Here's Why We Ranked Hebrew National Hot Dogs So Poorly

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Hot dogs are a food that inspires plenty of brand loyalty among hungry Americans. One of the best-known brands is Hebrew National, whose 100% kosher beef franks are pretty ubiquitous. Still, with so many other options available, we tried and ranked 11 different brands to find out which are the best choices for your next cookout. When the dust settled, Hebrew National ended up in second-to-last place. While that's a potentially surprising result for hot dog lovers, there are good reasons behind that outcome.

First, although the weight of a Hebrew National dog is on par with other brands, it's too short for a standard bun. That will leave unpleasantly boring bits of bread on each end. The franks are also not thick and hearty enough to justify the shorter length.

In contrast, the review of the top-ranked contender, Trader Joe's uncured beef hot dogs, noted it extends past the end of the typical bun. In a similar vein, second-place 365 by Whole Foods Market uncured beef hot dogs were described as "max[ed] out in both the length and width departments."

The second major ding against Hebrew National is price. The familiar six-dog pack is often noticeably more expensive than higher-ranked competitors such as Oscar Meyer or Nathan's (both of which also come in larger packages). Although the difference is generally only a buck or two per package, this can add up when cooking for parties or large families.

Of course, there were certainly bright spots for Hebrew National, too. Those looking for Kosher dogs will be hard-pressed to find a better and more widely available brand. In addition, our reviewer called the flavor "easy to like." This isn't an uncommon take, as the product has received plenty of praise from Walmart and Amazon shoppers for its taste. (However, it's also notable that, much like our reviewer, some fans of the flavor have complained online that the franks are "too small" or "hardly even fill up a small bun.") The all-beef filling might also be reassuring to diners concerned about the quality of their dogs, although there are other hot dog brands that use pure beef as well.

Unfortunately, the broader concerns about the eating experience and value outweigh the benefits in our rankings, landing Hebrew National in 10th place, only ahead of Bar-S Classic Jumbo Franks. So, no matter which of the many ways to cook a hot dog you prefer, shoppers who've grabbed the brand in the past may want to try something new for their next grilling session or simple meal.