Review: Best Hot Dog Brand for a Memorial Day Cookout

This was the second-most expensive brand I tried. A pack of eight hot dogs costs $8.99, excluding taxes and fees, but they were on sale for $6.99.

Since it’s a New York brand — and I live in the city — I half-expected to pay a little less for a local product.

The Sabrett hot dog fit perfectly inside the potato roll bun without hanging too much off either end.

The only flavors that came through were the ketchup and mustard, which is a distinct no-no in my book for hot dogs.

While the texture wasn’t overly chewy, I thought it didn’t have the distinct snap I often look for in a hot dog. 

While it wasn’t bad by any means, I didn’t think this brand was worth the higher price tag.

Nathan’s is a New York institution famous for its annual Coney Island hot-dog-eating contest on July Fourth.

I managed to snag an eight-pack of these hot dogs on sale at my local Food Bazaar.

The original price was $7.39, but I managed to get them for just $3.99, excluding tax.

It looked like a really classic hot dog you would eat on the pier in summertime: crispy on the outside, while still retaining that classic red hot-dog color.

After just a few bites, I was already reaching for water — it was hard to imagine eating dozens of these in a competition setting.

The hot dog had a decent flavor and a satisfying snap, but the overwhelming saltiness made it far from memorable.

The Ball Park pack of eight hot dogs cost me $8.99, excluding taxes and fees.

I also noticed they cooked a lot faster than the other brands. While the other brands retained their red, crispy consistency in the pan, the Ball Park dogs quickly began to char and crisp up after only a minute or two of cooking.

I personally like really well-done, almost charred hot dogs, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have different preferences. 

I thought the hot dog had a nice smoky flavor that paired well with the bun and toppings, though the texture was a bit too rubbery for my taste.

The pack of six franks cost me $8.99 at my local Food Bazaar grocery store, excluding taxes and fees.

The smaller package size is definitely worth keeping in mind if you’re shopping for a large cookout or feeding a crowd, since you may need to buy multiple packs to have enough on hand.

I wondered whether it would be less filling, or how the slightly thinner shape would affect the eating experience. 

The ketchup and mustard added plenty of flavor without overpowering the hot dog’s savory, beefy taste.

Even though it was the thinnest hot dog I tried, the bun-to-dog ratio still felt balanced, with each ingredient complementing the others well.

I was surprised that this brand won. Even though I call New York City home, neither of the local brands, Nathan’s or Sabrett, deserved the win in my book. 

I thought Applegate’s hot dog, though thinner than the others, had the best flavor and texture. It was also a great value, despite the pack being two dogs short. If I had to choose which hot dog brand to eat at my cookout, it would be Applegate hot dogs all the way.