It might seem like a silly idea to ask a basketball team of 10-year-old boys and assorted neighbor kids to come over for a hot dog taste test – they’ll probably like them all.
Even though the majority of these fourth-graders chose the obvious (cue “Oh I wish I were an …”), they have definite ideas about what they like in a dog. And forget about peer pressure; each kid stuck to his or her opinions even when others disagreed.
Participants in this blind tasting ranged in age from 7 to 16, for a total of 11 tasters. The hot dogs were boiled and served on wheat buns. All but the Bar S are all-beef dogs.
– Kristen Browning-Blas
1. Oscar Mayer Beef Jumbo Franks
$3.99 for 8, King Soopers
Calories: 180
Fat: 17g
Sodium: 580mg
Claim: Quality meat, no fillers.
Verdict: Eight of 11 tasters chose this as their favorite.
“Lots of smoky flavor, which is good, but it tastes a little too fake.” -Benjamin Neumann
“It tastes smoky and good like kielbasa, my favorite.” -Chloe Neumann
2. John Morrell’s New York Deli Brand Beef Franks
$3.99 for 8, King Soopers
Calories: 170
Fat: 15g
Sodium: 570mg
Claim: Made in Ohio.
Verdict: Two tasters liked this one best.
“Too juicy for me.” -Jeffery See
“It’s like it’s rubber.” -Esther Neumann
3. BallPark Beef Franks
$3.99 for 8, King Soopers
Calories: 180
Fat: 16g
Sodium: 550mg
Claim: They plump when you cook ’em.
Verdict: “This is my favorite.” -Antonio Rodriguez
“Too thin, it bites through too easily, not meaty enough.” -Benjamin Neumann
4. Hebrew National Beef Franks
$4.29 for 7, King Soopers
Calories: 150
Fat: 14g
Sodium: 420mg
Claim: We answer to a higher authority.
Finest quality kosher since 1905.
Verdict: “Good but way too small.” -Benjamin Neumann
“Stinks.” -Beaux LaFontaine
5. Bar S Jumbo Franks
$1.29 for 8, King Soopers
Calories: 170
Fat: 14g
Sodium: 640mg
Claim: America’s #1 hot dog.
Verdict: “The best hot dog I’ve had in the world.” -Esther Neumann
“It tastes good and the texture reminds me of a Vienna sausage.” -Chloe Neumann
6. Wellshire Farms Premium Uncured Beef Franks
$5.99 for 8, Whole Foods
Calories: 110
Fat: 9g
Sodium: 300mg
Claim: All-natural, gluten-free, no artificial ingredients, no nitrite or nitrate added, not preserved.
Verdict: One child loved it, but the others disliked the intense spices.
“It tastes like a soap my mom bought that was Christmas-scented – not exactly a good thing.” -Benjamin Neumann
“This was the nastiest.” -Keaton Mekelburg
7. Hormel Beef Wranglers
$3.99 for 8, King Soopers
Calories: 170
Fat: 15g
Sodium: 560mg
Claim: Coarse ground smoked beef franks.
Verdict: “Tastes good but I bit into something hard.” -Jeffery See
“Looks gross and tastes gross” -Chloe Neumann
8. Coleman Natural Beef Hot Dogs
$5.49 for 8, King Soopers
Calories: 140
Fat: 11g
Sodium: 330mg
Claim: All-natural, uncured, no nitrates or nitrites added.
Verdict: Unanimous least-favorite.
“It looks like bratwurst. I’m scared to eat it.” -Chloe Neumann
“Tastes too much like a Slim Jim.” -Benjamin Neumann
Tasters: Antonio Rodriguez, 9; Beaux LaFontaine, 9; Keaton Mekelberg, 10; Tanner Shook, 9; Miranda, 12, and Nicky Blas, 10; Esther, 7, Josiah, 10, Chloe 14, and Benjamin Neumann, 16; Jeffery See, 14
