SUPERMARKETGURU FOOD &
HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSFLASH!
Hot Dogs 101
Published on: June 8, 2005
MEAT: This is the ultimate generic term for hot dogs and can include very low-quality cuts of meat from beef and pork and most frequently added fillers. They’re plentiful and very cheap. Calories in one hot dog can be 150 to 180 depending on size; fat, 13 to 17 mg.; protein, 5 to 6 mg., and sodium, 450 to 550 mg. or higher.
BEEF: This category can be either all beef from all parts of the cow or kosher beef from selected sections of the cow. All kosher hot dogs must bear the kosher symbol (K) or (U). They’re generally more flavorful than “meat” dogs, contain only beef, no fillers, and carefully spiced. Calories, fat, and protein are the same as meat hot dogs, but sodium is usually less, about 400 mg.
LOW FAT: The marbling of beef is responsible for much of its flavor whether it’s a steak or a hot dog, and some manufacturers have been able to reduce the amount of fat and amp up the seasonings to retain that benchmark hot dog taste. Calories are a mere 60 per dog, fat is a modest 1.5 mg. but protein and sodium are about the same, 6 gr. and 400 gr. respectively. Low-fat and fat-free hot dogs currently represent only about 5% of the market despite the campaigns for low-fat foods.
FAT FREE: These dogs are more difficult to cook, and can include sugars, more sodium, and more intense flavorings to balance the loss of fat as a flavoring. With 0 mg. of fat, and only 45 calories and the typical 6 gr. of protein, this looks good on the nutrition chart, but still registers a very high 460 mg. of sodium.
CHICKEN OR TURKEY HOT DOGS: The skin of turkey or chicken, which contains most of its fat, is responsible for much of its flavor. Even though they’re lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, some turkey and chicken dogs contained even more reduced amounts of fat, which is balanced with amped up seasonings to duplicate that familiar “bite” of beef or pork hot dogs. Others call a poultry dog a poultry dog, and season accordingly. Calories are a mere 60 per dog, fat is a modest 1.5 mg. but protein and sodium are about the same, 6 gr. and 400 gr. respectively.
FAT FREE CHICKEN OR TURKEY: These dogs are more difficult to cook, and can include sugars, more sodium, and more intense flavorings to balance the loss of fat as a flavoring. With 0 mg. of fat, and only 45 calories and the typical 6 gr. of protein, this looks good on the nutrition chart, but still registers a very high 460 mg. of sodium.
There are also hot dogs made from tofu, tuna, salmon and other types of seafood, many of which can be found both in the refrigerated section of your supermarket as well as frozen. This summer, do one of your own taste tests and try a variety of hot dogs. You may be surprised at just how tasty some of the newer “healthier” hot dogs really are!
