Hot dogs need no occasion to be the star of the meal; be it a laid-back summer barbecue or a charged major league game, they have proven to be quite the crowd-pleaser. As indicated by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans shelled out more than $8 billion on hot dogs and sausages in 2023 alone.

The Fourth of July, branded as America's biggest hot dog holiday, sees the country chow down on a staggering 150 million hot dogs. With the arrival of summer, hot dogs, no doubt, become the most beloved food staple.

Preparing a hot dog isn’t rocket science. For those who favor the comforting taste of a boiled hot dog over the smoky taste of a grilled one, here's a handy guide. A typical hot dog needs to be boiled for about four to six minutes. A frozen hot dog, on the other hand, requires a longer boiling time of about nine to ten minutes.

While water is a common choice for most, boiling a hot dog in beer can add a unique flavor and tenderness to it. Regardless of the liquid used for boiling, the required time remains the same. After cooking, make sure to pat dry the hot dog with a paper towel to drain away unnecessary liquid before serving.

As nutrition enthusiasts would ask, are hot dogs healthy? Here’s some guidance on picking the right ones for your grilling occasion.

Certifying that a hot dog is safely cooked depends on its internal temperature. As advised by Coleman Natural Foods, a hot dog should reach at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit before being considered safe for eating. External signs like wrinkly skin and a darkened hue also signal that your hot dogs are cooked through.

But what exactly are hot dogs made of? These frankfurters contain different types of meat like beef, pork, or poultry (turkey or chicken). Davey Griffin, professor and meat specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, highlights that hot dogs, like ground meat, often include trimmings, which are finely chopped small pieces of meat.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets out certain limits on how hot dogs are produced. They should contain minimum 15% raw skeletal muscle meat, and bone fragments from the separation process should not be present. Additionally, hot dogs cannot exceed 30% fat content or 10% water retention, or a combination of both up to 40%.

Interested to learn more about your favorite food items? Stay tuned as we answer everyday questions from "How long does it take to grill a burger?" to "Does sunscreen lose effectiveness over time?". Our 'Just Curious' section brings you answers to these and much more.