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.

The Ultimate Hot Dog Consumption Stats

It’s that time of the year.

Not Christmas, not even the new year. It’s baseball season. That time when everyone seems to have a hot dog in their hands.

You’re not left out. You’re munching on yours as you cheer your favorite team on.

When I Get A Chance To Eat A Hot Dog I Relish It David Olenick GIFfrom When I Get A Chance To Eat A Hot Dog I Relish It GIFs

Nothing can come between you and this deliciousness. Well, except for one bugging thought. You’re curious: how much do Americans love hot dogs?

With the way the snack flies around, it won’t surprise you if we’re spending all our money on it.

We haven’t reached the point of spending all we earn on hot dogs… yet. But the story of this snack being an American favorite is not a myth; it’s a hot truth.

The Million Dollar Question: How Many Hot Dogs Do Americans Consume Yearly?

According to The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), Americans consume about 20 billion hot dogs every year. Yes, that much.

Further statistics by the Council reveal how Americans feel about this treat:

95% of American homes eat hot dogs
The average U.S. resident consumes about 70 hot dogs per year
U.S. soldiers around the world consumed 2.4 million hot dogs in 2020

Statista also records that:

In 2020, 255.28 million Americans ate hot dogs
About 261.42 million Americans will consume hot dogs in 2024

Hot Dog Stats Infographic — Hot Dog Statistics Infographic

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U.S. Cities That Top the Hot Dog Consumption Chart

There is not one state in America that doesn’t have a percentage of hot dog consumption.

Of the 20 billion hot dogs that Americans consume each year, each state has its quota. This is known as the per capita consumption per state.

The table below shows the U.S. states with the highest per capita quota:

State	Per Capita Consumption Per State
West Virginia	481
Illinois	317
Pennsylvania	289
South and North Carolina	279
Arizona	279
Rhode Island	279
Ohio	264
Connecticut	260
Alabama	255
Delaware	250
Michigan	245

From the table, we may be quick to say that West Virginia won the race.

Despite West Virginia’s numbers, however, it’s the state of Illinois that is called “the hot dog capital of America.”

Head Of State Illinois GIFfrom Head Of State GIFs

So which state wins? You tell us.

When it comes to cities, Los Angeles, California takes the cup. The NHDSC records that L.A. residents consume over 90 million hot dogs a year.

Hot Dog Seasons in America

Planning to visit the States?

Heard about the dog buzz, and would love to experience it? Then consider visiting during the baseball season. You will barely walk a mile without spotting someone munching on a dog in a ballpark. Or a vendor calling; “Hot dachshunds for sale!”

According to the NHDSC:

Baseball fans enjoyed 18.3 million hot dogs during the 2019 season
Baseball fans consumed 19.4 million hot dogs during the 2020 season

The 4th of July is another peak period. As reported by the Council, Americans consume approximately 150 million hot dogs on the 4th of July. This is enough to stretch five times from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.

The entire July is, in fact, America’s Hot Dog Month. The Nielsen Company reports:

Every year, between Memorial and Labor Days, Americans munch no less than 7 billion hot dogs. That’s 818 of these snacks, lost in people’s bellies per second.
Vendors across the country make over $800 million during this time. But out of this amount, a large chunk comes from July sales. Vendors make about $614 million in hot dog sales in July every year.

Sausage Consumption Statistics at Ballparks

Sausages, the soul of hot dogs, also see massive sales during the baseball season.

According to The Nielsen Company:

Fans of the San Francisco Giants consumed 450,000 sausages during the 2019 baseball season
Fans of the Chicago Cubs ate 400,000 dinner sausages in the same season
As for the Boston Red Sox? Their fans wiped out about 320,000 sausages that year
Baseball fans consumed nearly 4 million sausages in 2019
In 2019, New York sold $148.3 million worth of dinner sausages
Close sales in Los Angeles and Chicago totaled $140.8 million and $110.6 million, respectively

Hot Dog Favorites Within Various American Regions and Age Groups

From the Fenway Frank to the West Virginia Dog, there are over thirty types of savory hot dogs in America.

New York City alone sells over 20 types of hot dogs.

Eating Hot Dogs Failarmy Stickerfrom Eating Hot Dogs Stickers

However, information from the NHDSC tells us that not all Americans enjoy the same types of hot dogs. Various regions and age groups have their preferences:

60% of older consumers across the U.S. prefer all-beef sausages.
The Dodger Dog is one of the most popular hot dogs sold and consumed at baseball games.
Midwesterners enjoy sausages made of beef and pork in their hot dogs.
Westerners prefer chicken and beef sausages.
Easterners would rather have all-beef sausages. They consume the highest number of beef frankfurters in the country.
Younger consumers relish sausages made of pork and/or chicken.
In 2004, low-fat and/or fat-free hot dogs and sausages made up 12.4% of the total hot dog market in America. Sales from the top vendors climbed past $53 million in 2008.

Looking to start a hot dog business? These facts will help you understand your target consumer’s preferences.

As reported by Speed, knowing your target customers is a crucial factor in making sales:

“For start-up businesses in particular, identifying and understanding everything about your target audience is crucial for success…from research, you can create buyer personas (or buyer profiles) which will help you make sure your product or service is at the appropriate price and promoted via the right channels, in a way that ensures maximum return on investment. — Speed

Cooked or Grilled Sausages?

The average American would rather grill than boil their hot dogs and sausages. Grilled sausages have this “snap” to them that Americans love.

Whether you choose to grill or boil yours, never eat a sausage without reheating it.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is a common misconception that since sausages are pre-cooked, we can eat them raw. This belief is one of the causes of food-borne diseases in the United States:

“Some ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs, can become contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes after they have been processed and packaged at the plant. If it’s not possible to reheat hot dogs, don’t eat them.” — United States Food and Drug Administration

Who Are the Top Hot Dog Vendors in America?

Some prefer to buy from street vendors. Others prefer to buy from restaurants. Yet others would rather go to a grocery store, buy pre-packed hot dogs, and return home to try delicious hot dog recipes.

Let’s pretend this is another competition. Which seller takes the prize for selling the most hot dogs and/or sausages to Americans? Baseball vendors? Retail stores? Or fancy restaurants?

Let the NHDSC decide:

Americans buy 9 billion hot dogs at retail stores.
9% of the total hot dog sales in America are served at ballparks. Whereas, consumers buy 15% from street vendors.
Costco sells one of the cheapest hot dogs in America, going for less than $2 with soda and toppings.
Papaya King, New York, is one of the locals’ favorites for hot dogs. They’re also one of the best in the Eastern U.S.
Vendors at O’Hare International Airport sell six times more hot dogs than at a combination of L.A International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

Hot Dog Vendor Sales by Year

The table below shows further data collected by the NHDSC and The Nielsen Company on top hot dog vendors:

Year	Consumption Statistics by Vendor
2011	Retail stores, excluding Wal-Mart, sold over 700 million hot dog packs. This amounts to $1.7 billion
2012	Consumers spent more than $1.7 billion on sausages in U.S. supermarkets
2020	Retail stores excluding Wal-Mart sold 944.3 million pounds of sausages, amounting to over $2.8 billion
2020	New Yorkers spent more money on hot dogs in retail stores ($113 million)
2020	Residents of Los Angeles spent $92 million on hot dogs from retail stores

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There are two wonderful times of year in America: Christmas and baseball season.

We’re here for the latter. Imagine the joy of sitting next to people who share your passion for a sport. Moreso, they share your love for a snack. You may not be on the same team, but you have one thing in common: tradition.

Hot dogs aren’t just snacks in America; they’re part of the culture.

From the time the Germans introduced their weiners to us, the story of hot dogs has been carved into American history like Christopher Columbus.

We must preserve this tradition, to eat dog after dog, and to hand down its stories through generations.

At The Hot Dog, we contribute to keeping this culture through our stories, tips, and facts.

As long as there are always hot dogs to speak about, every day is a wonderful time here.