990573 Memorial Day Launches 7 Billion Hot Dog Season

Washington - Americans are expected to eat at least seven billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, in Arlington, VA. Laid end to end, that's enough wieners to stretch from Chicago, in the heartland of America, to the home of the hot dog, Frankfurt, Germany, 125 times.

The Council estimates that Americans eat 20 billion hot dogs each year, but more are eaten in the warm weather months when the grills are fired.

Hot Dog Council research shows that Americans agree: summer is the best time to eat a hot dog. According to 1998 Yankelovich data collected for the Council, 42 percent of Americans said that summer was the best time to eat a hot dog while 34 percent said “any time” was a great time to eat a hot dog.

Many Americans will enjoy hot dogs this summer in conjunction with sporting events, because hot dogs are the ultimate hand-held food. In fact, a March survey by the Council found that major league baseball fans will consume more than 26 million hot dogs while watching games. That's enough wieners to stretch from Fenway Park in Boston to Dodger's Stadium in Los Angeles.

Council data also shows that hot dogs rank among the top five meats that will land on the barbecue. Other grilling favorites, according to the poll, are sausages, steaks, chicken and hamburgers.

The Council offers several tips for a safe and delicious summer barbecue:

* Keep hot dogs and sausages cold, either in the refrigerator until ready to grill or in an ice cold cooler while away from home at picnics. * Hot dogs are pre-cooked, but should be thoroughly reheated until steaming hot. Be sure to separate hot dogs from other uncooked meats and poultry. * Precooked sausages, like smoked bratwurst and knackwurst, need to be reheated until steaming, hot just like hot dogs. * Fresh sausages, like fresh Italian and fresh bratwurst, need to be cooked slowly and evenly over mature coals until the sausage is grey throughout and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the sausage reads 160 degrees F. for meat sausage and 165 degrees F. for poultry sausage. Fresh sausage also may be parboiled in water for 15 minutes and then grilled. However, grilling should immediately follow parboiling; interrupted cooking is not recommended. * Remember to place hot dogs and sausages on a clean plate after grilling. * Wash hands thoroughly in hot soapy water after handling any of these products. * Observe all expiration dates on precooked products.

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