Our intrepid pack of testers chomped their way through 50 different franks, hot dogs and wieners in hot pursuit of the top tube steak in all the land. Not a single chicken, turkey or tofu dog made the final cut, while beef and pork reigned supreme.
Did your favorite frank lead the pack? Read on.
Best Hot Dogs
Our intrepid pack of testers chomped their way through 50 different franks, hot dogs and wieners in hot pursuit of the top tube steak in all the land. Not a single chicken, turkey or tofu dog made the final cut, while beef and pork reigned supreme.
Did your favorite frank lead the pack? Read on.
20. DIETZ & WATSON NEW YORK BRAND BEEF FRANKS
(All Beef, Natural Casing)
The strong casing caused our panel to snap to attention, and the solid, beefy interior makes this a dandy, workaday dog.
19. SABRETT SKINLESS BEEF FRANKFURTERS
(All Beef)
Our panelists were split on the subtly peppery aftertaste, but all sang the praises of the juicy, gently salted initial flavor experience.
18. COLEMAN NATURAL UNCURED BEEF HOT DOGS
(Uncured, All Beef)
All tasters sang the praises of the smoky, bratwurst-like flavor or this firm, un-fancy frank.
17. HILLSHIRE FARMS LIT'L BEEF FRANKS
(All Beef)
These wee wieners pack a lot of meaty, salty flavor into a bitty bite. The size allows for lots of skin crisping, and our panel deemed 'em a 'perfectly respectable cocktail frank.'
16. WOLFE'S NECK UNCURED HOT DOGS
(Pork, Beef, Natural Lamb Casing)
Our tasters were in agreement that a pinch more salt would really make this pup pop, but still, the snappy, crunchy skin and juicy inside more than made up for it.
15. OSCAR MEYER PREMIUM BEEF FRANKS
(All Beef)
On the other hand, this one got a teensy bit too silly with the salt shaker, but still nosed ahead with a distinctive smoky sweetness, and a snappy skin that crisps up beautifully over an open flame.
14. OSCAR MAYER WIENERS
(Turkey, Chicken, Pork)
This childhood classic holds its own against the fancier franks, earning raves for its spicy, smoky flavor combo and sturdy casing. Oh, Oscar, we are still in love with you.
13. BALL PARK BEEF FRANKS
(All Beef)
Every single tester waxed wacky over the satisfying juice jolt of this beefy stadium staple. The flavor may not be a grand slam, but it's a solid base hit.
12. OSCAR MAYER MINI HOT DOGS
(All Beef)
This tiny dog has the heart of a champion, fetching maximum intense flavor per square centimeter. As one panelist suggests, 'Wrap some Pillsbury around these, and you've got a party!'
Summertime always sparks a craving for hot dogs. No doubt it's largely due to fond memories of childhood barbecues. I've little or no time for whining about whether wieners make for unhealthful eating. Debates about how to cook 'em hold infinitely more interest. As a New Yorker, I'm no stranger to so-called dirty water dogs. I've been known to eat one now and again, but I much prefer the grilled dogs of my childhood. I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that deep-fried dogs are a relatively new indulgence for me.
I was going to say, "a hot dog made out of horse meat? Gah!" But then I thought, who the hell knows what's in the hot dogs that we eat now? Snouts, intestines, whatever. Maybe horse meat isn't too weird after all.
What is the best hot dog? We're not talking about the best places to get a hot dog, because not everyone is going to travel around the country to find a great one. Sometimes, you only want to travel as far as your local market. Not a problem - you can find some great hot dogs there! Just as with the 
