We dared to ask the questions many people are afraid to about this summer favorite. We got in touch with meat scientist Janeal Yancey, PhD, and blogger at Mom at the Meat Counter because not only is Dr. Yancey an expert in meat science, but she also worked at a hot dog plant and has first-hand experience of how they are made. She told us her experience did not change her love for hot dogs.

“I eat hot dogs and feed them to my family. I enjoyed working in the hot dog plant, except that I smelled like hot dogs every day!” Dr. Yancey said.

We decided to ask Dr. Yancey some of your scariest hot dog questions.

What’s in a hot dog?

Dr. Yancey: “Hot dogs can be made with different types of meat, and if you want to know what’s in a hot dog, you just need to look at the ingredient statement. Most of the time, hot dogs are made with skeletal meat, which are trimmings of the same type of meat that makes ground meat, steaks and roasts. The trimmings are ground up really fine, which is what gives them that homogenous texture. Salt is added to the meat, giving the mixture a sticky texture. The proteins within the meat stick to each other, and then water is added. The hot dog mixture also has added nitrites, which give the hot dog a pink color and specific flavor. Nitrites also help protect the hot dog from the bacteria that causes botulism. There are all sorts of flavors added to hot dogs, and each hot dog company has their own unique recipe for what makes their hot dogs taste special.”

For more information about nitrites, see What is Nitrite? and Nitrates in Processed Meats

Hot dogs are made up of a bunch of different leftover animal parts, right?

Dr. Yancey: “This isn’t really true. Hot dogs are made of animal parts, but they aren’t leftovers. They’re the same stuff that you would make into ground beef or ground pork. The trimmings used to make hot dogs are pieces of the meat that don’t make good steaks and roasts because they aren’t a certain tenderness, size, shape or weight.”

There’s nothing to fear in your hot dog. @MeatCounterMom explains it’s all on the package.
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What about the really cheap hot dogs?

Dr. Yancey: “Really inexpensive hot dogs are usually made with a meat source called mechanically separated chicken. It’s a process that uses mechanical means to pull the muscle off the bone in chicken. It’s a very inexpensive source of protein. It’s not an unsafe or unwholesome product, it’s just a cheaper protein source.”

How are hot dogs made?

Dr. Yancey: “In the hot dog plant, workers grind the trimmings and mix up all the ingredients and the salt, and add some water. Sometimes they’ll even add ice to the hot dog mixture because during the grinding process, the mixture can get warm, so adding ice helps keep it at the right temperature. Then, they run it through a special machine that sucks the air out of the mixture and grinds it up really fine.”

How do hot dogs get their shape?

Dr. Yancey: “The mixture is then stuffed into long tubes. most hot dogs are stuffed into a plastic casing, and machines stuff the hot dog in and twist the casing that makes the hot dogs into links. They are then cooked in those casings, and once cooked, they put them in a machine called a peeler. The peeler peels the hot dogs from the casings very fast! After they’re cooked, the mixture takes the shape of that casing. Once you pull the casing off, you have that round hot dog shape. On a hot dog, those wrinkles on the end are from where the casing was twisted.”

Are hot dogs safe to eat?

Dr. Yancey: “Hot dogs are really safe to eat. They are cooked to a safe temperature before they leave the plant. The packaging room, where the hot dogs go after they’re cooked, is treated similarly to an operating room. The workers must wear clean suits, hair nets and gloves. The rules and regulations for the sanitation are really stringent because the plant must deliver a safe product. That’s what’s great about a hot dog – it’s a safe, ready-to-eat product. You can cook it again – you can grill it, microwave it, boil it, etc., but you don’t have to. Hot dogs are super safe. As a side note, just to be extra safe, pregnant women should not eat hot dogs and deli meats, without heating them up first, because of a bacteria rarely found in those products.”

Are hot dogs healthy?

Dr. Yancey: “You can look at the nutrition label when choosing to purchase hot dogs. Hot dogs are a good inexpensive source of protein. They aren’t a lean cut and they aren’t a health food, but they are a good source of inexpensive protein.”

Hot dogs are made from meat trimmings which are ground into a fine mixture with other ingredients added for flavor. The mixture is poured into a casing to create the shape. Hot dogs are a cheap source of protein and are safe to eat with or without additional cooking.

This video from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council shows how hot dogs are made.

Originally posted April 7, 2015.

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• Burgerizza – Turner Field, Atlanta Braves. The Burgerizza includes a 20-ounce patty, five slices of cheddar and bacon on a bun made of two eight-inch pepperoni pizzas.
• Chicken and Donut Skewer – Globe Life Park, Texas Rangers. The Chicken and Donut Skewer puts fried chicken and donuts on a stick, drizzled with sweet and sour buffalo honey sauce.
• Crab Dip Fries – Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles. This treat piles fresh Chesapeake Bay crab, cream cheese and plenty of Old Bay poured over waffle fries.
• All-Star BBQ Dog – Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City Royals. This foot-long dog is piled high with pulled pork, coleslaw, pickles and barbecue sauce.
• Chicken Waffle Cone – Minute Maid Park, Houston Astros. Waffle cones are typically used to house ice cream, but Houston pairs the waffle cone with fried chicken, filled with mashed potatoes.
• Dungeness Crab Sandwich – Safeco Field, Seattle Mariners. Spotlighting local cuisines, this Dungeness crab sandwich features fresh crab and tomatoes.
• Pan con Lechon – Marlins Park, Miami Marlins. The street-cart-turned-official-vendor Papa Llega y Pon sports its Pan con Lechon — a crispy pork sandwich.
• Chili Half-Smoke – Nationals Park, Washington Nationals. The Chili Half-Smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl, a D.C. icon, features beef and pork sausage topped with onions and mustard and a huge helping of chili.
• Brunch Burger – PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates. This bacon cheeseburger on a donut bun also features a fried egg.
• Nachos on a Stick – Miller Park, Milwaukee Brewers. The Nachos on a Stick features sticks of meat and refried beans covered in Doritos and deep fried.
• Cardiff Tri-Tip – Petco Park, San Diego Padres. This sandwich is filled with Seaside Market’s Cardiff tri-tip steak.

If you’re not feeling that adventurous and want to attend a game without breaking a caloric world record, check out these resources.

_{The image “Crab Dip Waffle Fries at Camden Yards” by Kelly is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.}

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Peanuts and crackerjack are immortalized in the song, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” but whether you’re heading to a major league park or the concession stand at the softball field, you’re likely to find more culinary choices. While there are a lot of creative options, some are healthier than others and, as usual, moderation and portion control are important. If you want to research the nutritional aspects of various foods before you head to the ballpark, check out these resources:

• USDA National Nutrient Database
• My Fitness Pal
• Calorie King

To enjoy a day at the ballpark and not strike out on your diet, Best Food Facts registered dietitian Sarah Downs provides these helpful tips:

• Bring your own snacks to the game. Check the ballpark’s policy on what they will allow you to bring into the stadium. You may find you’re able to bring some of your own snacks, which will be more affordable and will likely have a lot fewer calories. Peanuts are a great baseball game snack filled with protein, fiber and healthy fats to help keep you full in between innings. Be mindful of the portion sizes on the bags sold at stadiums, and share the bag to keep calories in check. You can also create your own snack mix at home to bring to the game. Include different types of nuts, dried fruits and even a little dark chocolate if you want!
• Moderate your beverages and be sure to hydrate. There’s nothing wrong with a beer or soda or two, but don’t forget to hydrate in between. Because baseball games (and especially youth baseball and softball tournaments) can be long, it’s important to stay hydrated throughout. Check to see if your stadium allows you to bring in a bottle of water, or bring in your own empty water bottle and fill it up at the game.
• Stick to one round. Don’t limit yourself if you want to have a hot dog and a beer — just try to stick to one round. Still hungry? Munch on pre-portioned snacks brought from home. Fruits and veggies, mixed nuts and air-popped popcorn are all good choices to tide you over.
• Don’t come to the ballpark hungry. Fill up on a healthy meal prior to arriving at the stadium so you are less likely to indulge.
• Split your ballpark treats with a friend. Sharing is caring, especially when it comes to ice cream and nachos! Instead of completely limiting yourself, try sharing your ballpark favorites to cut down on excess calories, sugar, salt and fat.

Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to score a nutrition home run!

_{The image “Baseball Food” by M&R Glasgow is licensed under CC BY 2.0.}

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