Love hot dogs? And cannot control your craving for them? Visit a frankfurter factory and all your temptations will be gone automatically – Phooosh!

Hot dogs are American’s favorite and a staple at sports games. But what’s really inside a hot dog? Let’s check out its manufacturing process.

The method of manufacturing hot dogs isn’t pretty at all. They are made from the trimmings of the leftover meat – after steaks and pork chips are cut.

Hot Dog’s History

Originated from the city of Frankfurt, hot dogs were served in buns as simple pork sausages.

Later in 19th century, some of the German immigrants introduced this popular snack to America. Since then, they have evolved into the processed sausages that we know today.

So, what goes inside the hot dog to make it everyone’s favorite?

Meat:

Traditional hot dogs are usually made from pork trimmings – pieces that are leftover after the chops, hams and bacon has been cut away – mixed with chicken or turkey.

This meat is then ground into fine paste and mixed with water, preservatives, colours and flavours.

The product is approved by the Food Standards Agency and it claims that there is nothing unhealthy about it.

Water:

Water is used in the preparation of hot dog to maintain the consistency of this mushy paste. The excess water is squeezed into tubes and then cooked. Water holds the shape of the frankfurter after cooking.

All the sausages are bulked out with starch. Hot dogs contain potato starch, which gives it volume. It also binds the ingredients together so that the meat feels more pleasant to the tongue.

Milk Protein:

Adding milk protein (powdered) to the meat slurry helps to bind the ingredients. Pea and soya proteins are used as alternatives to milk proteins.

Until and unless you are allergic to dairy products, it doesn’t involve any health risk.

Salt:

Hot dog is classified as a high – salt food and contains 2% salt. If consumed regularly, it can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases.

Sodium Nitrite – E250

Sodium nitrite is one of the main culprits in increasing the risk of bowel cancer in processed meat. It is added in hot dogs to prevent them from turning grey and to keep the microbes at bay.

Nitrites are also linked with increased risk of stomach cancer.

Flavours:

Various flavours used in hot dogs include herbs, spices, garlic powder or smoke flavouring.

Monosodium glutamate helps to enhance the flavour by giving a ‘meaty-feel’ in soups and sausages. However, it is accused of causing headaches and allergies.

Carmine:

Carmine, also known as the red food dye cochineal is prepared by crushing the shells of beetles. It doesn’t have any side effect, as long as you are not allergic to insects!

Sodium And Potassium Triphosphates:

These are colourless salts that give hot dogs a firmer texture by allowing the fats and oils to mix with water.

Paprika Extract:

It is another food colouring agent that is made from dried Indian red chillies.

How Is It Prepared?

Here’s the real story:

• Cuts of meat or poultry are trimmed and prepared for the grinder.

• Each brand of hot dog has its own recipe. Common seasoning includes salt, pepper, nutmeg and mace.

• The cuts of meat and poultry are blended with these spices. This blending process forms a thick batter.

• The batter is then stuffed into thin and long castings which are pinched at approximately five-inch intervals to form the hot dogs.

• These linked hot dogs are then sent to smokehouse where they are thoroughly cooked.

• Once the hot dogs are fully cooked, they are removed from the smoking house and drenched with cool water.

• Next, the casings are stripped off and the individual hot dogs are prepared for packaging.

Video: See how hot dogs are really made… Don’t watch before eating!

 

Cheap hot dogs; if eaten in excess, can spoil your health – and they even taste awful sometimes! As with all processed meats, it increases the risk of bowel cancer.

Hot dogs are one of the most dangerous foods that you can give to young children, especially under four years as they can easily get lodged in the airway and are difficult to swallow.

Hot dog, anyone?

The post How Is Hot Dog Made? You Might Never Eat One After Reading This! appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

by Jyotsana rao via STYLECRAZE