July is National Hot Dog Month. A month dedicated to celebrating one of the grill’s most trusted companions.
Hot dogs have long been the staple of a backyard cookout, a neighborhood BBQ or a campsite dinner.
Their ease of cooking and delicious flavor keeps Americans coming back for seconds all summer long.
But as simple as grilling and topping a hot dog is, or at least should be, it is possible to go wrong.
In order to avoid hot dog disaster, trust our 5 hot dog do’s and 5 hot dog don’ts this summer.
DO: eat with your fingers. It’s not only preferred, it should be mandatory.
DON’T: be too fancy. Summertime should be celebrated with simplicity, not five course meals with utensils you don’t need.
DO: load up your dog with toppings. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, the top five hot dog toppings are: mustard, ketchup, chili, relish and onions.
DON’T: put those toppings on low quality dogs. No great topping is able to cover the taste of a bad dog. All Beef Hot Dogs are our preference.
DO: heat your hot dogs thoroughly and add beautiful grill marks on them.
DON’T: burn them to a crisp. Burnt dogs make for bad moods.
DO: prepare side dishes that pair well with your hands-free hot dog. That includes chips, watermelon, corn on the cob and of course steak fries.
DON’T: forget the beverages and dessert. For the adults, a cold beer is a good friend to a hot dog. Soda, iced tea and lemonade work well for everyone. And of course, a cookie tray or a hot apple pie can put the cherry on top of a summer hot dog meal.
DO: lick your fingers, wipe the mustard from the corner of your mouth and thank your guests for coming.
DON’T: be afraid to eat the last hot dog once everyone leaves. It’s summer after all. And it would be a shame to waste food.
Enjoy National Hot Dog Month. We hope, and expect, there are dozens of hot dogs in your future in July.
Happy hot dog eating!
