7 Worst Hot Dogs To Stay Away From Right Now 
Share and Follow

When you’re gearing up the grill for a weekend cookout or simply grabbing a quick lunch, not every hot dog deserves a spot in your refrigerator or is worth spending money on. Although hot dogs are a convenient comfort food, many are packed with unhealthy additives and excessive salt. “In various brands, hot dogs are replete with sodium, nitrates, and saturated fat, and eating them regularly has been linked to cancer and heart disease,” explains Bess Berger, RDN, the founder of Nutrition by Bess in NJ. Furthermore, there are other concerning factors to watch out for, notes Nutritionist Rania Batayneh, MPH, the author of the popular book, The One One One Diet.

Mechanically Separated Meat: This processing method leads to a pasty texture instead of a firm, meaty bite.

Corn Syrup, Sugar, or Sweeteners: A hot dog with added sweetness often tastes out of place and unbalanced.

Very Long Ingredient Lists: More fillers and additives usually mean less real meat and weaker flavor.

Low Protein per Serving: A good hot dog should have around 6 to 8 grams of protein. If it is much lower, the product is mostly fillers.

Odd Appearance or Texture in the Package: Sliminess, pale coloring, or dogs that feel too soft often cook up mushy or chewy.

Now that you know what to look for, here are seven of the worst hot dogs to avoid and why.

Bar-S Classic (Jumbo) Franks

Walmart

Nutrition: per serving 1 hot dog

Calories: 170

Fat:  14g (Saturated fat:  6g)

Sodium: 550mg

Carbs: 0g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: 1g)

Protein:  6g

Ingredients: Beef, Water, Corn Syrup, Salt, Includes 2% or less of the following: Potassium Lactate, Potassium Acetate, Sodium Diacetate, Flavorings, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.

Prior to selecting Bar-S Classic Jumbo Franks, it’s crucial to examine the label. “These inexpensive franks are packed with filler meats and additives, resulting in a bland taste, a mushy texture, and questionable contents,” warns Berger. “It’s unclear how much actual meat is present in these hot dogs.”

Jennie-O Turkey Franks

Instacart

Nutrition: per serving 56 grams

Calories: 120

Fat:  2.5g (Saturated fat:  0g)

Sodium: 640mg

Carbs: 2g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: 0g)

Protein:  7g

Ingredients: Mechanically Separated Turkey, Water, Salt, Contains 2% Or Less Modified Food Starch, Potassium Lactate, Potassium Acetate, Sodium Diacetate, Seasoning, Natural Smoke Flavor, Sodium Nitrite.

Jennie-O Turkey Franks sounds like a healthier alternative, but look at the ingredient list. “Made from mechanically separated turkey, these tend to be dense and rubbery,” says Batayneh. “They lack the juicy snap of a traditional hot dog and the flavor feels processed rather than savory.”

7 Restaurant Chains With the Best Hot Dogs

Empire Kosher Turkey Franks

Empire Kosher

Nutrition: per serving 1 hot dog

Calories: 90

Fat:  7g (Saturated fat:  2.5g)

Sodium: 530mg

Carbs: 0g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: 0g)

Protein:  6g

Ingredients: Mechanically separated turkey, water, 2% or less of: garlic powder, potato starch, natural flavors, paprika, salt, sodium diacetate, sodium nitrite, sodium phosphate, spices, sugar, smoke flavoring

Empire Kosher Turkey Franks also seem healthier until you read the label. According to Batayneh, “These appear pale in color and the taste is equally muted. The texture is spongy, and some notice a metallic aftertaste that makes them less enjoyable.”

Sugardale Hot Dogs

Instacart

Nutrition: per serving 1 hot dog

Calories: 150

Fat:  13g (Saturated fat:  4.5g)

Sodium: 730mg

Carbs: 3g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: 1g)

Protein:  7g

Ingredients: Beef, Water, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Salt, Contains 2% Or Less Of Sodium Locate, Flavorings, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Diocetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Extrectives of Paprika.

Sugardale Homerun Dogs advertise all beef, but there are several ingredients to be wary of. Batayneh says, “Corn syrup adds an unexpected sweetness that clashes with the savory flavor most people expect. The texture stays the same no matter how you cook them, soft and oily instead of crisp and juicy.”

Hofmann German Franks

Instacart

Nutrition: per serving 1 hot dog

Calories: 190

Fat:  17g (Saturated fat:  6g)

Sodium: 560mg

Carbs: 0g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: 0g)

Protein:  8g

Ingredients: pork, water, beef, veal, and less than 2% of the following: salt, dextrose, corn syrup, flavorings, citrus fiber, paprika, sodium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, natural casing derived from lamb.

Customer reviews rave about Hofmann German Franks and while they’re tasty, there are too many ingredients. Plus, Batayneh says the brand doesn’t live up to the hype. “The casing gives a nice snap, but the inside is dry and chewy. The flavor is so mild it feels like something is missing, especially for a product positioned as more premium.”

Sahlen’s Natural Casing Hot Dogs Pork and Beef

Amazon

Nutrition: per serving 1 hot dog

Calories: 180

Fat:  16g (Saturated fat:  5g)

Sodium: 630mg

Carbs: 2g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: g1)

Protein:  8g

Ingredients: Pork, Water, Beef, Salt, Corn Syrup, Flavorings, Dextrose, Hydrolyzed Soy and Corn Protein, Oleoresin of Paprika, Sodium Erythorbate, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Nitrite, and a Collagen Casing.

Sahlen’s Natural Casing Hot Dogs Pork and Beef, says it’s “gourmet,” but the franks are loaded with worrisome ingredients like corn syrup. Additionally, the flavor isn’t great, says Batayneh. “These come in a collagen casing that many find tough. The interior is mushy and mild in taste, which leaves them feeling flat compared to more seasoned brands.”

Ball Park Prime Uncured Beef Franks

Costco

Nutrition: per serving 1 hot dog

Calories: 230

Fat:  20g (Saturated fat:  9g)

Sodium: 710mg

Carbs: 2g (Fiber: 0g , Sugar: 2g)

Protein:  9g

Ingredients: USDA prime beef, water, contains 2% or less: dextrose, potassium lactate, salt, natural flavor (including celery juice powder), sodium phosphate, sodium diacetate, sea salt, extractives of paprika.

Ball Park Prime Uncured Beef Franks boast they don’t contain fillers or by-products, but that doesn’t mean they’re good for you. “These hot dogs come with 710 mg of sodium and 9 g of saturated fat per dog,” Berger noted. “Considering most people have two hot dogs when eating them, this is really heart disease in a bun.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Quick 15-Minute Morning Routine to Combat Muscle Loss More Effectively Than Lengthy Workouts After Age 45

Let’s be real: Mornings tend to rush by, and most of the…

5 Chair Workouts to Quickly Reduce Belly Overhang for Those Over 50, More Effective Than Planks

Belly overhang can be challenging, but focusing on your core muscles with…

7 Crucial Signs of Colon Cancer Every Woman Over 50 Should Know

Colon cancer is increasingly becoming a significant health issue, especially for women…

5 Standing Workouts to Combat Aging More Effectively Than Cardio for Those Over 40

Standing exercises provide a unique approach to reversing aging that cardio alone…

Are You Over 45? Achieving This Squat Target Puts Your Leg Strength in the Top 10% for Your Age Group

Robust legs are essential for carrying you through life’s journey. They enable…

6 Reasons Why Women Over 50 Experience Brittle Nails and How to Address Them

As women get older, their bodies often exhibit subtle signs of aging,…

14 Effective Strength Exercises for Women to Target Belly Fat

Oh, the notorious middle-aged weight gain. It tends to catch you off…

How the Paleo Diet Promotes Weight Loss Without Causing Hunger

The journey to successful weight loss often involves the challenge of staying…