Hot dog

A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish, cheese, chili and/or sauerkraut.

 

Ingredients

Common hot dog ingredients include:

• Meat trimmings and fat
• Flavorings, such as salt, garlic, and paprika
• Preservatives (cure) - typically sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite

Pork and beef are the traditional meats used in hot dogs. Less expensive hot dogs are often made from chicken or turkey, using low cost mechanically separated poultry. Hot dogs often have high sodium, fat and nitrite content, ingredients linked to health problems. Changes in meat technology and dietary preferences have led manufacturers to use turkey, chicken, vegetarian meat substitutes, and to lower the salt content.