# Listen, unless you know what's in a hotdog, shut the hell up. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691 "2001-06-21T21:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/1 "2001-06-21T21:24:41Z")
I’ve seen this a number of times, in general conversation and all over this board, most recently in **Scylla** s [vegi thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=74968) and it never fails to get under my skin as some ignorance I need to stomp on a little. To wit: > [@](#): > > **[Searching For Truth](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1387674#post1387674)** > I do however, adpre (sic :adore?) hot dogs, which aren’t considered as real meat. which was quickly addressed, > [@](#): > > **[Ender](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1387684#1387684)** > And hot dogs aren’t real meat? They’re made by combining the byproducts of every animal in existence! If anything, hot dogs are meat plus. and was mentioned one last time: > [@](#): > > **[vanilla](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1389297#post1389297)** > [Y]ou guys DO know whats (sic) in hot dogs, don’t you? Which, I suppose, begs the question: do you guys _really_ know what’s in hotdogs? Have you ever seen them made or made them yourselves? Answers people give are usually similar to **Ender** s and the allusion from **vanilla** , but I sincerely doubt you folks have a clue, really. What people end up [describing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=63081) is actually _[sausage](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=6312)_ or _chorizo_ and, get this, there is a difference. Now, I can’t speak for every manufacturer (or, technically, any), but I’ve seen hotdogs made at the _Hormel_ plant in MN and after having seen them made, I had my first hotdog in years, and felt just fine about it. The meats (and spices) I saw going into the hopper looked just fine and perfectly edible to me before getting pureed and encased. Are there hotdogs that are made of “pieces-parts” and/or “sub-standard” parts or “leftovers” (read: lips and assholes), sure, probably, but if you buy _Bargain Bill’s Meat-Like Hotdog_ or _Uncle Jim’s Roadside Weiners_, don’t be surprised if you’re getting something less than quality meats. Since I’m kinda on the subject: **SPAM** , which, BTW stands for **S** houlder of **P** ork **A** nd ha **M** , is exactly that (well, plus some spices.) It’s not some great evil conglomeration of meat pieces ground up and stuffed in a can, people, it’s decent looking meats ground up, poured in can, enclosed and cooked, along with 100,000 other cans, in one big-ass serpentine oven. So cut the bullshit, folks. If you’re thinking your food is made of junk, shell out for better food or shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/2 "2001-06-21T21:50:32Z")
I thought SPAM stood for SPiced hAM. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/3 "2001-06-21T22:14:12Z")
Who cares? I mean, they are bad for us anyway you look at it, since they are high in fat. But…they are so GOOD to eat! So, I eat them occasionally, and enjoy every single bite. Yummmmmmy. I don’t want to know what is in them. I just enjoy. Scotti:) ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/4 "2001-06-21T22:15:45Z")
Nope. Shoulder of pork and ham, my friend. Mind you, just because I’ve seen this made and would argue that it is, in fact, decent meat going into it, I’ve never had any. Just as I’m not really one for bologne (though that’s really just rolled out hotdogs.) ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/5 "2001-06-21T22:18:47Z")
“Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, that’s what little hot dogs are made of.” BTW, **thinksnow** , your indignation about people getting hot dogs wrong would work better if you had gotten SPAM right. SPAM does not mean Shoulder of Pork and Ham; never did. That’s some of the ingredients, not the name. **sauron** , your much closer, and indeed arguably correct - SPAM was originally marketed as Hormel’s Spiced Ham. Technically, though [SPAM doesn’t mean anything](http://www.cusd.claremont.edu/~mrosenbl/spamfaq.html) . Sua ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/6 "2001-06-21T22:19:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Who cares? > > I mean, they are bad for us anyway you look at it, since they are high in fat. Well, see, that’s my point,\*\* Scottie\*\*. They might be high in fat, but they are not high in asses, lips, ears or kidneys, so if you want to get some low-fat ones, or turkey ones, you can do so without thinking your just getting low-fat asses and lips. That’s all I’m saying. ---
**Author:** ![They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/They_Call_Me_Sneeze)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/7 "2001-06-21T22:21:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thinksnow \* > \*\* > Since I’m kinda on the subject: **SPAM** , which, BTW stands for **S** houlder of **P** ork **A** nd ha **M** , \*\* I thought it stood for SPiced hAM as well. Besides, isn’t shoulder of pork and ham redundant? Homer: So you’re saying you’re never going to eat any animal ever again? Lisa: Yes. Homer: What about bacon? Lisa: No. Homer: **Ham**? Lisa: No. Homer: **Pork** chops? Lisa: Dad! Those all come from the same animal! Homer: Sure Lisa, some magical, wonderful animal. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/8 "2001-06-21T22:23:08Z")
**Sua** , you might be right, and I checked that site, too, but I was told that it, at least internal to _Hormel_ was derived from SoPAM, so that’s what I’m sticking to (not to say that SPiced hAM is unreasonable, just it’s not what I was told by the people that actually make the shit.) ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/9 "2001-06-21T22:32:36Z")
I swear, **Alphagene** is right. We’ve gotta reconfigure the software to produce a pop-up quiz on **Cecil** ’s columns every 20 posts or so – wrong answer and you can’t post for a week. ::sigh:: Here’s an obscure columnist that no one has ever heard of on the subject of [Spam](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_229.html) ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/10 "2001-06-21T22:55:16Z")
Yes! My very own pit thread. Well, I have to share it with some people, but they’re not even close to the coolness factor of yours truly so I won’t deem them worthy enough to be counted. This thread is all mine. I am the anti-cecil. I am Ender Ignorceed and I travel across the great pioneer trails of the midwest dropping seeds of ignorance wherever I can. I am Ender Sinclair and I have come to tell you the truth about hot dogs [sub]and SPAM[/sub]! They’re made of people! Hot dogs are made of people! Well, the shoulders of people anyway. OK, the left shoulders of people because those are naturally spicy. Think, think, think…c’mon man. Read what I wrote. EVERY ANIMAL?!? Surely I was jesting. Just a tad? A little? I mean, no one honestly believes they go in hunt of the White Tiger meat through the Luxor in Vegas to get hot dogs. They don’t clone the Dodo or dive through the lakes to get fresh Duckbilled platymeat. I was fibbing a little. I know hot dogs are made with real meat from one (or maybe two) barnyard animals. And, for the record, I find kosher hot dogs (which aren’t made from pigs) to be so much more tasty. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/11 "2001-06-21T23:50:11Z")
Well, gee, I thought my reference to hot dogs would be gotten as a humorous reference to (my favorite human being)Ralph Nader, who KNOWS whats in hot dogs and hasn’t eaten one in manny years. I guess I forgot the smilie face to let you know. Hey, nobody’s ever died from eating a hot dog… ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/12 "2001-06-22T01:13:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thinksnow \* > \*\* They might be high in fat, but they are not high in asses, lips, ears or kidneys, so if you want to get some low-fat ones, or turkey ones, you can do so without thinking your just getting low-fat asses and lips. > > That’s all I’m saying. \*\* Well, really baby…I don’t CARE what is actually IN them. They taste good. And I would prefer that NO ONE tell me what is in them. I quit eating veal after that thing on PBS showing how the little calves are mistreated. I never eat lamb. rabbit or venison because of Disney movies. I don’t eat fish because of the worm factor…again courtesy of PBS… I prefer to eat unhindered by knowledge. The less I know, the better it tasted. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/13 "2001-06-22T01:22:27Z")
Sausage inna bun! Who wants one! I’m cutting me own throat at these prices!!! ---
**Author:** ![headshok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@headshok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/headshok)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/14 "2001-06-22T01:42:42Z")
[Here’s](http://www.weeklywire.com/ww/06-21-99/memphis_special4.html) an article on what one company puts in their hot dogs. Doesn’t sound too bad, except for the spleens and feet. I was actually more upset at the “pass the ketchup!” comment at the end of the article. Philistine. ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/15 "2001-06-22T02:11:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\* > I guess I forgot the smilie face to let you know. > Hey, nobody’s ever died from eating a hot dog… \*\* Once, I was riding down Harbison Blvd. and I choked on a hot dog…I had tried to eat half of it at once, didn’t work so well. I made a gagging noise and my mother slapped me on the back, I gagged it up promptly and am still alive. But, one day, I won’t be so lucky… Someone’s died from EVERYTHING. Hot dogs will one day strike fear into the hearts of fast food consumers everywhere (and not just from the mystery ingredients) ---
**Author:** ![PosterChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@PosterChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PosterChild)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/16 "2001-06-22T02:35:05Z")
Cecil dealt with why it’s called [Spam](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_229.html) Spiced HAM PC ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/17 "2001-06-22T03:27:04Z")
I know what’s in a hot dog!! From: _Garde Manger, The Art and Craft of the Cold Kitchen_, from the Culinary Institute of America > [@](#): > > **Frankfurters** > > Yield: 12 1/2 pounds; 80 links > > 5 lb boneless beef shoulder clod, cubed > 4 lb jowl fat cubed, partially frozen > 3 lb crushed ice > > Cure Mix: > 3 1/4 oz salt > 2 tsp TCM (tinted cure mixture–nitrates and stuff) > 3/4 oz dextrose > > Spice Blend: > 1/2 ounce onion powder > 1/4 oz ground white pepper > 1/4 oz ground coriander > 1/4 oz ground nutmeg > 1/2 tsp garlic powder > > 5 1/2 oz nonfat dry milk powder > 50 feet sheep casings, rinsed > > 1. Toss beef with the cure mix; chill well. Grind through the fine plate (1/8") of meat grinder > > 2. Grind jowl fat through fine plate, reserve. > > 3. Transfer the ground beef to a chilled chopper bowl. Add the ice and spice blend on top of beef. Process ingredients until the mixture drops to a temperature of 30ºF. Continue running the machine until the mixture’s temperature rises to 40ºF. > > 4. Add the jowl fat and process until the mixture reaches 45 degrees. Add the milk pwder and continue processing until the mixture reaches 58ºF. Make a test. Adjust seasoning and consistency before shaping. > > 5. Stuff into prepared casings, twist and tie into 6" links. Refrigerate the frankfurters uncovered overnight to form a pellicle. > > 6. Hot smoke at 160ºF until desired color is achieved, approximately 45 minutes. Poach in simmering water at 165º until internal temperature reaches 150ºF, about 10 to 20 minutes, then shock in ice water. Blot dry. > > 7. The sausage is ready to prepare for service now by sauteing, grilling, broiling, or baking just until hot, or wrap and hold under refrigeration for up to 7 days. And, that my friends, is the story of the hot dog. This, of course would be considered a high-quality recipe, and if you’re buying the cheap crap, I’m sure you’ll be getting less than quality meat. But, this is basically what a good hot dog is made of. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/18 "2001-06-22T03:40:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > **Well, gee, I thought my reference to hot dogs would be gotten as a humorous reference to (my favorite human being)Ralph Nader, who KNOWS whats in hot dogs and hasn’t eaten one in years.** He also believes eating a hot dog is unsafe at any speed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/19 "2001-06-22T04:16:07Z")
Well, I work for Oscar Mayer slicing and packaging Bologna right downstairs from where they make and package hot dogs. Do I qualify to speak? ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691/20 "2001-06-22T05:39:43Z")
Jesus _fuck_! Okay, I admitted I might be wrong on the origin of the word “SPAM,” but I tell it to you thusly, that is what I was told by a Hormel employee while standing not 10 (ten) feet from the equipment that cans and cooks the product. \ Mistress\*\* Kricket\*\*, you are always welcome to speak, but in this case, I would welcome your input, as I’m certain you’ve got information of a non-pieces-parts nature to add. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-unless-you-know-whats-in-a-hotdog-shut-the-hell-up/69691.md?page=2)