Hunting, fishing, and any camping will involve Hot Dogs on the menu at some point. This meal is easy, fast, and filling.
Hot dogs have been around for hundreds of years. Brats have meat trimmings that are not as finely ground, but they have the same goodies. Fully cooked is healthy but some folks prefer burned, charred, and blackened. To each their own. One thing is for sure, every hungry human will eat a proper hot dog.
Hot dogs can be known by other names. They are called Wieners, Red Hots, Weenies, Tube steaks, and footlongs. Giggle Gobblers, Brats, Franks, Bangers, Sausages, Snappers, Weiner Schnitzels, and other names. However you know them, they have been enjoyed at sports events, grilling parties, and campouts.
Native peoples and Mountain Men made the first Montana Tube Steaks. Pieces of cut meat, vegetables, and fat were stuffed into the intestines of big game animals and cooked. They spiced up the meat with whatever they had. The coiled casing was laid on the coals of a fire and cooked.
Hot Dogs are not created equally. Every company that makes Dogs has a different recipe and standard of quality. Most Dogs are made from pig, beef, chicken, or turkey scrapes. Spices and preservatives are added for flavor and health reasons.
There are cured and uncured hot dogs. Fillers include snouts, hearts, liver, etc. Everything but the squeal. Sodium nitrate and nitrite are added to keep the dogs on the shelf for a longer time. Uncured dogs do not have additives. All dogs should be refrigerated.
Casings can be natural sheep or pig intestines. Some dogs have the casings removed before packaging. The snap of a great hot dog comes from a natural casing. They can be footlongs, Vienna sausages, little wieners, or massive bun length beasts.
So, what is the BEST hot dog? Best is a relative term. A drunk would eat a boot and any hot dog will do. There have been scores of contests to decide the best hot dog. Flavor, juiciness, texture, and appearance factors in. The best is Nathan’s Hot Dogs. These Coney Island style dogs were created by a polish immigrant named Nathan Handwerker. If they are polish, they must be great. Results of blind taste tests consistently chose Oscar Mayer wieners as the biggest loser, but they do have a great jingle and car.
Years ago, I feasted on a dog famous in Baltimore called a Pollock Johnny. They were wonderful. I even entered an all you can eat contest. 17 was my best but the winner was a little Asian guy that ate 27! You ordered them as a “Long John All the Way!” It was served with fried peppers, onions, and their special sauce. The business is gone but the product is still around, and I still get heartburn thinking about it.
The best cheapo dogs are voted Ball Park Franks. They are a bit under seasoned but are juicy and consistent. Local butchers can also make wonderful sausages and hot dogs from local meats.
Cooking hot dogs is easy. They can be baked, fried, stewed, chunked, casseroled, or just bunned. You can score them, slice them, squid them, or wrap them in bacon or dough. Presentation is key and will overcome most reluctant eaters. A Hot Dog Fixins Bar can really kick this meal up! Serve beans or other fun sides around and you will have Happy Campers.
You can cook them on a stick, pitchfork, or in a pan. If you plan on using the campfire grate, place some foil down first. You can also combine the dogs with sides and wrap them up in aluminum foil. 9 out of down fire grates have been peed on by drunk campers, just like the country song says…” piss on the fire and head off to…”
Fixings include relish, mustard, onions, peppers, kraut, avocado, jalapenos, cheese, ketchup, or… Make the dogs your own. Wrap them in dough, tortillas, bacon, or cut them into bite sized chunks. Add a toothpick and dipping sauce and they will disappear.
Hot Diggity Dogs!
Montana Grant
