Many Americans like to enjoy a hot dog while grilling. But some of these Americans are Jews and therefore keep themselves kosher.
Before you buy Nathan’s Hot Dogs, you should know if you and your loved ones can eat them. This way you can make sure you don’t leave anyone out at your next event.
Does Nathan’s sell kosher hot dogs?
Nathan’s hot dogs are 100% beef, but are not technically kosher. They have no rabbinic oversight, which would make the hot dogs kosher. However, many Jews still eat the hot dogs.
If you want to stay kosher, just to be safe, avoid Nathan’s. You can find kosher hot dogs from other brands.
What Makes Food Kosher?
To be kosher, food must meet certain requirements. Many people know that pork is not kosher, so you may be wondering if Nathan’s beef hot dogs are safe to eat. However, at least initially, the company had no rabbinic oversight.
This means that someone is on hand to ensure a company is following kosher preparation. You must wash the meat to ensure there is no blood in it in order for the meat to be kosher. A kosher kitchen must also separate meat and dairy products, including the utensils you use with them.
In addition, the animals must be slaughtered in a certain way. A shochet is a butcher who has special training to ensure they follow Jewish laws when preparing the meat.
Why Nathan’s hot dogs aren’t kosher
Nathan’s hot dogs are not kosher because they have no rabbinic oversight at the manufacturing facility. They also may not use pods to cook the meat.
Although they contain no pork, you cannot eat them if you remain kosher. However, you can eat Nathan’s Relish, which the OU says is Kosher.
Kosher hot dog brands
If you enjoy hot dogs or want to share them with your Jewish friends, consider a few kosher brands. This way you can stay kosher and not exclude your loved ones from the meal.
Even if you don’t care about staying kosher, you never know who cares. If you invite Jewish friends to a party, you should offer them at least one dining option. Just make sure you use a separate grill if you plan to cook pork hot dogs as well.
Here are a few kosher hot dog brands to try.
Hebrew national
Hebrew National uses 100% kosher beef to make its hot dogs. They sell a variety of hot dogs, from original beef franken to reduced-fat beef franken. You can try all the different options until you find something you like.
The company follows strict standards to ensure they do not accept non-kosher beef. Also, the hot dogs have a blend of spices so they can taste just as good as pork hot dogs. This mixture contains kosher salt, which is an important step in preparing kosher meat.
Jack’s Gourmet
Jack’s Gourmet is another brand that makes fantastic kosher hot dogs. These hot dogs are made with lots of spices, including garlic. You can eat them with or without spices and they can taste great.
Of course you can also prepare them on the grill. You can also fry them or put them in the microwave if you want them to be quick. The brand sells both standard hot dogs and stadium hot dogs, and everything is kosher.
AH
A&H sells some amazing kosher beef hot dogs. Along with beef, there are some spices in the hot dog to add flavor. You can eat the hot dog on its own or add any of the usual condiments you would add.
Like the other kosher brands, A&H has followed the same strict standards for decades. This can make you and any other Jewish friends feel better about eating.
Final Thoughts
Staying kosher may seem like a small thing, but for many Jews it is important. Whether you’re Jewish or have Jewish friends, consider hot dog brands other than Nathan’s. They may sell beef hot dogs, but there are other kosher rules the company doesn’t follow. The last thing you want is to accidentally go non-kosher.
