Although the hot dog doesn’t always get a lot of respect, Americans eat an estimated 20 billion of them every year. That’s roughly 70 per person.
That’s enough to get the lowly tube steak some formal recognition — July 22 is National Hot Dog Day.
If you find yourself passing by a 7-Eleven or Sonic Drive-In, pull over for a deal.
The Big Bite hot dog is $1 today at 7-Eleven, but only through the store’s 7Rewards app. Sonic also offers a $1 dog all day long.
National Hot Dog Day is Wednesday! How will you be celebrating? pic.twitter.com/1927s9MfrC
— Wakefield Pork (@WakefieldPork) July 20, 2020
Otherwise, grill or boil your own for a quick and tasty meal.
What’s better on a hot summer day than the iconic weiner, slathered with mustard, relish and onions?
(National Hot Dog and Sausage Council hot dog etiquette states that no one over the age of 18 should use ketchup on a hot dog.)
In honor of the day, here are a few random hot dog facts:
• During peak picnic and cookout season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans consume about 7 billion hot dogs.
• About 15% of hot dogs are purchased from street vendors and 9% are purchased at ballparks.
• Hot dogs were first sold at baseball games in 1893.
• Hot dogs were one of the first foods eaten on the moon.
• Mickey Mouse’s first on-screen words were “Hot dog! Hot dog!” in the 1929 cartoon, “The Karnival Kid.”
And don’t call it a sandwich. The NHDSC has 12 reasons why the hot dog is not a sandwich, including that if you won the lottery, you wouldn’t say “Sandwich!” No, you’d say, “Hot dog!”
