What are uncured hot dogs?

Uncured hot dogs have become the go-to choice for many health foodies, with many opting for this variety solely because of the use of natural preservatives.

Both types of hot dogs are largely similar, but they can vary in their preparation technique, color, flavor, and texture, which can understandably cause a lot of confusion, especially for people who don’t know the difference between the two.

What are uncured hot dogs?

Uncured hot dogs are made with natural ingredients and preservatives that do not contain synthetic or potentially harmful chemicals such as nitrates and nitrites. These hot dogs may have a shorter shelf life, but are generally considered better than cured hot dogs. 

Uncured meat vs. cured meat

When we talk about raw hot dogs, we are essentially discussing the debate of choosing between raw and cured meat.

Since cured meat is notorious for its use of chemical preservatives, many people try to avoid processed foods, and the public seems to be leaning more towards uncured varieties.

To begin with, why are cured meats harmful?

Humans have been curing meat ever since we made sense of hunting for food and combining ingredients to extend the shelf life of rations. 

In fact, chemical preservation was once the only way to cure meat, since the concept of refrigeration did not exist.

Curing meat was considered a very important and basic human need at that time and many people knew how to extend the shelf life of food, especially meat.

Once we had a better understanding of the chemistry, we found that meat can be preserved better if it is mixed with nitrates and nitrites.

These chemicals are present in many processed foods and are also naturally present in some vegetables.

What makes these chemicals very suitable is that they not only stop the growth of harmful bacteria, but are also capable of preserving the color and aroma of the meat.

Preservatives have played a huge role in our food industry, single-handedly changing the way we produce and consume meat, whether it’s pre-packaged burgers, pizzas or hot dogs.

However, growing demand and increasing sales figures for processed meat have prompted many health agencies to study the long-term effects of these chemicals on human health.

Many studies have linked the use and consumption of preservatives in food with numerous diseases. Some are common digestive ailments, while others are serious ailments.

This health fear has effectively divided people over what type of meat to use, which brings us back to uncured and cured hot dogs.

Differences Between Cured and Uncured Hot Dogs

So, with people looking for preservative-free alternatives, how do you keep uncured hot dogs?

It turns out that there are many ways to extend the shelf life of meat. For example, food scientists discovered a method to obtain natural nitrites from celery powder or juice.

That is why it is common to find a label that says “the product does not contain nitrates or nitrites, except those found naturally in celery powder or juice.”

This means that raw meat is free from a long list of harmful chemicals and preservatives. Instead, it has naturally-derived ingredients and chemicals that extend the shelf life of hot dogs. 

Another technique to discourage bacterial growth and add flavor to meat is to increase the sodium content of the food.

But how do these different techniques affect hot dogs? How do they taste and look?

Here’s a quick comparison between the two.

Characteristics of cured hot dogs

Taste

Cured meat has a strong aroma and flavor. The preservatives used to cure the meat before processing and cooking help to “seal in” the flavor.

Traditionally cured meat has many favorable and familiar flavors and is usually the most common type of processed meat you can find on the market.

Visual

Cured meat has a distinct visual characteristic. For example, meat that hasn’t been cured or treated at all tends to lose its color over time. It can go from bright pink to dark gray in a short time due to oxidative stress.

However, with preservatives, cured meat can maintain its original color and can even take on a certain pinkish hue due to the added chemicals. 

Useful life

As we’ve already said, curing meat is by far the best way to extend its shelf life. Cured meat can easily last for months and can even resist spoilage even under unfavorable storage conditions (in some circumstances).

Uncured meat can also bring the expiration date forward, but it tends to go bad faster and have a shorter shelf life than cured meat. 

Food scientists use a number of chemical cooking and preservation methods to extend the shelf life of cured meat, so you can store these kinds of processed foods in a variety of ways without worrying about their quality or integrity.

Nutrition

Cured hot dogs aren’t exactly known for their nutrition, as any type of processed meat is generally considered unhealthy, especially if you eat it regularly. 

These hot dogs are high in sodium and fat, hence their delicious flavor.

However, coupled with the addition of preservatives, cured hot dogs are not the best food for anyone’s diet and you should limit their consumption accordingly.

Characteristics of non-cured hot dogs

Taste

Uncured hot dogs can taste the same as cured meat, depending on the quality of the product and the type of processing used to produce them.

Uncured hot dogs typically have more sodium to counteract the lack of flavor and also to extend the shelf life of the hot dogs. This means that you can get more or less the same flavors from both cured and uncured hot dogs.

But for avid fans of cured hot dogs, some might pick up on the subtleties and flavor discrepancies of non-cured hot dogs.

However, if you usually eat them with seasonings, then it will be very difficult to tell the difference between the two types. 

Visual

Uncured meat may look the same as cured meat, but may not be as pink or “bright.” The reason is the lack of strong chemical preservatives.

However, in most cases, if the product is used well before its expiration date, uncured hot dogs will look the same as cured ones.

Depending on age, keeping quality, and storage conditions, uncured sausages may have more variations than cured sausages, which are likely to remain constant throughout storage time.

Useful life

As for the shelf life of uncured hot dogs, you can easily store them for up to several weeks.

Although they don’t have the same extended expiration date as cured hot dogs, it’s still a decent way to store them for the medium term.

Remember that each brand is different in terms of conservation and techniques. So you’ll be able to gauge the difference between cured and uncured meat when you compare them at the store.

Check the back of the package for correct labeling and expiration date to compare.

Nutrition

This is where raw meat can have a disadvantage.

From a nutritional point of view, uncured meat may contain more salt than is necessary to prevent the growth of bacteria. This means that you will be increasing your sodium intake with each serving.

If nutrition is an important factor for you, you should check the back of the package for the daily values of the product you are buying. 

Here’s a rundown of all the differences:

How to Cook Uncured Hot Dogs - Toppings and Ideas

Uncured hot dogs can be used in many different ways.  Since both cured and uncured hot dogs are essentially the same product in terms of usefulness, you can use either one in multiple dishes. 

Although both sausages can be used interchangeably, if you want to avoid artificial enhancers and chemical preservatives, we highly recommend sticking with uncured sausage in all recipes.

Here are some great ideas for using raw hot dogs:

The classic way

The classic way to eat a hot dog is to simply put it in a hot dog bun, add mustard or other condiments, and enjoy! 

Remember that just because you’re using an uncured hot dog doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality or flavor.

Chopped hot dogs

Hot dogs are exceptionally versatile, they can be added to sandwiches, salads, soups, pizzas, pies, and much, much more!

If you want to get the most out of their juicy flavor, we highly recommend chopping them up and exploring different possibilities. 

It’s also a great technique for toning down the saltiness of uncured sausages. For example, mixing together chopped pieces of uncured sausage will go perfectly with most vegetables.

You can also use the chopped pieces in a variety of soups, noodles, sauces, and much more.

Fried Uncured Hot Dogs

Deep-fried raw hot dogs are great comfort food, and you can get a lot of their texture and flavor by frying them in a skillet or in a neutral oil, like canola. 

If you don’t prefer to fry them, you can also smoke or grill the uncured hot dogs for more or less the same experience. After all, there’s nothing like a properly charred hot dog on each side!

The ideal recipe for uncured hot dogs

Here’s a great recipe for uncured hot dogs!

incendiary hot dog

This recipe really is one of the best ways to use raw hot dogs. Not only is this a great appetizer for a party, but it will also easily satisfy all your hot dog cravings. This is our favorite recipe for any occasion.

Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients

• 1 uncured hot dog
• 1 hot dog bun
• 1 slice of pepper jack cheese per hot dog
• 1 large jalapeño pepper per serving
• 1 large slice of red onion per serving
• fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Ingredients to batter the beer and fry the jalapeños

• Vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil for frying
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 ounces (1/2 bottle) lager beer
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

• Start by making the jalapeño peppers . Cut the stem of the jalapeno and carefully remove the seeds with a knife. Be careful: you don’t want to pierce the outside of the jalapeño! We need the chiles to be fully intact.
• Cut the jalapeños into rings. Cut thick pieces! Anything around 1/4 inch will work great with this recipe.
• Fry the jalapeños in hot oil for 2-3 minutes.
• Place the fried jalapeños on a wire rack or kitchen towel to drain any excess oil.
• Now, make the beer batter by combining all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl . Pour in the beer of your choice while slowly whisking the mixture until almost smooth.
• Dip the fried jalapenos into this batter, making sure they are completely covered on all sides. 
• Cook the battered jalapenos in hot oil until the outside is a nice golden color and even on all sides.  Take them out of the oil and put the cooked jalapeños on a wire rack to drain the excess oil.
• Now, lay out the onion slices! This step is optional, but it is essential if you want to get the best flavor possible. Start by brushing each side of the thickly cut onion slices with oil. Place them on a hot grill and cook until they have nice grill marks on each side. The onions have to soften and become translucent.
• Ride the firecracker hot dog! Cook the uncured hot dogs using whatever method you prefer. We highly recommend pan-frying or grilling them for the most authentic flavor.
• Optionally, toast the buns or simply add pepper jack cheese and microwave until the cheese has melted. Add the hot dog and top it with lush, juicy onions and the fried jalapenos.
• Garnish with cilantro or any seasoning of your choice and enjoy!

Related questions

Uncured hot dogs are a great way to cut down on potentially harmful preservatives. They are usually made with better conservation techniques and ingredients of natural origin.

Since uncured hot dogs are more or less similar to cured ones in flavor, we recommend trying them for a change.

Now that you know all about uncured hot dogs, here are some related questions!

Do uncured hot dogs contain plants or vegetables?

No, raw hot dogs can be made from a mix of different types of meat or can be found in all-meat varieties as well. They usually do not contain vegetable pieces, unless they are intentionally mixed together to add texture.

However, uncured hot dogs may contain plant-based or plant-based nitrites that act as preservatives to prevent the food from spoiling. This is in contrast to the chemical preservatives often used in cured meats.

Are uncured hot dogs the healthiest option?

There are multiple answers to this question.

Although uncured hot dogs are generally considered to be the healthier option compared to cured meat, which can have potentially dangerous preservatives, uncured hot dogs are still high in fat and salt.

But if you had to choose between two options, we highly recommend trying raw hot dogs first, as they have all the good points of a hot dog, but with a shorter shelf life compared to cured meat.

Are the uncured hot dogs precooked?

Yes, just like typically cured hot dogs, the uncured variety is also fully cooked at the factory, which means you can use it just like any other hot dog.

Always consult the back of the container for more information on its conservation and preparation.

Each brand has different ways of manufacturing raw meat, so it’s always best to check with the brand on how to cook your particular product safely.