After peeling (if cellulose), the dogs are inspected by lasers and cameras. Machines look for cracks, misshapes, or dogs that are too short. The rejects are ground back up and used for the next batch. Yes, the hot dog you eat might contain a previous hot dog. It’s like the Ouroboros of processed meat.
They’re then bundled into packages of eight or ten – a number that has no relation to the standard eight-hot-dog bun package. That is a conspiracy for another article.
So next time you’re at a ballgame, take a bite and appreciate the science. It’s a meat emulsion, a bit of nitrite, a splash of liquid smoke, and a whole lot of human ingenuity. It’s also, let’s be real, a delicious mystery that’s best not thought about too hard while you’re enjoying it.
Just don’t ask what’s in the ketchup.
