Love ‘em or hate ‘em, 73% of Americans believe that a cookout is not complete without hot dogs, according to a new survey commissioned by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) and The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute).
During the peak season from Memorial Day until Labor Day, Americans enjoy an estimated seven billion hot dogs, the Meat Institute said in a release.
The survey showed most Americans prefer their hot dogs straight off the grill. In fact, 75% say grilling is their favorite way to cook a hot dog, far exceeding other cooking methods such as over a campfire (9%), boiling (6%), steaming (3%), frying in a pan (2%), or microwaving (2%).
Americans’ favorite way to top a hot dog is with mustard. In the survey, 68% of Americans who eat hot dogs say they top their hot dogs with mustard, followed by ketchup (61%), onions (44%), relish (41%), chili (30%), cheese (29%), sauerkraut (20%), mayo (19%), bacon (14%), jalapenos (13%), and coleslaw (12%).
“As Americans kick off grilling season this weekend, it only makes sense that one of our country’s most iconic foods is front and center,” said National Hot Dog & Sausage Council (NHDSC) Hot Dog Top Dog Eric Mittenthal in the release. “The people have spoken, and frankly, nothing else cuts the mustard.”
During the pandemic, Americans affirmed their affinity for hot dogs. From coast to coast over the past year, hot dog sales were up almost 20% during the pandemic and remained up 8.6% in April 2021 compared to April 2019.
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has many resources for summer hot dog lovers including a full guide to regional hot dog styles, a list of the hot dogs found at Major League ballparks and tips on hot dog etiquette. All the materials can be found at www.hot-dog.org.
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