In this brief article, we will discuss if it is safe to consume hot dogs, the risks involved, what hot dogs are, how to prepare them, possible contaminations, and alternatives. We will also discuss what their nutritional benefits are.
Are hot dogs safe to eat?
Hot dogs are safe for consumption if properly cooked under hygienic conditions. If undercooked they pose a threat to the consumer.
This is due to possible contamination of meat by bacterial contaminants i.e Listeria spp. These contaminants can cause a severe case of food poisoning in the body.
What are hot dogs?
These are foods with sausages(grilled or steamed) placed in between a sliced bun and are served with other condiments such as cheese, various sauces, and sometimes vegetables. Hot dogs are barbecued foods. They are also known as wieners or frankfurters.
What are hot dogs?
Most hot dogs contain a mixture of a sliced bun, sausages, and other additives such as cheese, vegetables, and various sauces.
Buns are well made with dough and baked as cakes. They have flavors such as cinnamon, garlic butler, matcha, chocolate, and parmesan cheese.
Sausages are made from minced meat enclosed in the skin to form a cylindrical shape. It is sold in its raw form and is easily preparable at home. Minced meat can be pork, beef, chicken, mutton, or rabbit meat.
The popular vegetables used are sliced cabbages or broccoli. The various sauces used on hot dogs include:
- Mustard sauce, when applied, gives a good-looking yellow color to the hot dog.
- Tomato sauce is also referred to as ketchup.
- Raw/grilled onions. They are highly compatible with cheese.
- Sauerkraut is also referred to as fermented cabbage. It gives a sweet-sour taste and is rich in probiotics.
- Chili gives a spicy taste to the hot dog.
- Relish and cheese. Relish gives the hot dog a sour taste and cheese gives it a sweet, creamy, and soft taste.
What are the nutritional benefits of hotdogs?
Hot dogs contain sausages rich in sodium, calories, fats, and proteins. Proteins are body-building blocks and are essential to the body to ensure proper growth.
Fats serve as an alternative to carbohydrates and provide maximum energy to the body’s metabolism.
Sodium serves in the body as an aspect that improves the conduction of nerve impulses to contract and relax muscles.
It aids in maintaining osmotic pressure in the body by balancing the quantity of water and minerals in the body.
Sliced buns offer a good amount of calories and starch. Cheese offers fats and probiotics. Probiotics are microbes that help in the breakdown of medication in the body. Vegetables offer micronutrients essential for the body’s immune system, for example, zinc and iron.
What are the risks of consuming hotdogs?
If undercooked, hot dogs can provide a perfect niche for the growth of microbial contaminants. Sausages contain meat which is a medium in which dangerous bacteria such as Listeria spp, Proteus sp,p, and Salmonella spp. grow. These contaminants are responsible for most foodborne illnesses.
Hot dogs may also contain allergens that may lead to histamine reactions and cause harm to high blood pressure patients due to dilated blood vessels.
The use of preservatives on hot dogs to promote shelf life may predispose you to the risk of developing cancer and lead to blood vessel damage.
How to prepare hot dogs at home?
Hot dogs are prepared by boiling or grilling techniques. Hot dogs are cooked at a temperature of 165℉ to ensure that they are not undercooked and are safe from bacterial contamination.
What are the possible alternatives to hot dogs?
There are various alternatives to hotdogs. They include:
- Vegan dog
- Seafood roll
- Chicken dog
- Chili dog
- Various sausages with different kinds of meat such as chicken, turkey, and rabbit meat.
- Uncured all-beef sausages.
In this brief article, we have discussed if it is safe to consume hot dogs, the risks involved, what hot dogs are, how to prepare them, possible contaminations, and alternatives. We have also discussed what their nutritional benefits are.