Re: hot dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

Okay, hot dog lovers. On the strength of the multiple recs on this thread, I shot up to my Wegman's after an errand today and purchased the only Sahlens hot dogs they sell, a 3-lb. package of Sahlen's Old Fashioned Smokehouse Hot Dogs, for $13.99. I bought a package of rolls and headed home.

I did what I always do with hot dogs, nuked them in a pot with water (the package had no cooking instructions). I had high hopes, but they also had a high hurdle: Nathan's and as a second, Ball Park Angus franks.

Alas, my hopes came crashing down with the first bite and each successive mouthful. They looked anemic and tasted like the idea of hot dog, not the real thing. If grilling these monsters will magically transform them into decent dogs, please advise me. Heaven knows I have enough for several experiments.

If the Sahlen's dogs you love have a different name, please share it. My Wegman's carries only this type and size, but I'll tuck the reference away for future if I ever travel again.

In the meantime, these are headed for the freezer. Next shopping trip I'll get Nathan's and Ball Park Angus, freeze them, and at some point do a direct comparison test, from freezer to microwave or stovetop (sorry, no outdoor grill). But I stand by my mega-meh on Sahlen's Old Fashioned Smokehouse Hot Dogs at this point, unfortunately. Even my cat refused to eat his dog bits, and he never rejects dogs. Very sad.

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

for years our lunch date has been Sams for a hot dog & soda (cheap date)! We love their cafe hot dogs so I asked the clerk who told me they are Hebrew National 1/4 lb. made for Sams. She asked me if I wanted to buy a case - goodness no!

They sell them in the meat/deli section 13 in pkg for $13.99. We love them!

Those from NJ may know about casino or "Tony Go's" dogs - they are a hot dog with steamed potatoes & peppers on a fresh Italian torpedo roll (had to be fresh from Italian People Bakery or Barberos). For years we had them every Saturday from there or Casino (in Trenton, NJ). I make them at least once a week.

Then again if in a pinch I buy Ball Park angus grillers. I love hotdogs with everything on them. I could eat them everyday with some good baked beans...I know what's for dinner tomorrow nite! Hot dogs!!!

my friend bought Kansas City ones from Q - we had them they were good also!

noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

Rut roh! No sooner do I say "Nathan's" here than I get an email about a recall on hot dogs, saying "John Morrell and Co. Recalls Beef Frank Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination."

I now open emails like this, because it often turns out that the company name represents a brand I know and use.

This recall, which concerns metal in the hot dogs, includes 210,606 pounds of dogs produced on January 26, 2017. Specifically:

14 oz. sealed film packages containing “Nathan’s SKINLESS 8 BEEF FRANKS,” with a Use By date of Aug. 19, 2017.
16 oz. sealed film packages containing “Curtis BEEF MASTER Beef Franks,” with a Use By date of June 15, 2017.

"The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 296” on the side of the package. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide."

The link to the recall info is https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-healt.... It includes a link to a PDF of the packages of affected franks.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says they shouldn't be used, to discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Cats3000 · ‎10-07-2013

Hebrew National "jumbo" hot dogs. Love 'em.

Irshgrl31201 · ‎03-18-2010

@CatLoverDogsToo wrote:
@ValuSkr I loved Sahlens. I grew up in Kenmore NY, and the best hot dogs ever: Ted's Charcoal Hots on Sheridan drive, they only served Sahlens. I miss it. I am in Georgia now, and can't get a decent hot dog here.

YES @CatLoverDogsToo. Teds and Sahlens hotdogs are without a doubt the best hot dog I have ever tried. I grew up in Orchard Park and many of my friends worked at the Teds in OP and we went there for our lunch break in high school. I now live in the south also (NC) and IMO they have the worst hot dogs down here. So mushy and tasteless. Harris Teeter started carrying Sahlens so we get these in the summer and grill out.

It isn't just the hot dogs, I miss so many great foods from NY. So many ethnic foods we can't get. I do like Southern food but they just don't have variety down here at all and that gets old.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
JFK

Irshgrl31201 · ‎03-18-2010

@terrier3 wrote:
@ValuSkr wrote:
@CatLoverDogsToo wrote:
@ValuSkr I loved Sahlens. I grew up in Kenmore NY, and the best hot dogs ever: Ted's Charcoal Hots on Sheridan drive, they only served Sahlens. I miss it. I am in Georgia now, and can't get a decent hot dog here.
Ted's on Sheridan was my introduction to Sahlen's as I used to frequently work in Buffalo. I haven't been back in many years but they spoiled me forever -- any hot dog place where I live now doesn't begin to compare to Ted's!
When I read the title of this thread - my first thought was Ted's!!!

There is now one downtown, on my way home from the gym.

I have only stopped once - but got a footlong with everything, onion rings and a loganberry!

I am not even a onion ring fan but I tried one of my friends onion rings from Teds and they do have the best onion rings ever @terrier3

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
JFK

Irshgrl31201 · ‎03-18-2010

@noodleann wrote:
Okay, hot dog lovers. On the strength of the multiple recs on this thread, I shot up to my Wegman's after an errand today and purchased the only Sahlens hot dogs they sell, a 3-lb. package of Sahlen's Old Fashioned Smokehouse Hot Dogs, for $13.99. I bought a package of rolls and headed home.

I did what I always do with hot dogs, nuked them in a pot with water (the package had no cooking instructions). I had high hopes, but they also had a high hurdle: Nathan's and as a second, Ball Park Angus franks.

Alas, my hopes came crashing down with the first bite and each successive mouthful. They looked anemic and tasted like the idea of hot dog, not the real thing. If grilling these monsters will magically transform them into decent dogs, please advise me. Heaven knows I have enough for several experiments.

If the Sahlen's dogs you love have a different name, please share it. My Wegman's carries only this type and size, but I'll tuck the reference away for future if I ever travel again.

In the meantime, these are headed for the freezer. Next shopping trip I'll get Nathan's and Ball Park Angus, freeze them, and at some point do a direct comparison test, from freezer to microwave or stovetop (sorry, no outdoor grill). But I stand by my mega-meh on Sahlen's Old Fashioned Smokehouse Hot Dogs at this point, unfortunately. Even my cat refused to eat his dog bits, and he never rejects dogs. Very sad.

Oh no @noodleann. You CANNOT boil Sahlens hot dogs. I think that is the worst cooking method for ANY hot dog as it renders a tasteless product with a gross texture but Sahlens absolutely need to be grilled on outdoor grill or flattop. If you do not have a grill, use the broiler. Boiling foods just takes the flavor right out of it. Sahlens has a hot dog that has a great snap to it and boiling it would ruin that. Just think about how boiling veggies ruins their flavor and texture as opposed to grilling them or roasting them. I think it is even worse for proteins.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
JFK

noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

@Irshgrl31201 wrote:
Oh no @noodleann. You CANNOT boil Sahlens hot dogs. I think that is the worst cooking method for ANY hot dog as it renders a tasteless product with a gross texture but Sahlens absolutely need to be grilled on outdoor grill or flattop. If you do not have a grill, use the broiler. Boiling foods just takes the flavor right out of it. Sahlens has a hot dog that has a great snap to it and boiling it would ruin that. Just think about how boiling veggies ruins their flavor and texture as opposed to grilling them or roasting them. I think it is even worse for proteins.

Thanks for the tips, @Irshgrl31201. Well, I've used my broiler all of once in the nearly 20 years I've lived here, and I'm not going to do hot dogs under it. Of course, I have no outdoor grill, and I thought "flattop" was a hairstyle.

Sounds way too high maintenance for me, and if nuking them works just fine for most dogs but not these prima donnas, they need to put cooking suggestions on their packaging. I'll leave others to enjoy Sahlens, since I love Nathan's so much, with BP Angus a close second. Not that I should be eating any of them, but summer's here and the time is right, etc.