How did hot dogs develop into a popular food

Summer, in many people's minds, is a time of barbecues and picnics. One common food in this is the hot dog, which is often grilled and served in a bun. The history of the hot dog goes to ancient periods, when sausages developed as a popular food. Modern hot dogs are a result of efficient use of meat remains after the processing of meat products. The history of the hot dog is often seen or attributed to German origins but even here there is dispute about this.

Early Origins

The traditional origin of the hot dog lies with the so-called Frankfurt sausage, or frankfurter, which was a sausage developed in Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany. This was supposedly around 1487, when this type of sausage of packaged or processed meat was developed. However, Vienna disputes Frankfurt's claims, as the term "wiener" is often used to refer to sausages or hot dogs. The term derives from the German name for the city (Wien).

While these traditions often point to a Medieval origin to sausages, we know in reality that sausages likely go back further in time. In Homer's Odyssey, a type of sausage or processed meat is mentioned. In fact, as early as ancient Sumeria and Mesopotamia, animal intestines were mentioned to be stuffed with meat as a type of cuisine. It is very likely sausages developed as separate innovations in varying cultures. One problem for past societies that would have likely led them to develop is the problem of having to preserve meat. Sausages would be ideal because they could be encased and then smoked or dried. It allows meat to be easily stored while with some protective outer covering. Most likely, animal intestines would have been used from the beginning, as they still are for natural or traditional style sausages.