WHAT IS A HOT DOG?
Inside a hot dog almost nothing is off limits. Pigs, chickens, turkeys, organ meats or raw skeletal muscle are all acceptable ingredients. All of these trimmings are ground to a fine paste. They are then stuffed into a casing (either from cellulose or animal intestines) and vacuum sealed to preserve freshness. While in the United States there are regional versions, basically it just involves changing the topping. In New Jersey it’s peppers, onions and potatoes while in Chicago mustard, pickles and sauerkraut are preferred. However Newark has a version that’s actually deep-fried!
WHERE IS THIS CUT LOCATED?
It is made up primarily of organ meat and skeletal muscle (ligaments, tendons, etc). Consequently the large number of fragrant spices (black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, garlic, paprika and nutmeg) used help to hide the underlying flavor of the meat itself.
WHY ARE THEY CALLED HOT DOGS?
In the early 1900’s a wave of German immigrants introduced their favorites from back home including sausages and dachshund dogs. A few decades later at Yale university the heated sausages were sold in what were called “dog” wagons. Consequently these long, skinny and cheap sausages were given the nickname “hot dog.” However the concept of serving the sausage in a bread bun was supposedly invented in Coney Island as an easier way to eat them while walking around.
WHAT RECIPES WORK WELL WITH HOT DOGS?
So you can bake, microwave, saute, poach, fry or boil these stuffed sausages. But after exhaustive testing, Epicurious said that the best way to cook them is to just open the package! Furthermore hot dogs are always sold fully-cooked and are safe to eat as is. Temperature is the most important factor and the dogs should always be cooked over 150 F (66 C) but below 160 F (71 C). Above that and they tend to explode. However Epicurious found that the best way to cook hot dogs is to poach them at exactly 155 F (68 C) and then, very briefly, cook them on a very hot grill. As a result this gives them a nice char. But in place of a grill, broil them in your oven for several minutes to get the same effect.
WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD BEEF SHANK BE?
| HOW LONG DO I COOK BEEF SHANK FOR IT TO BE: | |
| Texture | Temp |
| Medium | F / C |
| Medium-Well | 155 F / 68 C |
| Well Done | F / C |
| Brisket | F / C |
| Pot Roast | F / C |
Note: While hot dogs always arrive cooked, when heating them up a temperature between 150 F (66 C) to 160 F (71 C) is suggested. But being already cooked, they’re safe at hotter or colder temperatures.
