Hot Dogs Falling Apart? Maybe You’re Going Too Cheap.
If my Bar-S Jumbo Dogs stay in the water too long, they fall apart. What is a better Jumbo Dog? My wife and I are really new to the business.
– Dave B. Hot Dog Profits Premium Member
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Hi Dave,
It is tempting to increase your profit margins by serving an inexpensive hot dog but let’s talk about situations where that is appropriate and where it will hurt you big time.
As you know Bar-S is not a premium hot dog. They are fine for certain types of vending like free hot dog giveaways at car dealers. Or possibly other kinds of mass vending where you provide KMOR tables (ketchup, mustard, onion, relish which the customer puts on themselves).
SIDE NOTE: If you have an established high quality hot dog cart and local customers who know you, don’t do these kinds of events without covering up your logos. You don’t want to dilute your brand.
However as you found out, the non-premium hot dogs don’t hot-hold very well. This is because of the cheaper cuts of meat used in processing.
Certain types of fat content from the cheaper cuts makes the hot dogs turn darker and darker the longer you hold them, especially in a steamer. One of my students was using cheap hot dogs at a store opening and he said that a few customers were asking for the “well done ones”. Ha!
For everyday street vending or catering where building a good name for yourself is important, serve a premium brand such as Vienna Beef, Nathans, Hebrew National, Sabrett, etc. You will be much happier and so will your customers.
-Steve
When I first started out back in 2006 I was using Best Kosher all beef 8×1 and a 4×1. Those were great dogs. As a friend of mine always told me it only takes a little more to go first class. Since they went out of business I have used Gordon food service all beef.They are a Kent meat product found them to be reasonable and customers keep coming back.
Thanks for the tip John! I’ll have to check them out.
Do not use bar s if you want customers to return, they taste like crap, get the bakers and chefs from Sam’s club, they are cheaper and Wow your mouth. If your worried about costs people will pay another 50 cents for something good quality. Bar-s will put you out of business in no time, and the bakers and chefs are cheaper and tastier to use, even at free events.
Right on William!
Go to the Deli at Sam’s Club, and get Nathan’s 7″ 1/4 pound hotdogs (160 dogs per case)
for $120 dollars. You can also get the buns from the Deli (96 buns per case) $17.00 dollars.
So at .93 cent per complete hot dog, you keep your customers HAPPY and HOPEFULLY make a profit !!!!!
This is a popular option among my Premium students. Thanks for sharing!
Just curious. What is a good fat content to look for? The one I use is 16 grams.
You can’t go by fat grams alone. You must figure out fat grams as a percentage of total weight. Without doing a bunch of math, if you just stick with a quality all beef dog you will be fine.
Costco carry a store brand called Kirkland Signature all beef franks and for the money, they are a really good dog. They’re delicious, they hold up well and customers love em! They cost $12.99 per 36 count. These are my go to dogs if I don’t have time to run to Restaurant Depot for my Vienna Beef 8/1 dogs.
Cool. Thanks Stevie!
I am using Koegels Casing Weiners from Flint, Michigan… well worth the extra cost and my customers love them. Some will drive 45 miles one way every weekend just for lunch.
I have heard good things about Koegels. I also had a customer like that. He would make a half hour drive (one way) every Saturday to get three of my Chicago dogs. Makes you feel like you’re doing something right, doesn’t it! Good job Al.
I’ve been using Hebrew National for both regular dogs and quarter pounders. I’ve alwAys said if I was going to switch to another brand it would be Nathan’s. So, thanks to all the input here I tho k I might switch the quarter lbs. to Nathan’s just so there is a little fascination with something different.
Steve, what do you think?
The only way to know is to try it on a small scale and see if you like it. Let me know what you find Robin.
Don’t make the mistake I did and get Oscar Meyer Angus Beef dogs. I saw them at Sam’s and picked up a couple packs. The darn things fall apart in the water. I went back to Nathan’s as my primary dog along with Vienna’s for my Chicagos. No issues with them.
It doesn’t hurt to experiment. Sometimes you find something that works, other times it’s back to your trusted brands.
I use sams 100 %
So do a lot of my Premium members. I have used them in the past with good results.
Thanks Eddie!
I have always had good luck with Hebrew National and Johnsonville products.
Remember…you only have one chance to make a good first impression. If a customer has a bad tasting or poor quality hot dog or brat you have lost that customer and he or she WILL tell others about it.
Sell a quality product and even if your initial cost is a little more you will fare better in the long run.
The key is to shop right and price your products right. You will reap the benefits with return customers and good feedback for potential customers trying you out for the first time.
Agreed.
All beef natural casing such as Sabrett, Vienna, and Chicago Red Hots are my favorite when boiling. As Steve mentioned only use cheaper products for large events. I just landed one of the grand opening events from Mark Lski this weekend and will be using Gordans (GFS) that JCDogs mentioned, since this requires a less expensive dog and will be serving 1400 dogs in two 3 hour days, you cannot beat a case off 100 10-1’s for $14.99! Thanks Steve for your site! I cnow have the best job in tbe world, and making great money!
That’s awesome Christopher! Glad I could help.
Refresh my memory, Steve, what is 8×1 & 4×1? Mahalo!..Lesley
Hi Lesley, It’s hot dog talk for eight hot dogs to a pound, four hot dogs to a pound, etc.
I didn’t like the bakers and chefs from SAMs, had very good luck with GFS-Kent’s meats, the all beef 8-1s and polish sausages, used to get a cased cagin’ dog that people went crazy for and kent switched to a skinless version, not near as good. PEOPLE REMEMBER CRAP DOGS!!!
Ill second the costco all beef. Pretty good, a little greasy, a lot like Hebrew National. Great dog in a pinch. I accidentally ate half an Echrich last week, had a mouth full of mush!
Koegels are good but boring-no spice
I use national deli hotdogs. I use Hebrew national and Nathan hotdogs if I need backup for some reason. I had a customer ask me the other day what brand hotdog do you use and I told him national deli, and he told me good cause I was gonna say if its Hebrew national then forget it!! This guy said every hotdog he ever tried in the microwave tasted fine to him but one time he put the Hebrew national in the microwave and it fell apart, so in his opinion Hebrew national hotdogs are the worst dogs in the world even tho I do not microwave my dogs lol!! To make long story short he loved my national deli hotdogs. Dietz and Watson hotdogs are extremely popular in philly but I like national deli its reasonably priced and tastes better than the other dogs. I even had customer tell me they do not like Nathans. The bread is just as important as the hotdog.
I’m from New York,Nathans is by far the best hot dog you can get. The jumbo ones they sell at Sam’s Club can’t be bought in any store unless you buy 160 at Sam’s.You can also get the buns to fit at GFS or Aunt Millie’s at Sam’s.Good luck
The bakers and chefs you spend 20.00 and it busy almost 80 dogs. 100% beef they are too. Check em out at Sam’s club. Best dog I ever had.
VIENNA… 8/1 hot dog and vienna’s bun cost me 96ยข..PERIOD
We use Costco’s Kirkland Brand and get nothing but rave reviews. Agree with the lack of spices in the Koegel Brand and they cost more. For the bun, we’ve found that the Rosen Buns we get from Costco hold up the best.
I prefer Hebrew national quarter pound hot dogs and also quarter
Pound farmer John turkey dogs. I would purchase from Restarant depot.
Totally agree with Randy Harmon! The GFS Polish and Brats have natural casing AND have better product and price even compared to Vienna! Those two are my biggest money makers supplementing my Chi Dawgs and Coneys! i charge $6 each for all the aboved mentioned, with NO complaints.
Hebrew National for 1/4 lb dogs. Miller’s has a nice 1/4 lb on the west coast.
Both are best grilled if you ask me. Natural casing hold up in water best.
Thanks Dale!
I used Nathans hot dog’s, but I also got a grand opening this weekend, a gig with Mark as well, and I may used Gordon too…..
I love the Nathens 1/4 lb all beef, get them from Sams. Never sure wether or not I should tell people what kind of dog I use, but, usually I just say I have to order them. Since we dont have a Sams club close by its believable enough, and then they don’t ask any more. I have to drive 2 1/2 house for the nearest Sams club.
No comment about hot dogs specifically. Just that this is one of your better “blogs.”
I’ve always wondered who was selling which particular brand of hot dog in their part of the country.
Thanks all for your input…
Alas, I too made the mistake of using Bar-S dogs, which split and peel when boiled. I threw them away and am going to try Ball Park all beef dogs. The chicken-pork mix turns to mush and the all beef varieties hold up much better and taste very good.
I am just starting out, too, but have found that the Johnsonville products are great! We started offering different kinds of mustard for our brats. Our customers really like the choice.
-Brother Brat
Thanks for joining us Brother B!
Hey Brother Brat, I don’t like hot dogs and don’t eat them. The other day I decided I better know what I am selling to people. I grilled it in my George Foreman and it was actually pretty good. Fraun
Seems the general concensus here is Sams club Add one more vote here for flavor, cost, all beef hot dog that will hold up in water, very hard to beat that size hot dog for the price! Also very good place to get frozen buns @a good price,per box of buns They have my vote, from a man who sells lots of great hot dogs!
Gary that hot dog man with the hot dog plan!
I don’t like hot dogs and don’t eat them. But like I told Brother Brat, I came up with the idea to use a George Foreman grill and made some for supper. I wanted to know what I was feeding to people. I have been using Ball Park. I ate the whole thing, just mustard on a bun. That is the first hot dog I have eaten in years. I think I will stick with the Ball Park brand. It was actually quite good (for a hot dog). I tried a sample of Nathan’s at Sam’s and litterally gagged on it. Yeh, I will stay with Ball Park. Fraun
LOL!
We use our local meat co. Klements who also makes red hot chicago dogs. Their beef and pork mix is called the all american and holds up well in water or steamed and are served at Miller Park.
Just one final comment on not telling people what brand you sell. We had a vendor here that did that and it was a real turn off to the customers. People want to know for various reasons such as allergies and even religious convictions about pork. If you don’t tell them, they’ll go elsewhere. Others feel its a low grade product. That vendor, by the way, is now out of business.
Northern California over here! Strictly Miller’s brand Franks & Sausages! Best on the West Coast!????
????Dapper Demand Hot Dog Stand
Sacramento, California
You need a Dog that has a casing, My Dog’s of choice Is sabrett hot dogs ! IE if you keep them in water . The casing Keep’s them from falling apart. Good Luck ! and this is a good Biz to be in, so hang in there.
Could you tell me the places to buy the buns and hotdogs in Australia Brisbane please. Sorry we are very new to this and our trailer arrives in 21 days. Thank you
Sorry, I’m in the US.
What are the best Hotdog buns to but for a Hotdog cart?
I like Mary Anns Rosen’s poppyseed buns.