Many people say that a hot dog and a sausage are one and the same. Do you think so, too? If you don’t, you are not alone. In fact, whether they are the same or different has been a hot topic in web forums and household conversations for a long time. Hopefully, we’ll be able to put an end to that through this article.
Comparison Chat
| Hotdog | Sausage |
| A specific kind of sausage | A generic term that applies to a combination of meat, salt, seasoning, fillers, and preservatives wrapped in a cylindrical case or “skin” |
| Originally popularized in the United States | Originated in Europe |
| Usually eaten without the skin | Can be eaten with or without the skin |
Descriptions
A hot dog (or hotdog) is a kind of sausage popularized in the United States. It is a combination of meat trimmings, fat, seasonings (salt, pepper, and garlic), and preservatives. The meat used can be beef or pork, or a combination of both. Several brands also produce hot dogs made with chicken, turkey, or plant substitutes like soy and wheat.
Moreover, a hot dog can be eaten without cooking, although it is highly recommended that you heat it up before consumption. It can be cooked by grilling, steaming, or frying. In the US, it is often eaten in a bun topped with ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and relish. This a street food called “hot dog in a bun.”
Hot dogs are to be eaten sparingly of the high amount of fat, sodium, and nitrites used during the process.
History of Hot Dogs
While the German city of Frankfurt-am-Main was thought to be the original maker of hot dogs (frankfurters) in 1487, a butcher in Coburg, Germany is probably the first one to make this yummy food. However, another city makes this claim—Vienna, Austria—says they made the first hot dogs called “wieners.”
What is clear is that hot dogs probably originated in Germany. This food became a huge hit when German immigrants brought hot dog-making to the United States. From there, the hot dog has become a huge hit in this country.
Moreover, it’s thought that the name “hot dog” was inspired by the Dachshunds so popular in Germany. And you can find hot dogs served up in a variety of ways. For instance, there’s an Italian hot dog, Half-smoke hot dog, Dodger Dog, and many more. Many cities in the US have their own variety of hot dogs. Even so, you can pretty much have a hot dog served up any way you like!
A sausage is made from a combination of meat, fat, salt, seasonings, preservatives, and fillers. The mixture is then injected into a casing traditionally made from cleaned animal intestines. Nowadays, however, some brands use sausage casing that is made of artificially constructed collagen. Commercially sold sausages may be cured, dried, smoked, or they may have undergone a combination of the said processes.
The type of meat used in making sausages can be veal, turkey, chicken, beef, pork, or any combination of these. Many brands have also ventured into vegetarian and seafood sausages. Sausages can be cooked by frying, broiling, and grilling. The casing, or “skin,” may or may not be removed depending on the brand.
Many years ago, before the invention of refrigerators, sausages were made as a way to preserve meat. Although sausages are widely known across the globe, they are believed to have originated in Europe. There are different kinds of sausages depending on how they are prepared and where they originated. The common types of sausages are:
- Hot dogs
- Braunschweiger
- Kielbasa
- Mortadella
- Boerewors
- Italian pork sausage
- Mettwurst
- Teewurst
History of Sausage
Sausages have been around for a long time. Scientists have found remnants of sausages dating back to the 9th century BC, and these tasty wonders are still with us today! Writings of the Greeks and Romans have mentioned sausages, with the Romans enjoying them for special occasions. It’s thought that sausage was developed as a way to preserve meat in an edible “container.”
The word “sausage” is thought to have its roots in the Latin word “salsus,” which means “salted.” When you consider sausages, this makes sense, as salt is still used as a preservative in sausages today.
Hot Dog vs Sausage
What, then, is the difference between a hot dog and a sausage?
A hot dog is a kind of sausage, while a sausage is a generic term that describes any combination of meat, seasonings, fat, preservatives, and fillers, injected into a cylindrical casing. Most of the time, hot dogs are eaten without the skin, whereas sausages can be eaten with or without the skin (depending on the brand).
Hot dogs were originally popularized in the United States and are a huge part of the American culture. On the other hand, sausages originated in Europe.
