I tried four kinds of beef hot dogs from Nathan's, Sabrett, Applegate, and Ball Park.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I tried beef hot dogs from Nathan's, Sabrett, Applegate, and Ball Park.
Ball Park had the thickest frank, but I thought Applegate's organic hot dogs packed the most flavor.
I didn't think Sabrett's less-than-flavorful hot dogs warranted their higher price tag.
Ahead of the Fourth of July, I decided to try four different kinds of hot dogs to see which one I would choose for my own cookout.
The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are recognized as "hot dog season" by the sausage industry. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume roughly 7 billion hot dogs during this time and produce roughly $614 million in hot-dog sales. Intent on contributing to that number this summer, I wanted to see which store-bought brand was most worth my money.
I opted for beef hot dogs from Applegate, Sabrett, Nathan's, and Ball Park. The Sabrett, Nathan's, and Ball Park packages each included eight beef franks, while the Applegate package included six.
I cooked each type of hot dog the same way. Then I tried each one on a Martin's long potato roll, topped with Heinz ketchup and French's classic yellow mustard.
Here's how all four hot-dog brands ranked, from worst to best.
My least favorite brand that I tried was the Sabrett skinless beef frankfurters.
Sabrett hot dogs.
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This was the second-most expensive brand I tried. A pack of eight hot dogs cost $8.49, excluding taxes and fees. Since it's a New York brand — and I live in the city — I half-expected to pay a little less for a local product.
The hot dog was about the same thickness as the Nathan's hot dog, which I ultimately ranked higher.
Sabrett hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
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The Sabrett hot dog fit perfectly inside the potato roll bun without hanging too much off either end.
I felt like the flavor in the Sabrett hot dog was lacking.
Sabrett hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
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The only flavors that came through were from the ketchup and mustard — a distinct no-no in my book as far as hot dogs go. While the texture wasn't overly chewy, I thought it didn't have the distinct snap I often look for in a hot dog.
While it wasn't bad by any means, I didn't think this brand was worth the higher price tag.
I also tried a New York staple: Nathan's skinless beef franks.
Nathan's hot dogs.
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Nathan's is a New York institution famous for its annual Coney Island hot-dog-eating contest on July 4. I managed to snag an eight-pack of these hot dogs on sale at my local Key Food. The original price was $9.79, but I managed to get them for just $4.49, excluding tax.
I thought the Nathan's hot dogs were a perfect size.
Nathan's hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
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It looked like a really classic hot dog you would eat on the pier in summertime: crispy on the outside, while still retaining that classic red hot-dog color.
The hot dog from Nathan's tasted slightly saltier than the other varieties.
Nathan's hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I needed water after just a few bites of this hot dog, and I definitely couldn't imagine consuming dozens of them to win a contest. Overall, it was a flavorful hot dog with a slightly snappy texture, but the salty aftertaste made it nothing to call home about.
My second-favorite brand was Ball Park's beef hot dogs.
Ball Park hot dogs.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The Ball Park pack of eight hot dogs cost me $8.69, excluding taxes and fees. It was the most expensive brand I tried.
The Ball Park hot dogs were the thickest and shortest ones on my list.
Ball Park hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I also noticed they cooked a lot faster than the other brands. While the other brands retained their red, crispy consistency in the pan, the Ball Park dogs quickly began to char and crisp up after only a minute or two of cooking.
I personally like really well-done, almost charred hot dogs, but it's something to keep in mind if you have different preferences.
The Ball Park dog was well done on the outside, but the inside was still slightly chewy.
Ball Park hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I thought the hot dog had a nice, smoky flavor that was complemented by the bun and condiments. The flavor came through, even though I wasn't crazy about what I thought was a slightly more rubbery texture.
My favorite hot-dog brand was Applegate's organic uncured-beef hot dogs.
Applegate hot dogs.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The pack of six franks cost me $7.39 at my local Key Food grocery store, excluding taxes and fees.
The pack came with six hot dogs, two less than the other packs.
Applegate hot dogs.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
This smaller package count is definitely something to consider if you're planning for a large cookout.
When the Applegate hot dog was done cooking, I noticed it was skinnier than the other brands.
Applegate hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I wondered whether it would be less filling, or how the slightly thinner shape would affect the eating experience.
Right away, I noticed that the hot dog had a lot of flavor and the frank had a satisfying snap.
Applegate hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The ketchup and mustard definitely came through but didn't overpower the hot dog's distinctly savory, beefy taste.
Despite being the thinnest dog, it also didn't taste like an unbalanced hot-dog-to-bun ratio. Every ingredient was perfectly complementary.
In the end, I had to give the win to Applegate.
The four kinds of hot dogs.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I was surprised that this brand won. Even though I call New York City home, neither of the local brands, Nathan's or Sabrett, deserved the win in my book.
I thought Applegate's hot dog, though thinner than the others, had the best flavor and texture. It was also a great value, despite the pack being two dogs short. If I had to choose which hot dog brand to eat at my cookout, it would be Applegate hot dogs all the way.
