5 Things You Didn’t Know About Hot Dogs

[joeea]

I recall many years ago in high school the hot dogs were boiled and had a greenish tinge to them. The water they were boiled in had a red tinge. The hotdog might have had soy bean mixed in with the meat (?) and the dye soaked out. Probably some kind of government issue and healthier than the more expensive hotdogs.

Interesting theory, even if it's completely incorrect.

 

[joeea]

Only way to eat a dog is Chicago style - poppy seed bun, fresh tomato, fresh onion, yellow mustard, a bit of piccadilly and, of course, 2 or 3 sport peppers. Truly a taste of Chicago.

I don't like piccadilly. I prefer my hot dogs with piccalilli.

 

[Clone]

Many (most? all?) hotdog packagings nowadays have the words "No nitrites or nitrates added".

What they use is celery juice, a 100% natural ingredient which does have nitrites. Nitrites exist in many common vegetables. Nitrites are not bad unless they react with protein to form nitrosamines, and the latter are carcinogenic.

This brings up a question: if nitrites are bad in meat, is it harmful to eat celery or other vegetables with meat together in a meal as they get mixed inside the stomach?

It was found that nitrosamines are formed under high heat (grilled hot dogs, anyone?). But then, it was also found that the presence of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) inhibits the formation of nitrosamines.

And all cured meats now have ascorbic acid added along with celery juice.

I remember reading an article several months ago about the use of celery juice instead of a nitrite or nitrate salt. One of the consequences is that the amount of nitrite available from celery juice is variable, so the process needs to add an excess amount to guarantee that a minimum amount is always present. Net result- there is probably more nitrate/nitrate in the celery version than what would be added using a salt.


But they can label it as seen in the above package.

Celery has a very high concentration of natural nitrate, and treating celery juice with a bacterial culture produces nitrite. The concentrated juice can then be used to produce “no nitrite added” processed meat. Curiously, regulations stipulate that the traditional curing process requires the addition of nitrite and thus “organic” processed meats that are treated with celery juice have to be labeled as “uncured.”

SOURCE


There are many articles that can be found via google- celery juice vs nitrates

 

[braumeister]

I used to work as a NYC central park horse-drawn cab driver. I grew up in the country, north of NYC, right next door (1/2 mile between houses) to the guy who owned half of the carriages and went to school with two of his sons. I had an in to get the job. It was a horrible introduction to City-Life. I was 18.

The Greeks owned all the Sabrett hot dog wagons. People who work on the street take care of each other. I often bought dogs from the guy who was always on the corner at 5th Ave and Central Park's lower street, where most of the carriages where to be found. I told him that I really enjoyed them. He started to give me two dogs on a roll at once for the regular price. I started to tell my customer's to be sure to have a hot dog to complete their NYC experience (Most of our customers were tourists during the day shift). The nice Greek hot dog man would give me 5 pr 6 hot dogs without buns, right from the water when he closed up for the night for free. He told me that they only counted the rolls to see how many he had sold! I still love them to this day and as a young poor person, I am and always be, grateful.

Thanks for a great story!
I grew up in NYC (actually Brooklyn, which is more or less in the same solar system) and I loved those pushcart hot dogs. Also the ones immersed in a bowl of baked beans at the Automat. There probably aren't many here who remember the Horn & Hardart Automats.

 

[flintnational]

Why do hot dogs come 10 to a package while the buns come in packages of 8?

Physics - Somewhere there is a parrallel universe where they have 10 buns and 8 hot dogs. See, it all works out.

 

[MichaelB]

This brings up a question: if nitrites are bad in meat, is it harmful to eat celery or other vegetables with meat together in a meal as they get mixed inside the stomach?

I'm surprised you had to ask. Everyone knows chemical additives are bad for you while natural ingredients are healthful - even if they have the same name.

Why do hot dogs come 10 to a package while the buns come in packages of 8?

Easy. 20% of people now eat a gluten-free diet. Hot dog bun makers were first to market, and a bit early.

 

[gamboolman]

I like a foot long dawg with chili, onions, relish, saurekraut, mustard and a cold beer(s).....

In fact, just got back from days off in the USA and had about a half dozen for breakfast at the casino's .....

Life's A Dance And You Learn As You Go....

 

[braumeister]

Anyone who has ever been to Iceland has undoubtedly experienced what is probably the most famous hot dog stand in the world. It's called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and is on a street corner in downtown Reykjavik, an absolute icon.

When you get a hot dog there, it's almost mandatory that you order it "with everything". That means ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade (a mayonnaise-based sauce), crisp fried onions, and raw onions. It costs about $4 and is made with a mixture of lamb, beef, and pork. No matter what time of day you show up, there will almost certainly be a line to order one.

 

[MichaelB]

Anyone who has ever been to Iceland has undoubtedly experienced what is probably the most famous hot dog stand in the world. It's called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and is on a street corner in downtown Reykjavik, an absolute icon.

When you get a hot dog there, it's almost mandatory that you order it "with everything". That means ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade (a mayonnaise-based sauce), crisp fried onions, and raw onions. It costs about $4 and is made with a mixture of lamb, beef, and pork. No matter what time of day you show up, there will almost certainly be a line to order one.

Sounds good. I would wait in line for one ..

 

[Moemg]

Thanks for a great story!
I grew up in NYC (actually Brooklyn, which is more or less in the same solar system) and I loved those pushcart hot dogs. Also the ones immersed in a bowl of baked beans at the Automat. There probably aren't many here who remember the Horn & Hardart Automats.

I do but in Philadelphia not New York .My Dad used to take us to Philadelphia on the train around Christmas and we always went to the automat .

 

[Badger]

Interesting theory, even if it's completely incorrect.

Other than the hot dogs being moldy (but I don't think this is why) Do you have any idea why the green tint to the hot dogs?


Cheers!

 

[braumeister]

See post #25.

 

[Badger]

Anyone who has ever been to Iceland has undoubtedly experienced what is probably the most famous hot dog stand in the world. It's called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and is on a street corner in downtown Reykjavik, an absolute icon.

When you get a hot dog there, it's almost mandatory that you order it "with everything". That means ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade (a mayonnaise-based sauce), crisp fried onions, and raw onions. It costs about $4 and is made with a mixture of lamb, beef, and pork. No matter what time of day you show up, there will almost certainly be a line to order one.

While I was in Iceland some months back for a 2 week drive of the Ring Road I tried their hot dogs because I had heard so much about them. It is probably the most popular food in the country. For the life of me I don't understand why.


Cheers!

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Here's a vote for Nathan's. Boiled please. Then steamed in the bun

 

[ERD50]

While I was in Iceland some months back for a 2 week drive of the Ring Road I tried their hot dogs because I had heard so much about them. It is probably the most popular food in the country. For the life of me I don't understand why.

Cheers!

This might explain it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hákarl

Kæstur hákarl is a national dish of Iceland.

The meat of the Greenland shark is poisonous when fresh, due to a high content of urea and trimethylamine oxide, but may be consumed after being processed.[2][3]

The traditional method is by gutting and beheading a Greenland or sleeper shark and placing it in a shallow hole dug in gravelly sand, with the now cleaned cavity resting on a small mound of sand. The shark is then covered with sand and gravel, and stones are placed on top of the sand in order to press the shark. In this way the fluids are pressed out of the body. The shark ferments in this fashion for 6–12 weeks depending on the season. Following this curing period, the shark is then cut into strips and hung to dry for several months. During this drying period a brown crust will develop, which is removed prior to cutting the shark into small pieces and serving.

Kæstur hákarl contains a large amount of ammonia and has a strong smell, similar to many cleaning products.... Those new to it may gag involuntarily on the first attempt to eat it because of the high ammonia content.

Chef Anthony Bourdain described kæstur hákarl as "the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing" he has ever eaten.[1]

Chef Gordon Ramsay challenged James May to sample three "delicacies"... ; after eating kæstur hákarl, Ramsay spat it out,

Archaeologist Neil Oliver tasted it in the BBC documentary Vikings as part of examining the Viking diet. He described it as reminiscent of "blue cheese but a hundred times stronger"

Chef Ainsley Harriott, during his series Ainsley Eats the Streets, was unable to handle the heavy ammonia taste and described it as "like chewing a urine-infested mattress".

Not surprisingly, "It is often eaten with a shot of the local spirit, a type of akvavit called brennivín."

So yeah, a bad hot dog sounds pretty good in comparison!

-ERD50

 

[Souschef]

You must be Scottish. Haggis is great stuff! Maybe on a hot dog bun too. And for dessert followed by deep fried snickers bar. Don't watch this if you are not into traditional exotic foods or squeamish.

Cheers!

I had it on a cruise in Scotland. They piped it in, the Captain read Burn's "To a Haggis", and plunged a dagger into the center. We were all given a dram of scotch, but two of the people at my table did not drink, so I ended up with 3 glasses
By the way, I liked the taste of the Haggis.

 

[robnplunder]

I stopped eating hot dogs well before the article. More precisely, I avoid eating processed meat as much as possible. They sure taste good but pretty unhealthy stuff. I will eat it once in a while.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

While I was in Iceland some months back for a 2 week drive of the Ring Road I tried their hot dogs because I had heard so much about them. It is probably the most popular food in the country. For the life of me I don't understand why.


Cheers!

Generally speaking, Scandinavian cuisine is an oxymoron

 

[EastWest Gal]

Anyone who has ever been to Iceland has undoubtedly experienced what is probably the most famous hot dog stand in the world. It's called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and is on a street corner in downtown Reykjavik, an absolute icon.



When you get a hot dog there, it's almost mandatory that you order it "with everything". That means ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade (a mayonnaise-based sauce), crisp fried onions, and raw onions. It costs about $4 and is made with a mixture of lamb, beef, and pork. No matter what time of day you show up, there will almost certainly be a line to order one.

Been there! The stand is not far from the harbor and the hotels. Yes, we got it with everything.

We lived on hotdogs for lunch in Iceland. And sometimes for dinner. Everything else was too expensive. Mostly bought at the N1 gas stations.

 

[Badger]

Been there! The stand is not far from the harbor and the hotels. Yes, we got it with everything.

We lived on hotdogs for lunch in Iceland. And sometimes for dinner. Everything else was too expensive. Mostly bought at the N1 gas stations.

+1 Enjoyed 2 weeks there in May. Frequently ate at the N1 gas stations and bakeries.



Cheers!

 

[sengsational]

Generally speaking, Scandinavian cuisine is an oxymoron

What? You don't like lutefisk?

 

[HFWR]

Generally speaking, Scandinavian cuisine is an oxymoron

If it reeks of Bo Peep...

 

[NW-Bound]

Not having been to Iceland, I just looked up Baejarins Beztu Pylsur on Youtube.