Hot Dogs

by Vicki Reich, from the September 2006 Newsletter

I know summer is coming to an end (faster than I’d like), but I don’t think that should stop us from enjoying hot dogs all year long. I have to admit that I sometimes like mine boiled rather than grilled anyway. Of course, what really counts is starting with the best-tasting dog; then, no matter what way you cook it, it’s sure to please. Here’s where our tasting team comes in. We have seven different meat-based hot dogs for sale at the Co-op. At the rate I eat hot dogs, it would have taken me years to decide which one I like best. But in just one evening, my trusty tasters, the Hog Heaven Handspinners, and I did all that work for you. I boiled up all seven dogs and cut them into bite-size pieces. No ketchup or mustard for these babies, we wanted them straight up so we could really taste all their nuances. The results were very interesting, as always.

First we tried Country Natural Beef Hot Dogs ($4.99, 16 oz.). These were by far the biggest, plumpest and juiciest dogs we tried. Size did matter in this case, and all of us really liked them. They were smoky, salty, almost like a sausage, and could really fill up a bun, just what a girl wants in a big hot dog. Rocky Chicken Franks ($2.99, 12 oz.) were next. They have a distinctive chicken flavor and are a bit sweet with a good texture. These were the favorite poultry dogs. Laura especially liked these. The next two dogs were both from Applegate. The first was a natural beef dog ($3.99, 12 oz.), and the second was organic ($5.35, 12 oz.). They have the same ingredients, but very different tastes. We were really surprised. The natural version was really tasty and looked the most like the hot dogs of our youth, nice and pink and slim. It had a good spicy taste and a typical hot dog flavor. It seemed like the one kids would like the best. The organic version was weird; I’ll leave it at that. The next two dogs were from Shelton’s ($2.89, 12 oz.). The first was turkey, and the second was chicken. They were both paler than the beef versions and pretty bland. They were both a tad on the mushy side as well. We all seemed to prefer the chicken to the turkey. Lastly, we tried what has been my favorite dog since we brought them in years ago and really rekindled my love of hot dogs: Buffalo Guys Buffalo Dogs ($5.65, 12 oz.). They didn’t disappoint me in the head-to-head taste off. They have a smoky, spicy flavor and a good texture and appearance. They are very hot doggy. They weren’t the favorite of the night, but with a much lower sodium and fat content, they were certainly one of the healthiest.

The Country Natural Hot Dogs were the overall favorite, and several of the tasters went back for seconds. We ended the evening fantasizing about all the condiments we could put on them. I wanted mustard and sweet relish, and Sarah suggested ketchup and onions. Anyway you like them, hot dogs are a year-round pleaser.

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