Additional Coverage:
- 6 Worst Hot Dog Brands at the Grocery Store (cheapism.com)
Summer Cookout SOS: Shoppers Sound Off on the Worst Grocery Store Hot Dogs
Ah, the humble hot dog. A quintessential summer staple, a backyard BBQ hero, a ballpark classic!
When done right, a truly great hot dog can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any burger or steak. But let’s be honest, many of us have grabbed a pack from the grocery store only to be met with… well, disappointment.
With grill season heating up, we decided to dive into the digital chatter to find out which popular grocery store hot dog brands are getting the most flak from shoppers. We scoured online forums, particularly Reddit, where folks aren’t shy about sharing their culinary critiques. Brace yourselves, because here are the six hot dog brands that users say you might want to skip this summer.
Gwaltney Great Dogs Original
Gwaltney proudly declares these “America’s No. 1 chicken hot dog,” marketing them as a lighter, budget-friendly option with 40% less fat than traditional beef franks. You’ll often spot them for a steal, around $1.50 to $2 a pack, at major retailers like Walmart and Food Lion.
However, a quick peek at the ingredient list reveals a different story: primarily mechanically separated chicken, some pork, water, corn syrup, and “flavorings.” And according to online reviewers, “flavor” is precisely what’s missing.
One Redditor didn’t mince words, calling them “absolutely horrific” and finding their appearance in the pan “disturbing to my core.” Another declared them the “second worst hot dog I’ve ever had the displeasure of biting into and then promptly spitting into a napkin and throwing away.”
Ouch.
FUD Hot Dogs
Mainly found at Walmart and certain stores catering to a Hispanic customer base, FUD hot dogs typically land in the $2.50 to $3 range. But many shoppers suggest you’re mostly paying for a flavorless letdown. These franks are crafted from mechanically separated chicken and pork, seasoned with salt, generic “flavoring,” and sodium lactate.
For years, Reddit users have consistently roasted FUD, with many admitting they couldn’t even finish a pack. Complaints frequently highlight a rubbery texture and an unappetizing, bland taste that even boiling can’t seem to fix. Sounds like a hard pass for your next cookout.
Bar-S Classic and Beef Franks
An ultra-budget brand under the same corporate umbrella as FUD, Bar-S is a top-seller in America. Not for its gourmet appeal, mind you, but because it’s incredibly cheap, often under $1.50 a pack at places like Walmart and Dollar General. Despite its widespread availability, it’s also one of the most reviled hot dog brands out there.
The classic franks are a mix of mechanically separated chicken and turkey, a touch of pork, and even beef hearts for “flair.” Add in corn syrup, sodium nitrite, and potassium lactate, and you’ve got a recipe for disappointment.
Online, these dogs are described as “possessed,” “mushy,” “too sweet,” and having an “unsettling texture.” One Redditor memorably stated, “Bar s dogs of all flavors are like eating marshmallow meat and they don’t get plump when you cook them.
Mystery meat dogs at their worst.”
Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners
Oscar Mayer proudly proclaims “no fillers” on their packaging, a claim that feels a little thin when you examine the actual ingredients. The list kicks off with mechanically separated chicken and turkey, followed by pork and a lengthy scroll of additives like sodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, and sodium nitrite. Definitely not what most consider a “clean label.”
These iconic hot dogs are ubiquitous, found everywhere from Target to Kroger, usually priced between $3.50 and $5. While they boast a nostalgic fanbase, they’re also frequently mocked online as the “default bad hot dog.” One user perfectly summed up the sentiment: “I sometimes think about buying Oscar Mayers hot dogs then I see them on the shelf and I look at their color and then always pass.”
Ball Park Franks (Regular and Grillmaster)
Ball Park franks are practically everywhere – Costco, CVS, and likely at your neighbor’s Fourth of July bash. This Tyson Foods brand offers a dizzying array of varieties.
Their regular franks feature a blend of mechanically separated chicken and pork, corn syrup, and a long list of preservatives. Many find them soft, overly sweet, and not particularly grill-friendly.
According to one Redditor, “They taste like what you imagine hot dog water tastes like.”
However, it’s worth noting that Ball Park’s beef versions, especially the Grillmaster line, receive a much warmer reception. These are made with actual beef (no mystery meats here) and generally offer a superior texture and flavor when cooked.
Jennie-O Turkey Franks
Jennie-O is synonymous with turkey, but these franks might not be their finest moment. Stocked in most major grocery stores like Safeway and Meijer for about $3 to $4 a pack, they’re often marketed as the “healthier” low-fat alternative. But as many shoppers have discovered, “low fat” doesn’t necessarily translate to “delicious” when the end result is dry, dense, and painfully bland.
The ingredient list isn’t inspiring either: mechanically separated turkey, water, corn syrup, and not much else in the way of real seasoning. If you’re looking for a flavorful turkey frank, you might need to keep searching.
So, as you plan your summer gatherings, keep these shopper-reviewed duds in mind. Sometimes, a little extra investment in a quality frank can make all the difference between a memorable cookout and a mouthful of disappointment!
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- 6 Worst Hot Dog Brands at the Grocery Store (cheapism.com)