The main difference between franks and hot dogs is that franks are small-sized sausages, while a hot dog is a long sausage. Franks or frankfurters are usually served with dipping sauces as appetizers, whereas hot dogs are served inside a bread bun.
A frankfurter is a German-style pork sausage. It was initially made from pig parts that were typically not eaten, such as the head, trotters, and neck.
On the other hand, a hot dog is a type of sausage made out of ground meat. The ingredients used are salt, milk, or water, and bread crumbs and Fillers may also be added for a better texture.
In this article, I will discuss frankfurters, and hot dogs, the history, the types, and the difference between them.
What is a frankfurter?
A frankfurter is a thin sausage, usually about six inches long, mostly made of smoked meats combined with seasoning, including meats such as beef and pork, turkey and beef, or chicken and beef.
In the U.S., the frankfurter is more commonly called a wiener, served as a sandwich on a long split roll or bun. Frankfurters are generally used as appetizers, to foot-long pieces of meat.
Frankfurter is a sausage that originated in Germany, and It has a long tube shape. It is a traditional food introduced in the United States in 1900.
SEE: If Sausages Are Gluten-Free
Types of frankfurters
There are three known types of frankfurters. These are;
Frankfurter Wurstchen
Frankfurter Wurstchen is a thin, boiled sausage made of pure pork with a casing made from lamb intestine. The pork is smoked using a particular method which gives them a distinct taste. This frank is only heated in hot water and should not be cooked.
Frankfurter Wurstel
Frankfurter Wurstel is a type of sausage almost the same as Vienna sausage. But their ingredients, taste, size, and preparation method may vary depending on the manufacturer or where they are sold.
Frankfurter Rindswurst
This type of frank is made of pure beef meat, which you can boil, broil, or grill. The term “frankfurter rindswurst” means Frankfurt beef sausage in German.
Nutritional information on frankfurter
According to the USDA, a 52g serving of frankfurter meat contains;
- Calories: 151
- Fat: 13g
- Protein: 5.3g
- Carbohydrate: 2.2g
- Sugar 0g
- Dietary fiber: 0g
- Saturated fat: 4g
- and 40mg of cholesterol per serving.
What is a hot dog?
A hot dog is a sausage in a bun. To further clarify, when you put a sausage (or most times a frank) in the middle of two evenly sliced buns, it is called a hot dog.
Hot dogs are made from meat trimmings ground into a fine mixture with other ingredients added for flavor. The sausages themselves are German in origin, but nobody thought to put them in a bun until they began to catch on in popularity in America.
Sausages were already called “dog” even before they made their way to America, and this is because some German sausages actually contained dog meat. Because the sausages were thin and long, German vendors called them “dachshund sausages,” this name later evolved to “hot dog.”
SEE: How to Tell if Hot Dogs is Bad
Nutritional information on the hot dog
According to the USDA, one beef hot dog and bun (102g) without condiments contains;
- Calories: 314
- Fat: 18.6g
- Sodium: 810mg
- Carbohydrates: 24.3g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Sugars: 4g
- Protein: 11.4g
SEE: How You Can Freeze Hot Dog for Later
Difference between franks and hot dogs
- Frankfurter are sausages, while hot dogs are longer sausages with buns around them.
- A frankfurter is made of meat slurry, and a hot dog, on the other hand, is made from beef and pork.
- The hot dog originated in the 1860s, while the frankfurter was recognized in the 1900s.
- Hot dogs have a different manufacturing process and flavors from frankfurter.
- Hot dog includes salt, water, spices, and citric acid, but frank adds garlic, pepper, mustard, sugar, and nutmeg.
- Franks are small-sized sausages, while a hot dog is a long sausage.
SEE: McDonald’s Hot Dog: Here’s What Many People Don’t Know
FAQs
Are frankfurters and hot dogs healthy?
Yes, they are. They are both rich in proteins and other vitamins which are beneficial to you.
Is hot dog healthier than franks?
Frankfurters are healthier as they contain less fat than hot dogs.
How can you tell if a hot dog is bad?
You can tell either by smell, texture, or color.
Conclusion
A hot dog is one of the most popular sausages in the United States. A hot dog consists of a sausage served in a sliced bun, along with ketchup, mustard, onion, and sometimes even chili.
Both hot dogs and frankfurter are healthy, rich in protein, and have a fair amount of calories. If consumed moderately, the benefits are endless.
If you enjoyed this article, you should also see the difference between lamb and beef.
Thank you for reading.
