Our Editors Tried 9 Hot Dog Brands To Find The Best One—The Winner Surprised Us

Whether you're whipping up some hot dogs for a whimsical family dinner, trying your hand at hot dog chili, or grilling for a crowd (after all, a hot dog is a great main fixture to any potluck event), there's always the question of what brand of hot dog is actually the best.

Our editors bravely gathered around the grill to answer the question once and for all: What hot dog wins out in a blind taste test? It turns out that flavors, textures, and even aromas vary widely across different hot dog brands.

While there were definitely different preferences and differences of opinion, we were excited to see which came out on top—and we are actually pretty surprised at the result. These are our picks for the best hot dogs.

How We Tasted and Tested

We selected an assortment of hot dog brands that are available at most conventional grocery store chains and online retailers.

During the blind taste test, editors ranked each hot dog on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating. They also provided their tasting notes and opinions, before finally selecting an overall favorite. The winner amassed the most points.

The Contenders

• Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog
• Ball Park Beef Hot Dogs
• Bar S Classic Franks
• Hebrew National Beef Franks
• Nathan's Skinless Beef Franks
• Oscar Mayer Wieners
• Parkview Classic Hot Dogs
• Sabrett Skinless Beef Frankfurters
  

How Each Brand Scored

Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog

This hot dog was most closely associated with nostalgia than any of the other hot dogs in this test. Other editors appreciated this hot dog for its noticeable smokiness and just-enough saltiness. Others gave it some praise for a good balance of softness and chew with a textural "bite."

Ball Park Beef Hot Dogs

Our testers noticed that this hot dog had good flavor as well as a noticeable saltiness. Some took note of its softer texture and others noted its size, which is small enough to allow for lots of toppings. One editor compared its flavor to bologna.

Bar S Classic Franks

This hot dog was also compared to bologna, but many editors took note that it was the spongiest of all the hot dogs, with a very soft mouthfeel. You'd definitely want to add crunchy toppings for this one.

Hebrew National Beef Franks

Editors found the taste of Hebrew National hot dogs to be "nutty" and even "peppery." Its flavor stuck out, while its texture was noteably firm—perhaps better for slicing than some of the other hot dogs on the list that might be better for a ball park moment.

Nathan's Skinless Beef Franks

While it did not win our blind taste test overall, two editors named this hot dog their favorite. One said, "This is what the hot dogs of my youth taste like," and another said that it tastes "most true to a hot dog." While Nathan's may not have won on paper, its nostalgic qualities made it a winner in our hearts.

Oscar Mayer Wieners

One of our editors called this the "kid hot dog" because it's easy to eat and not too strong-tasting on the flavor spectrum. Oscar Mayer hot dogs are easy to chew and would take well to different flavors or toppings—especially ketchup.

Parkview Classic Hot Dogs

This hot dog was notably orange in color, and it also called to mind bologna. It did have some interesting flavor notes, too—one editor said these hot dogs tasted interestingly "lemony." One editor noted that it "cuts like butter," which would be great for little ones who are just learning how to use a fork.

Sabrett Skinless Beef Frankfurters

One editor questioned if these hot dogs were plant based—they're not! Sabrett frankenfurters were slightly red in flavor, with positive reviews from our editors particularly with regard to a good balance of smokiness and saltiness. "It's not too salty or aggressively flavored," said one editor, recommending it as a blank slate for any ballpark topping. Another editor recommended mustard, for vinegar to cut complement the richness of the smoky flavor.

The Results

The Winner: Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog

The winner of our test was Applegate's Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dogs. Editors consistently praised its taste and texture, which overall won out against all the others. They loved it for its classic, "standard" look, feel, and taste. One editor said it best: This option "tasted the most 'real' of all the hot dogs." It doesn't get better than that!

We learned that consistency and predictability was an important factor for our editors as they tasted, and this hot dog was the overwhelming winner in that regard. Applegate showcases its beef hot dogs for being natural and nitrate free, and while we didn't expect such a "natural" version to have that nostalgic flair, its flavor integrated just enough smoky notes to be consistent and win out as a quintessential, top-notch 'dog. Perhaps most importantly, the size was hefty enough but not too small, either, which our editors found perfect for imagining all sorts of topping combinations.

Honorable Mention: Member's Mark Beef Franks

Member's Mark Beef Franks, sold at Sam's, were significantly larger in size and different enough from the rest of the classic hot dogs to stick out, visually, in an accurate blind taste test.

However, our editors overwhelmingly preferred these franks to the rest of the hot dogs—though some insisted that for a hot dog, they are a little too big. But if you're looking for the Wagyu beef of hot dogs, Member's Mark Beef Franks are a crowd pleaser taste-wise. Just make sure to get big hot dog buns, and don't expect to be able to load it with too many toppings (it's delicious on its own) ! Here's what our editors said:

• "I loved the texture, size, and taste. It was firm but still had the soft, chewy taste of a hot dog."
• "I am surprised I like this big dog! To me it balances the salty, smoky flavors just right, and the size makes it a substantial meal."
  
• "It's big, but it's a welcomed change in size, with a solid flavor for an actual meal."