Hot Dog Facts for Kids

A Picture of a Homemade Hot Dog
  • Name: Hot Dog, Dogs
  • Type of Food: Meat
  • Produced From: Meat trimmings and fat
  • Total Calories: 151 (one hot dog, 52 grams)
  • Total Fat: 13 grams (one hot dog, 52 grams)
  • Total Protein: 5 grams (one hot dog, 52 grams)
  • Total Carbohydrates: 2.2 grams (one hot dog, 52 grams)

29 Hot Dog Facts for Kids

  1. A hot dog is a sausage that is made from meat trimmings, flavorings and preservatives.
  2. A hot dog can either be steamed, boiled or grilled.
  3. A cooked hot dog is placed into a bun, typically a specialty bread known as a hot dog bun.
  4. A ready to eat hot dog includes a cooked hot dog, hot dog bun and condiments.
  5. There are numerous different types of condiments that can be added to the top of a hot dog.
  6. The most common condiments used on a hot dog are ketchup, mustard, onion and relish.
  7. There are other condiments added to the top of hot dogs, like tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, peppers and cheese.
  8. There are many specialty hot dogs that have specific condiments.
  9. An example of a specialty hot dog includes a chili dog, Chicago style hot dog and a Coney Island hot dog.
  10. A chili dog includes a hot dog, hot dog bun and chili. Other toppings can be added to a chili dog, like cheese, onions and mustard. The condiments used on a chili dog vary by region in the United States.
  11. A Chicago style dog includes an all-beef frankfurter, hot dog bun with poppy seeds, mustard (yellow), onions (white), sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomatoes (wedges) and celery salt.
  12. A Coney Island hot dog includes a European style Vienna hot dog, meat toppings (seasoned ground beef), mustard (yellow), onions (white) with an option to add cheese.
  13. It’s estimated consumers in the United States spent over $3 billion on hot dogs.
  14. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 205 calories.
  15. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 18 grams of fat (27% of the recommended Daily Value).
  16. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 50 milligrams of cholesterol (16% of the recommended Daily Value).
  17. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 620 milligrams of sodium (25% of the recommended Daily Value).
  18. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 201 milligrams of potassium (5% of the recommended Daily Value).
  19. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains less than a gram of carbohydrates.
  20. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 10 grams of protein (20% of the recommended Daily Value).
  21. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 4% of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin A.
  22. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 10% of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin B-6.
  23. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 2% of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin C.
  24. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 20% of the recommended Daily Value of calcium.
  25. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 6% of the recommended Daily Value of Cobalamin.
  26. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 15% of the recommended Daily Value of iron.
  27. One pork hot dog (76 grams) contains 2% of the recommended Daily Value of magnesium.
  28. According to the Guinness World Records, the world record for the longest hot dog is 668 feet and 7.62 inches. This record was set on July 15th, 2011 by Novex S.A. in the Republic of Paraguay.
  29. According to the Guinness World Records, the world record for the largest hot dog eating contest had 3,189 participants. This record was set on March 12th, 2011 by Oscar Mayer in Spain.

Additional Resources on Hot Dogs