'Consumer Reports' Doesn't Know Hot Dogs
The good folks at Consumer Reports may know cars and appliances, but apparently their tasters don't know much about hot dogs. The magazine just released its hot dog taste test results. Hebrew National came out on top. Hebrew National is a fine-tasting dog, don't get me wrong, but ever since the kosher police ruled that natural casings were not kosher, Hebrew National's dogs no longer rule. They don't have that great snap that's required of a truly great hot dog.
Serious eaters know from my New York Times hot dog roundup that Papaya King hot dogs, made by Sabrett's parent company Marathon, now reign supreme, along with Chicago's favorite Vienna Beef.
Papaya King hot dogs are sold at select supermarkets in the New York area, including Fairway. Make sure that when you're buying Vienna Beef hot dogs, you buy the ones with the natural casing.
There is one other hot dog to look out for in your local supermarket. Boar's Head does make a fine all-beef hot dog with a natural casing. But read the fine print on the package before you buy to make sure that's what you're getting.
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6 Comments:
Ed,
It's long overdue. You must go to Amazing HotDog in Verona, NJ. It's worth the trip through the tunnel. My friend is the owner. Their specialty is quarter-pound bacon-wrapped deep-fried dogs. The dogs they use are from Best Provisions in Newark (aka Best's) which are the finest dogs you can buy.
Jeff at 3:21PM on 06/14/07
I also like the dogs made by Schaller & Weber, great flavor.
GorillaBob at 5:31PM on 06/14/07
Based on this post, I re-issued my 2004 hot dog roundup, and am planning to do a revised report in the near future:
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/evaluating-hot-dogs/
jperlow at 6:18PM on 06/16/07
why concede appliances and cars? I don't know who comprises their crack investigative team but their recommendations consistently lead to worse than random outcomes.
But I don't know hot dogs.
dbird at 9:03PM on 06/16/07
What do you know of Zweigle's hot dogs? We had them in Rochester. Quite good.
Adam Kuban at 8:55PM on 02/17/08
I must confess I've never heard of Zweigle's. Do they have their own hot dog stands or do they just wholesale and retail their dogs?
Ed Levine at 9:16AM on 02/18/08