Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich?

I know, I know, this topic is not new.

One of the earliest online references to this question dates back to the early 2000s: Panini Happy — Is it a sandwich?

I find it interesting that while most people thought that a burger is a sandwich, from the poll:

I find it interesting that while most people think that a burger is a sandwich, from the poll: Despite the same nature that both hotdogs and burgers are composed of — a piece of fermentation and baked dough + sauces + fillings (could be meat, fake meat, veggies, dairy, etc.) + maybe more sauces + another piece of fermentation and baked dough.

Since then, it has sparked numerous debates across various platforms, from casual conversations to academic discussions.

My goal today is to find definite evidence to end this debate once and for all.

The Most Often Seen Arguments:

Team Sandwich

1. Dictionary definitions often support the sandwich classification. See Merriam-Webster or Cambridge Dictionary, both have similar definitions of “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between”. Hence, a hotdog is a type of sandwich.
2. Structural similarities: bread and filling composition, as described in the intro. Don’t worry, this one doesn’t stop here, more about it in the coming paragraphs.
3. Legal and regulatory definitions sometimes include hot dogs as sandwiches.

Based on the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, this is a thing), says that

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance also suggests the hot dog, as meat between bread, falls into the sandwich category, but the regulations paint a muddy picture as they hinge on the question of ‘open’ or ‘closed’ which could ignite a second round of debate where the hot dog on a bun is concerned.

Here’s the footnote:

USDA Regulatory Definitions
SANDWICH — CLOSED:
Product must contain at least 35 percent cooked meat and no more than 50 percent bread. Sandwiches are not amenable to inspection... Typical — closed-faced“ sandwiches consisting of two slices of bread or the top and bottom sections of a sliced bun that enclose meat or poultry, are not amenable to the Federal meat and poultry inspection laws. Therefore, they are not required to be inspected nor bear the marks of inspection when distributed in interstate commerce.

SANDWICH — OPEN:
Must contain at least 50 percent cooked meat. Sandwiches are amenable only if they are open faced sandwiches. Product must show a true product name, e.g., — Sliced Roast Beef on Bread.“ This regulatory policy in no way alters the Department’s present policy with respect to caterers who include meat sandwiches in their dinners.

SANDWICHES (MEAT OR POULTRY AS COMPONENTS OF “DINNER PRODUCTS”):
Dinners containing a sandwich type product, e.g., a frankfurter, hamburger, or sliced poultry meat with a bun, are amenable and subject to inspection.

However, I found several issues in this definition from the USDA which I will go through with you later.

Team Not-a-Sandwich

1. Hot dogs have a distinct cultural identity, eg. the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Image from CNN.

2. The unique shape and structure of the hot dog bun:

Not so sure this is a good argument, given sandwich shops like Subways do call their product sandwiches, instead of hotdogs.

3. Industry experts often argue for a separate classification. Learnt from biology taxonomy, I’ve decided to do the same with hotdogs. More on this later.

Multidisciplinary Analysis

Let’s examine this debate through various academic lenses. I will cover:

• Food Science, Chemistry, and A Little Bit Of Math
• History
• Cultural Context and Celebrations
• Food Taxonomy and Philosophy

I will set a referee guideline at the beginning of each round. The guideline will be based on evidence as scientific as possible (do comment if you find bias).

Shall we?

Round 1. Food Science, Chemistry, and A Little Bit Of Math

The baseline here is the ingredient composition, chemical reaction, as well as the symmetry of both products (disregarding plating).

Let’s start with ingredients:

By looking at the varieties of hot dogs and sandwiches, above are the most commonly seen compositions in each dish. Interestingly, sandwiches not only cover the same ingredients used in most hot dogs, but they also seem to have wider room for innovation.

Next, the chemical reaction:

Mm… very similar so far, aren’t they? This isn’t really a surprise, given the similarity in ingredients. Topped with not too different cooking methods (baking the bread, grilling the meat, and so on), we should see the same chemical reactions within both dishes.

What about from geometry?

In terms of geometry, the main differences lie in the overall shape (cylindrical vs. rectangular prism) and the nature of the exterior surface (curved vs. flat). The hot dog has fewer axes of symmetry compared to a typical sandwich, primarily due to its curved bun structure.

So, a quick summary of the scientific deep dive:

• Ingredients: Both hot dogs and sandwiches are bread-wrapped with various fillings. Sandwiches offer more variety.
• Chemistry: Both dishes involve similar chemical reactions during preparation and consumption.
• Geometry: Hot dogs have a cylindrical shape with a curved bun, while sandwiches are typically rectangular with flat bread slices.

In this scientific round, I'm calling it: a hot dog is indeed a sandwich, just one that decided to be a rebel and rock a different geometry.

Round 2. History

Hot dogs’ History: A Brief Overview

The term “hot dog” has a fascinating origin that reflects its cultural journey.

Some small tales (which may not be historically accurate) that I found interesting:

The term “hot dog” has a fascinating origin that reflects its cultural journey.

In 1852, the butcher’s guild in Frankfurt, Germany introduced a spiced and smoked sausage which was packed in a thin casing and they called it a “frankfurter” after their hometown. The sausage had a slightly curved shape supposedly due to the coaxing of a butcher who had a popular dachshund. The frankfurter was also known as a “dachshund sausage” and this name came with it to America.

and this one, maybe the birth of the hotdog + bun combo:

In 1880 a German peddler, Antonoine Feuchtwanger, sold hot sausages in the streets of St. Louis, Missouri. He would supply white gloves with each purchase so that his customers would not burn their hands while eating the sausage. He saw his profits going down because the customers kept taking the gloves and walking off with them. His wife suggested that he put the sausages in a split bun instead. He reportedly asked his brother-in-law, a baker, for help. The baker improvised long soft rolls that fit the meat, thus inventing the hot dog bun. When he did that, the Hot Dog was born. He called them red hots.

If you happen to be a history enthusiast, you might enjoy reading more about hot dogs in the review: Review: ‘Famous Nathan’ Tells How Nathan Handwerker Built a Hot Dog Empire

Sandwiches’ History: A Brief Overview

Did you know that there was an Earl of Sandwich? He was closely associated with the invention of the sandwich.

by Thomas Gainsborough, Year 1783, Oil on canvas

The sandwich is named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an eighteenth-century English aristocrat.[8][9] It is commonly said that Lord Sandwich, during long sessions of cribbage and other card games at public gambling houses, would order his valet to bring him salt beef between two pieces of toasted bread. He was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue gambling while eating, without the need for a fork, and without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands. The dish then grew in popularity in London, and Sandwich’s name became associated with it…

According to the story, following the Earl of Sandwich’s request for beef between two slices of bread, his friends began to order “the same as Sandwich”.[9] The first written usage of the English word appeared in Edward Gibbon’s journal, referring to “bits of cold meat” as a “Sandwich”.[18]

Over time, the term sandwich has evolved to encompass a wide variety of food items where bread acts as a container. .

A quick summary of the history deep dive:

The hot dog’s century-long existence and unique name make a strong case for its classification as a distinct food item. Here’s why:

1. Longevity: Hot dogs have stuck around for over 100 years. That’s not just luck — it’s a sign of cultural staying power.
2. Name Game: We call it a “hot dog”, not a “sausage sandwich”. That’s telling, isn’t it?
3. Cultural Icon: Think baseball games and Fourth of July. Hot dogs are more than food — they’re part of American identity.
4. Prep and Serve: Hot dogs have their own cooking methods and that unique, partially split bun as mentioned in the science round.
5. Hot Dog Mania: Hot dog contests are a thing.

So, from a historical view, hot dogs seem to have outgrown their sandwich roots. They’ve become their own culinary category.

But here’s a thought to chew on: In food classification, does cultural impact trump structural similarities?

Round 3. Cultural Context and Celebrations

Let’s dive into the hot dog’s unique place in American culture. Is it more than just a sandwich? Some folks certainly think so.

National Hot Dog and Sausage Council’s hot dog enthusiasts argue that

calling a hot dog “just a sandwich” undermines its cultural significance, suggesting it deserves its own category.

This is like calling the Mona Lisa “just a painting”, it undermines its cultural significance. The enthusiasts believe hot dogs deserve their own category. But are they onto something?

Hot Dogs in American Culture:

• National Hot Dog Day: Yes, it’s a thing.
• Fourth of July staple: Nothing says “America” quite like a hot dog on Independence Day.
• Baseball’s best friend: Try imagining a ball game without one.
• County fair favorite: Right up there with cotton candy and funnel cakes.

The Hot Dog Eating Contest: Ever heard of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest? This annual July 4th spectacle is practically a national institution. When’s the last time you saw a sandwich-eating contest make headlines?

Social Context:

• BBQ: Hot dogs are the life of the party at cookouts.
• Sports events: They’re as much a part of the game as the athletes.
• Movie night: Perfect for a casual dinner/ snack in front of the screen.

Compare this to sandwiches, which are more likely to be your quiet lunch at the office.

Menu Mysteries: Ever notice how hot dogs often get their own menu section, separate from sandwiches? It’s like restaurants are saying, “This isn’t just another sandwich, folks.”

For this round, I say: No, hot dogs aren’t “just” sandwiches. They’ve evolved into their own cultural category. Though we should not stop here. Same as you, I want to have a definite answer, so let’s move on to examine the philosophy and taxonomy of a hot dog vs. a sandwich.

Round 4. Food Taxonomy and Philosophy

Let’s dive deeper into the hot dog’s place in the food world. Is it a subset of sandwiches, or its own category?

Structure-Based Taxonomy: it emphasizes the similarities in how these foods are constructed. According to our structure-based taxonomy, a hot dog could be considered a sandwich. Here’s why:

1. It falls under the “Closed” category of “Sandwich-like Structures.”
2. It’s classified as a “Specialty Sandwich” alongside burgers and subs/hoagies.
3. Its basic structure (filling between bread) aligns with the general concept of a sandwich.

If your go-to argument is that a hot dog is structurally different from a sandwich, you might want to think twice. Compared with other dishes, a hot dog shares enough similarities with other sandwiches to be considered one.

Bun Ingredient-Based Taxonomy: this one separates hot dogs from traditional sandwiches based on the type of bun used. This bun-based taxonomy, however, presents a different view:

1. Hot dogs are categorized separately from traditional sandwiches.
2. They fall under “Rolls” along with hamburger buns, distinct from “Sliced Bread” used in traditional sandwiches.
3. The specialized nature of the hot dog bun is emphasized, setting it apart from other sandwich breads.

This classification implies that the unique characteristics of the hot dog bun make it distinct from conventional sandwiches.

So simply based on taxonomy, round 4 is a tie!

Final: Hot Dog’s Place, A Sandwich or Not A Sandwich?

After our deep dive into the world of cylindrical meat and bread, where do we stand? Let’s break it down:

1. Science Round: Hot dog is considered to be a sandwich in this round due to similar ingredients, chemical reactions, and overall structure (despite different geometry) — 1 point for a hot dog is a sandwich.
2. History Round: Hot dog is its own thing due to its unique cultural evolution and identity — 1 point for a hot dog is not a sandwich.
3. Cultural Round: Hot dog is considered distinct from sandwiches given its unique place in American culture and celebrations — 1 point for a hot dog is not a sandwich.
4. Food Taxonomy and Philosophy Round: This round is considered a tie. The structure-based taxonomy suggests a hot dog could be a sandwich, while the bun ingredient-based taxonomy sets it apart — a tie.

So, here’s my verdict: A hot dog is like that cousin in the sandwich family who started out just like everyone else in the family but went on to become a rock star 🤘

Afterthought: Pushing the Boundaries

1. The Ship of Theseus Paradox:
   If we change a hot dog’s components, at what point does it become a sandwich? If you put sliced sausage between two pieces of bread, is it still a hot dog or now a sandwich?
2. If you put typical sandwich fillings in a hot dog bun, what do you call it? If you replace the hot dog bun with lettuce wraps, is it still a hot dog?
3. Sausage Rolls vs. Hot Dogs:
   What makes a hot dog — well — a hot dog? If we replace the soft, puffy buns with puff pastry, does it make a sausage roll a UK hot dog?
4. Taxonomy Meets Philosophy:
   Our classification system shows hot dogs could be related to, but distinct from, traditional sandwiches. This raises questions about categorization itself. Are our food categories arbitrary human constructs, or do they reflect something fundamental about the foods themselves?
5. The Lumper vs. Splitter Debate:
   In taxonomy, there’s always tension between “lumpers” (who group similar things together) and “splitters” (who emphasize distinctions). In the hot dog debate, are you a lumper (it’s all sandwiches) or a splitter (hot dogs are unique)?

Just a cover image for Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich article.