“Overall, uncured chicken or turkey hot dogs would be a better option, because they're usually lower in saturated fat and less processed than beef,” Avena said. But even if the label says “uncured,” “no nitrates added” or “all natural,” it doesn't mean these options are necessarily healthier.
Up to 80 percent of the calories in regular hot dogs come from fat, and much of it is the unhealthy saturated type. Regularly eating processed meats like hot dogs has been linked to increased risk of heart disease and colon cancer.
Nutrition Facts
A beef hot dog contains 5 g of protein, a chicken or turkey hot dog has 5.5 g of protein, and a pork hot dog has 9 g of protein. The beef hot dog contains 13 g of fat, while the pork hot dog has 18 g of fat, and the chicken or turkey hot dog has 7 g of fat. Some dogs are slightly healthier than others.
All-beef hot dogs aren't only better for you and your family, but they also taste better because they're made with high-quality beef and natural seasonings. And since all of the beef used in our products was raised without antibiotics and added hormones, you can feel good about feeding these hot dogs to your family.
Nathan's Famous premium, 100% beef hot dogs feature the same original recipe cooked up by Nathan himself over 100 years ago.
Chicken is a less expensive type of hot dog meat. Apart from its low cost, chicken also has less calories, less fats and lots of protein, making it a great alternative to beef and pork. Meat from chicken breasts and thighs are commonly used to manufacture hot dogs.
Next, hot dogs are often very high in sodium. You may be biting into 600 grams between that bun, and that's not good for your heart. Now, the worst news: Research shows regularly eating processed meats (like hot dogs) raises your risk of certain cancers, like stomach, bladder , breast, and especially colorectal.
While hot dogs are delicious, they aren't the healthiest pick around. Hot dogs are a type of processed meat, a category of foods that are known carcinogens, according to the American Cancer Society.
With more calories, comes higher fat and protein values
Based on fat content alone, bacon is the healthier option.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized processed meats, like hot dogs, as Group 1 carcinogens. What does this mean? Group 1 carcinogens are a category of substances that have the strongest evidence of being cancer-causing in people. Other things that fall into this category include tobacco and asbestos.
“I think if you're eating hot dogs in a Joey-type of way, this could be a turning point in your life to maybe cut back a little bit,” registered dietician Christy Brissette told ABC Chicago. “If you enjoy a hot dog once in awhile, completely fine.
Pan frying hot dogs is my favorite way to cook hot dogs. If you want to cook hot dogs on the stove, this is the preferred method. I don't recommend boiling hot dogs ever. Boiling takes the flavor out of the hot dog and waters them down.
Pan-searing is a flavor saver
According to The Kitchen Community, boiling your hotdogs before grilling can strip away their flavor. To keep those dogs barking, stick to just one method or the other. Wiener giant Nathan's says of boiling, "Honestly we just don't recommend it.
Generally because they are larger, dinner sausages will contain more calories than a standard hot dog, but they also offer higher levels of protein and nutrients such as phosphorus, selenium, zinc and Vitamin B12.
AICR defines processed meat as: “meat preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or addition of chemical preservatives.” Ham, bacon, pastrami, sausages, hot dogs and cold cuts are all considered processed meat.
Hot dogs, sausage, and bacon use the fattiest cuts of red meat, and therefore tend to be high in cholesterol and saturated fat. Bacon and sausage made with turkey or chicken might seem healthier, and they are somewhat lower in cholesterol than the red meat versions, but they're not cholesterol-free.
Applegate Great Organic Beef Hot Dog Uncured
Beef, spices and that's about it. These tasty hot dogs are free of nitrates and have only 110 calories and 9 grams of fat per serving. Organic versions are also available and Applegate uses 100% grass fed beef and zero antibiotics in all their products.
Here are some tips to a better 'dog. Choose a hot dog that is lower in fat (less than 10 g of total fat and 5 g of saturated fat) and sodium (less then 500mg). Look for light or reduced fat versions; fat-free versions usually add more sodium for flavor.
From a calorie standpoint, the hot dog is the winner, but from an overall perspective, the hamburger is a better option. The 4-ounce hamburger has about six times the amount of protein as a hot dog, but about a quarter of the sodium. Nutritionally, that's a better bargain.
For hot dogs, shoot for a range between 70%-80% lean beef, pork or a combination of the two. For these all-beef dogs, we're using a high-quality chuck roast for the perfect ratio, but you can experiment with different trimmings of pork fat.
Hot dogs are made from the emulsified meat trimmings of chicken, beef, or pork. This meat mixture is blended with other ingredients (like preservatives, spices, and coloring) into a batter-like substance.