Hot dog texture?!
Hot dog texture?
I just went to Pink's in L.A. today. I was wondering how they get the snap in their hot dogs. Is there a way to buy certain hot dogs that make the same snap at my local grocery? Do they steam, grill...their dogs to get that snap or does it matter? I want to make them at home.
Answers:
The snap comes from the "natural casing" (sheep intestine). The soft mushy type of dogs are made with a synthetic casing which is stripped away after being cooked by the manufacturer. The best visual clue as to which dog you've got is that the synthetic casing dogs are generally straight and the natural casing dogs have a bit of a curve.
I believe its the casing not the preparation of the dogs.
The snapping hot dog is a western thing and is usually not served that way in the East or South. It is a sausage skin thing ,there is nothing you can do to a regular Oscar Mayer hot dog to get that snap. I recommend natural health food grocery markets or your local butcher.