Hot dogs and buns

[constanze]

Link here

What puzzles me most about Cecils explanation is the assumption that it’s usual standard to buy both hot dogs and buns in (sealed in plastic) packs, instead of fresh at the meat and baker counter respectivly.

Do neither the mega-supermarkets like Wal-mart nor the “normal” supermarkets in the US have a counter for fresh meat and bread (and cheese), and these foods are only sold ready-made in sealed packages?

Or are hot dog sausages and buns for them so unusual that the counters don’t carry them?

Because over here if people feel inclined to make hot dogs themselves (As opposed to just buying them on the street), they would buy Wiener sausages (as they’re called) at the meat counter or even the butcher, and the buns separately at the baker (counter).

Although the buns are of different (tastier) quality from the baker than those wrapped sponges, and thus can be eaten alone; similarly, left-over Wieners can be eaten just with mustard.

[Crazyhorse]

@constanze

Link here

What puzzles me most about Cecils explanation is the assumption that it’s usual standard to buy both hot dogs and buns in (sealed in plastic) packs, instead of fresh at the meat and baker counter respectivly.

Do neither the mega-supermarkets like Wal-mart nor the “normal” supermarkets in the US have a counter for fresh meat and bread (and cheese), and these foods are only sold ready-made in sealed packages?

Or are hot dog sausages and buns for them so unusual that the counters don’t carry them?

You have to keep in mind we eat a lot of hot dogs over here. According to hot-dog.org:

Americans purchase 350 million pounds of hot dogs at retail stores - that’s 9 billion hot dogs! But the actual number of hot dogs consumed by Americans is probably much larger. It is difficult to calculate the number of hot dogs Americans may eat at sporting events, local picnics and carnivals. The Council estimates Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs a year - more than twice the retail sales figures. That works out to about 70 hot dogs per person each year

With an appetite of this scale, supermarket shelves need to be topped up with prepackaged hot-dog supplies 24x7, in addition to all those purchased fresh at the butcher and from street vendors. But your point is mentioned in this similar theory about the 10 vs. 8 packaging situation - it didn’t become an issue until people bought mass-produced packaged hot dogs.

When hot dog buns were introduced, hot dogs were sold in varying quantities at the butcher shop. Not until 1940 were hot dogs packaged the way we currently see them in the grocery store. When manufacturers began packaging hot dogs, they chose the 10 to the pack formula. Today hot dogs are sold most often in eight or ten to the pound packs, but some are sold other quantities as well.
Sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns, most often come eight to the pack because the buns are baked in clusters of four in pans designed to hold eight rolls. While baking pans now come in configurations that allow baking 10 and even 12 at a time, the eight roll pan remains the most popular.

[aruvqan]

Ghu I love germanics and their sausages =)

Yes it is possible to get hot dogs at the meat counter but the prevalent way to buy them is prepackaged in the lunchmeat aisle, and to also get the buns prepackaged. We in the US suffer from a lack of butcher shops and bakeries. We have a few scattered around, but the nearest actual no shit butchers shop is some 40 miles away from home. Never been there but there is a bakery about 15 miles away [I prefer to bake my own bread] but I am not sure of they make hot dog rolls offhand.

In Germany you have 10 companies making 100 flavors of canned soup, in the US you have 100 companies making 10 flavors of canned soup … corporations and stores stock for the lowest common denominator, the most generic and people go along with it I really miss shopping for food in Europe. sigh

[Exapno_Mapcase]

Street carts are something found in downtowns of American cities. Which is where most Americans don’t live. Most Americans live in suburbs, or in the large rings of residences around downtowns, and so never see a street cart at all.

In addition, hot dogs are generally considered childrens’ foods so parents need to have them on hand for immediate use. Our hot dogs generally come 12 to a pound, so they aren’t giant sized sausages that young kids would have trouble with. They also have more preservatives and last longer. There is no tradition of buying food fresh daily. We buy in bulk and freeze.

One last note. Cecil’s column is from 1987. The question would never get asked today. I haven’t seen a package of 10 rolls in decades.

[Crazyhorse]

@Exapno_Mapcase

One last note. Cecil’s column is from 1987. The question would never get asked today. I haven’t seen a package of 10 rolls in decades.

The issue is packages of 8 rolls instead of 10. In any case, the question does still get asked all the time today.

[Chronos]

Street carts are something found in downtowns of American cities. Which is where most Americans don’t live. Most Americans live in suburbs, or in the large rings of residences around downtowns, and so never see a street cart at all.

Most Americans may not live downtown, but many of them work there, or have occasion to go downtown for various errands. I’d imagine that most Americans have seen hot dog carts, even if they haven’t necessarily ordered from them.