It’s a question that has plagued mankind for centuries. It’s been the source of endless debate with neither side willing to give an inch. It’s ruined friendships and torn families apart.
That’s why it’s so important for the team at Mighty Flame Propane Cylinder Exchange to put this question to rest once and for all. Is a hot dog a sandwich? In part one of our series, we took a look at what the comedians have to say on the subject. After all, there’s a lot of truth in comedy, so it only makes sense to turn there first.
In today’s blog, however, we’ll turn to some of the experts to see what they have to say on the matter. Without further ado, let’s see if we can’t get to the bottom of this question and unravel the facts together.
What the Word Experts Are Saying
The folks over at dictionary.com define a hot dog as “a sandwich consisting of a frankfurter in a split roll, usually eaten with mustard, sauerkraut, or relish.”
Merriam-Webster defines it as “a frankfurter with a typically mild flavor that is heated and usually served in a long split roll.” No mention of it being a sandwich. Interesting…
Vocabulary.com notes that a hot dog is either “a frankfurter served hot on a bun” or “a smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked [and] often served on a bread roll.” Once again, no mention of it being a sandwich, but they do bring attention to the fact that it is served on bread.
The Cambridge Dictionary says that a hot dog is “a cooked sausage eaten in a long soft piece of bread, often with ketchup or mustard,” once again leaving out any mention of a hot dog being a sandwich.
It appears that the folks who literally define what words mean aren’t quite in agreement on whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich either, but at this point, it’s 3 to 1. But how are they defining the term sandwich? It looks like the team at Merriam-Webster defines a sandwich as “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between.” That sounds a little bit like a description of a hot dog, doesn’t it. In another article about different kinds of sandwiches, they note that “yes, the hot dog is one of them” even though their definition of a hot dog doesn’t mention it being a sandwich. Trust us when we say that we’re not relishing this situation. In fact, we’re in a real pickle here!
Needless to say, these results are looking pretty inconclusive, so it may be best to turn our attention to those who are specifically trained to be culinary geniuses.
Let’s see what food experts have to say on the matter.
What the Food Experts Are Saying
There’s an incredibly good chance that you’ve heard of The Atlantic. Known for their hard-hitting journalism, “the magazine was created as a literary and cultural commentary magazine, and published leading writers’ commentary on abolition, education, and other major issues in contemporary political affairs,” according to Wikipedia, who also notes that the Chicago Tribune rated them as “a gracefully aging … 150-year-old granddaddy of periodicals” because “it keeps us smart and in the know.”
The Atlantic doesn’t even attempt to mince words in their recent article entitled “It’s Not a Sandwich.” They go on to examine different bits of criteria, finding the following:
“Under this definition, a burger is a sandwich. So is an ice cream sandwich. So is an Oreo. So is a grilled cheese.”
Okay, so they’re not going to be any help.
Inside Hook asked a number of people the same question. Famous chef Anthony Bourdain’s reply: “No, I don’t think it’s a sandwich.” Oscar Mayer Head of Marketing’s reply: “I was an English major as an undergrad, so I’m taking the contrarian view that it is a sandwich, because it really aggravates people in the office here.” Alton Brown’s reply: “Yes, a hot dog is a sandwich. True story.”
Well, it turns out that food experts aren’t really much help either because they can’t seem to come to an agreement.
What We’re Saying
At Mighty Flame Propane Cylinder Exchange, we’ve really enjoyed approaching this argument from all sides. Comedians have an opinion, chefs have an opinion, and the dictionaries have their definitions (which also aren’t particularly helpful).
So what do we have to say about this topic? It’s a divisive question, of course, and we don’t want to upset people who have strong opinions. The good news is that we have come up with an answer that will settle this thing once and for all, allowing all of us to live in harmony as we embrace the truth and then work together to move past it.
And so, definitively, the answer is…
Hot Dogs Are Awesome
Look, that’s all there is to it. At the end of the day, who cares if a hot dog is a sandwich? Historically, they have been called hot dog sandwiches, but in today’s day and age, we’ve abbreviated the phrase. Is a burrito a sandwich? Is a calzone a sandwich? Is a tomato a fruit? Is cereal soup? These are the questions that keep us up at night, but the reality of the matter is that whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich, it’s just a good food to eat.
We recently wrote quite a bit in defense of the hot dog, mentioning that quality is key to their enjoyment. In that post, we even wrote up a few pointers to keep in mind in order to make sure that you get maximum enjoyment out of your hot dog. As with most other grilled foods, there is most certainly an art to grilling a hot dog, but we have you covered.
So did this post finally settle the debate? Probably not. People will still wrestle with the question of whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich as they fire up the grill and surround themselves with friends and family members who have opposing viewpoints. Thankfully, there’s something comforting about that debate when it’s shared with those you love.
Find a Propane Tank Exchange Location Near You
Wherever you land with this debate, the thing to remember is that it’s all about the taste. Whether you’re grilling up burgers, brats, or hot dogs, the thing to remember is that they just taste great.
Be sure to swing by a propane tank exchange location near you to stock up on the propane you need for your next big cookout.
