, with toppings added in this order: yellow mustard, sweet green pickle relish, onion, tomato wedges, pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. Photo courtesy Kindred Restaurant | Davidson, North Carolina, where they add a side of salad.

MORE HOT DOG IDEAS

Crescent-wrapped hot dogs recipe and an on a stick variation.

Italian hot dogs: marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and pesto on turkey franks recipe.

Bacon cheese dogs recipe.

HOT DOG TRIVIA

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council:

An estimated seven billion hot dogs are eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Americans consume an estimated 20 billion hot dogs a year, more than twice the retail sales figures (and about 70 hot dogs per person). This includes dogs purchased from street vendors, at ballparks, carnivals and other venues.

Hot dogs are served in 95 percent of homes in the United States.

Each year, Americans eat an average of 60 hot dogs per capita.

Miller Park in Milwaukee is the only Major League ball park in which sausages outsell hot dogs. Check out The Beast, their “turducken” of hot dogs.

Ball park hot dog vendors need to be strong. A fully loaded bin weights approximately 40 pounds, and vendors typically walk 4 to 5 miles per game, up and down steps. They work are paid on commission plus tips.

“Nobody, I mean nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog” is a phrase less famous than “Go ahead, make my day.” But Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry said them both (the former in “Sudden Impact”).

Glamour queen Marlene Deitrich’s preferred meal was hot dogs and Champagne.

Visitors can purchase hot dogs at the Vatican Snack Bar.

HOT DOG FACTS & TRIVIA
Here’s how hot dogs are made (video).

The history of hot dogs, including how the frankfurter became the hot dog.

Why are hot dogs sold in packs of eight, while hot dog rolls are sold in 10-packs? The mystery revealed.

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