Introduction
Sausages and packed meats have a long history that predates the invention of the hot dog. Evidence suggests that sausages originated as early as 1500 BC in ancient Greece. These early sausages consisted of minced meat, usually pork, mixed with spices and packed into intestines as a method of preservation. Different regions developed their own sausage recipes over time, such as Italian salami and British bangers. During the expansion of the Roman empire, sausage recipes spread throughout Europe and evolved further. The use of smoking and curing to preserve sausages was developed in the Medieval period. Packed luncheon meats also emerged as a convenient food for workers in the 19th century before the hot dog was popularized. While hot dogs are distinctly American, they build upon this long tradition of sausages and packed meats developed globally over thousands of years.
Early Hot Dog-like Sausages
Hot dogs originated from sausages brought to America by European immigrants in the 1800s. Many of these immigrants came from Germany and other parts of Europe where sausages were a common part of the cuisine. According to Janken Piero, “In the 1800s immigrants from Germany arrived to the U.S with their culture which include sausages and the famous long Dachshund dog that resembles a sausage.”
These Old World sausages were made of pork, beef, or veal and were brought over as a taste of home for the immigrants. As explained on the TMSExtendedResource website, “By the late 1800s immigrants from northern Europe were known as … An Italian immigrant remembered that in his new neighborhood, ‘cheeses from Italy, sausage, and bread from the ovens of Italy were sold.” Many of these sausages likely resembled what we now know as hot dogs.
Harry Stevens Starts Selling Hot Dogs
The popularization of hot dogs in America can be largely attributed to Harry Stevens, a sports concessionaire originally from England. In the late 1800s, Stevens began selling hot dogs from a cart at baseball games and other sporting events in New York and across the country. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Stevens saw the need for a quick, easy-to-eat snack at sporting events and started offering hot sausages on buns to fans in the stands.
By the early 1900s, hot dogs had become a standard menu item at ballparks and were synonymous with the baseball experience. Stevens capitalized on this association by securing concession rights with major league ball clubs. As described in his Wikipedia article, his company Harry M. Stevens Inc. dominated the ballpark food industry for decades. Stevens’ hot dog stands were fixtures at games around the country and spearheaded the immense popularity of hot dogs in 20th century American culture.
Frankfurters Become Popular
Frankfurter sausages, originating from Germany’s Frankfurt region in the 19th century, inspired the hot dog name. These salted and smoked sausages consisted of finely minced pork and beef inside a thin casing. Frankfurters were brought to America by German immigrants in the 1860s and popularized at resorts like Coney Island and sports events. In 1906, the New York World held a naming contest for the sausage known as a “dachshund.” The term “hot dog” was coined the same year by Harry M. Stevens at the first Major League Baseball game at New York’s Polo Grounds, supposedly because he thought the sausages resembled dachshund dogs and heated them up to entice fans. The new name helped popularize the sausage across America.
Citation: https://www.powells.com/book/-9781861894274/7-0
Hot Dog Buns Invented
One of the most significant developments in hot dog history was the invention of the bun. Although sausages had been eaten on bread before, the first recorded use of the hot dog bun came at the 1904 World’s Fair held in St. Louis, Missouri (Source: https://dfarq.homeip.net/myths-about-the-1904-worlds-fair-2/). As the story goes, an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes and asked a nearby bakery for help. The baker provided him with long soft rolls that could hold ice cream scoops. However, the soft rolls also happened to perfectly fit the hot dogs being sold at the fair. Vendors soon realized the bun made the hot dogs easier to eat while walking around the fairgrounds. This innovation helped popularize hot dogs nationwide.
Hot Dog Cart Proliferation
Hot dog carts first started gaining popularity in major cities like New York and Chicago in the early 1900s. As more and more people moved to cities, street food became an inexpensive and convenient option for workers on their lunch breaks. According to this article, the hot dog cart has its origins in ancient Greek and Roman street food vendors. When German immigrants brought sausages to America in the 1800s, they adopted the idea of mobile food carts.
By the early 1900s, hot dog carts were a common sight in downtown Manhattan. Vendors would cook franks and keep them hot in metal boxes filled with boiling water. The portability and small footprint of the carts allowed vendors to station them strategically in high foot traffic areas. As more immigrants came to America, they found employment as hot dog cart operators. The carts became symbols of opportunity and entrepreneurship for new Americans.
The number of licensed hot dog vendors in New York City exploded from a few hundred in the 1910s to over 1,500 by the 1930s and 40s. Carts became especially popular during the Great Depression, providing inexpensive meals. The carts spread to other cities like Chicago, which developed its own style of hot dog covered in mustard, onions, tomatoes, relish, and more.
Hot Dog Recipes Evolve
As hot dogs grew in popularity across America in the early 20th century, distinct regional styles emerged as immigrants brought their own recipes and preferences. In New York, hot dog cart vendors began offering hot dogs topped with sauerkraut, onions, and spicy brown mustard. In Chicago, vendors topped hot dogs with yellow mustard, pickle spears, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and celery salt in what became known as the “Chicago-style” hot dog.
In the Northeast, places like New Jersey and Rhode Island developed their own unique styles featuring specific brands of hot dogs like Best’s and Hummel’s. The “Coney Island” style emerged in Michigan featuring a beanless chili topping. And on the West Coast, hot dogs wrapped in bacon became popular in places like Los Angeles.
As hot dogs spread across 20th century America, distinct regional styles emerged reflecting local tastes and cultures. Vendors and restaurants put their unique spins on the classic hot dog recipe to delight their customers. The evolution of these diverse regional hot dog styles is a testament to the hot dog’s versatility and adaptability across America.
Hot Dog Popularity Explodes
By the early 1900s, hot dogs had become a popular street food, especially in major cities like New York and Chicago. As more hot dog vendors set up carts, stands, and restaurants, hot dogs became an affordable, tasty meal for busy city-dwellers. After being introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, hot dogs gained national recognition. Their popularity exploded after the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 helped regulate safety standards for processed meats. Hot dogs were even served to soldiers during World Wars I and II.
With the rise of baseball games, hot dogs became associated with American pastimes. By the mid-1900s, hot dogs had become an American favorite both at home and at public events. Companies like Oscar Mayer and Armour began mass-producing hot dogs to meet demand across the country. Regional hot dog styles also emerged, like New York’s Coney Island hot dogs and Chicago’s all-beef hot dogs. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates Americans ate over 20 billion hot dogs in 2000 alone.
According to the McNY article “Hot Dog!”, by the mid-20th century hot dogs had become “quintessential American food, joining apple pie in our nation’s gustatory heritage” (Source).
Hot Dog Culture
By the early 20th century, hot dogs had become ingrained in American culture, especially in New York City. The immigrants who brought various types of sausages to America embraced the hot dog and made it a part of their new home. Hot dog stands were extremely popular in New York, with the first permanent stand opening at Coney Island in 1871. Soon hot dogs became synonymous with baseball games and summertime activities.
In 1893, sausages started being served wrapped in buns at baseball stadiums. This practice was popularized by Harry Stevens, who sold hot dogs at the New York Polo Grounds during New York Giants baseball games. The low cost of hot dogs enabled people from all socioeconomic backgrounds to enjoy going to baseball games and eating hot dogs. This cemented hot dogs as an “everyman food” in American culture.
During the Great Depression, hot dog producers started eyeing methods to make hot dogs even cheaper so they would remain affordable. This led to the proliferation of hot dog carts in many cities across America, especially New York. Hot dog carts became icons of American street food. Coney Island in New York became especially famous for hot dogs, earning the nickname “Home of the Hot Dog.” Eating hot dogs became a national pastime closely tied to leisure, sports, and entertainment.
Modern Hot Dog Industry
Today, hot dogs remain an iconic American food with over 20 billion hot dogs consumed annually in the United States alone (source). There are a myriad of popular hot dog brands and styles to choose from.
Some of the most popular national brands include Nathan’s Famous, Hebrew National, Oscar Mayer, and Ballpark Franks. Regional favorites like Sabrett (New York), Vienna Beef (Chicago), and Hoffy Hot Dogs (New Jersey) also have devoted followings. Hot dog aficionados often have strong opinions about the best brands and styles based on factors like ingredients, snappiness of the casing, and tasting notes.
In addition to traditional styles, new varieties and toppings have emerged like jalapeño cheddar, chicken apple sausage, and chili cheese hot dogs. Gourmet versions featuring artisanal ingredients have also grown in popularity. The iconic food remains a staple at backyard barbecues, summer cookouts, and ballparks nationwide (source).