Who invented the hot dog?

It’s hard to say definitively who invented the hot dog, but credit has gone to Emil Reichel and Sam Ladany (the co-founders of Vienna Beef) and Johann Georghehner, a German butcher. No one is entirely sure.

Why are they called franks or wieners?

Hot dogs are called franks, short for frankfurters, because they may have begun in Frankfurt, Germany. Hot dogs are called wieners because they may have begun in Vienna, Austria, which is wien in German.

When was the hot dog invented?

Sausages date all the way back to ancient times, but the hot dog is first found mentioned in print in the late 1800s.

Where was the hot dog invented?

There is no definitive answer, but Frankfurt, Germany and Vienna, Austria both take credit for the invention of the hot dog.

How did the hot dog get its name?

There are several myths about how the hot dog got its name, but the most likely origin is 19th century college humor, when students would make crude jokes pertaining to the questionable origin of the meat in hot dogs.

Why are hot dogs red?

Hot dogs are red because sodium nitrite is added to cure the meat, add flavor, and prevent the growth of bacteria. Sodium nitrite is also added to bacon, cold cuts, and Spam.

How to Slice Your Hot Dog Bun The Right Way

When you slice a hot dog bun, do you run the knife down the side of the bun, or do you slit it down the middle?

And, does it even matter?

Well, firstly, of course, it matters! When you’re biting into a delicious hot dog, you want it to taste as amazing as possible, right?

You may think something as simple as how the bread is cut isn’t going to make much of a difference, but trust us; it does. After all, it impacts how much hot dog you get in relation to the bread.

Plus, when we consume any type of food, it’s all about the overall experience. We’re sure you’ve heard the saying that people eat with their eyes first. So, even the way food looks make a difference in terms of the overall experience you have.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the right way to slice your hot dog bun.

A split-top hot dog bun is the way to go!

It’s rare that something is a bread product while also being a human engineering feat, but that’s exactly what we have with split-top hot dog buns. They tick both boxes!

Developed back in the 1940s, top-split hot dog buns are also referred to by the following names:

Top-loading buns
Top-sliced buns
New-England style buns

We have Howard Johnson’s to thank for this when they split buns to serve their fried clam sandwiches.

As the name indicates, rather than cutting into the side of the bun, you cut into the top. This is beneficial because it makes them a lot easier to eat and full.

You won’t find many people who argue that there are better ways of cutting a hot dog than this!

After the tradition was established with the original clam sandwich, buns with splits in the top became commonly used for crab rolls and lobster rolls, in particular. It’s not hard to see why this is the case. You can hold a serious scoop of seafood in a bun if you go for this approach, and you don’t have to worry about it slipping out of the sides.

Nevertheless, with something as efficient as this, it’s only natural that it was then going to move to other bread fillings. From meatball subs to delicious bratwursts, you can enhance the entire experience by simply opting to cut your bread bun along the top.

Who knew a split-top bun could offer so many benefits?!

You may be shocked to learn the sheer number of benefits associated with this type of hot dog bun. However, once we start to dive a little bit deeper, it’s easy to see why it’s the only option.

The efficiency is unmatched

There is only one place to begin, and this is with the sheer efficiency of choosing a split-top hot dog bun. The construction of this hot dog puts a side-sliced bun to shame. It’s not easy to load a standard hot dog bun with all of the sauces and toppings you want.

With a bun that’s cut through the top, the bottom of the bun is the opposite of the opening, so you can spread the bread open wide and get as many toppings in the bun as your heart desires. At the same time, the bun will fit comfortably on your plate in-between bites.

The same cannot be said with a side split bun. It’s a lot harder to fit everything inside. Whenever you take a bit, all of the contents of your hot dog bun will start spilling out of the sides.

There is less margin for error

When you cut a hot dog bun yourself, slicing it from the top downwards seems to be a lot easier than slicing the bun through the side.

There’s nothing more frustrating than cutting sideways and releasing you’ve left barely any bread on the bottom half. When this happens, the bread won’t be stable enough to hold your hot dog and all of the toppings, meaning you’ll need to get a fresh bun and start the process again.

No one likes food waste, so it’s not ideal!

Spongy edges and a stable base

Furthermore, as you don’t need to keep the sides perfect for slicing, a top-split bun can be baked close together, such that they connect among the edges and puff up.

This means you simply need to carefully tear every hot dug bun apart from the pack, which results in two soft and pillowy sides that are cooked while being insulated from the direct heat of the oven. We’re sure you know exactly what part of the bread we’re talking about here.

It’s delicious, right?

When you have a side split bun, you’re cutting into this part, so you’re ruining the best part of your hot dog! With a top split, you have a stable base while still getting those delicious spongy edges.

Making a split hot dog bun is easy

As you can see, there are many reasons why the split-top hot dog bun reigns supreme. So, how do you go about cutting a hot dog bun in this manner? Can you simply buy them with a split on the top?

No doubt, there will be some stores that do provide hot dog buns with the split already in the bun, just like you can purchase sliced bread. However, in most cases, hot dog buns are joined together. So you need to carefully pull a bun from the group, and then you’ll need to cut it yourself. Not to worry, though, it’s not as difficult as you may be expecting.

All you need to do is locate the center of the bun. Next, use a bread knife to cut approximately three-quarters of your way into the roll.

A lot of people then like to butter the sides, and they will grill the bun until it’s lightly toasted. Of course, the choice is yours.

The traditional approach is to then put your sausage in the bun and load your toppings on top of this. However, we know that some people like to put toppings like onions on the bottom and then add their hot dog on top of this so that the toppings don’t go sliding off the top of the bun. Again, the choice is yours. It’s all down to personal preference at the end of the day!

However, if you go for this approach, you’ll certainly be able to fill much more topping in your bun, which is a big plus.

Have you considered making your own hot dog buns?

You may think that it’s going to be a lot of hassle to make your own hot dog buns, but it doesn’t need to be this way. After all, there are some great bread makers on the market today, which will do all of the tough work for you.

You can simply and easily make fresh, delicious hot dog buns, with that incredible aroma that will fill up your home. At the same time, you’re not going to need to lift a finger!

You can have fun making different types of bread as well, for example, incorporating onion, nuts, fruits – whatever your heart desires!

Usually, people like to go with a traditional plain white hot dog bun. However, if you’ve got your own bread-making machine, you can easily try recipes you wouldn’t usually. You can also make gluten-free bread buns or cater to any other dietary requirements you have.

Enjoy the best possible hot dog by cutting the bun correctly

So there you have it: our fool-proof guide on how to cut your hot dog bun correctly. We hope that the guidance we’ve provided above makes you feel confident about serving the perfect hot dog.

Something as minor as cutting a hot dog bun may not seem like a big deal, but when you’re striving for perfection, every element of the dish truly matters.

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