10 Best Hotdogs in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Pick between cured and uncured hotdogs.
2. Classic, cheesedog, or chicken hotdog: choose the flavor you prefer.
   
3. Consider the size and quantity of the hotdogs.
4. Check the nutritional facts on the label.

Before buying hotdogs, you must choose first between the cured and uncured variants, so your choices can be narrowed down. Typically, this label is flashed or shown in the product's packaging. Listed below are the characteristics that will differentiate the two. 

When it comes to cured meat, hotdogs are one of the first examples that will cross your mind. Cured hotdogs contain artificial ingredients such as synthetic nitrite or salt-based preservatives to improve shelf-life as well as add distinctive color and flavor to hotdogs. 

Uncured hotdogs mean that the meat used is preserved using vegetables like celery powder, which is known as a naturally occurring source of nitrite. When it comes to taste, there is no actual difference between the two because it tastes identical to the cured ones. So, if you want a healthier choice, you can always go for uncured hotdogs. 

There are a variety of hotdog flavors today including cheesedogs and chicken hotdogs. You can always go and pick new flavors aside from your usual choice to try something new. Check out the common flavors below:

Bring back your childhood memories with your all-time favorite classic hotdog. This variant is made of ground meat, either pork or beef, with a blend of different spices to create its smokey taste with a hint of sweetness. Artificial food coloring is also used to get the hotdog's red color to make it appealing to the eyes.

This variant is what you usually eat during breakfast and merienda. It is also the first choice for hotdogs on sticks that are often fried or grilled. You can also pair it with buns to make hotdog sandwiches or add it to your favorite spaghetti sauce.

This variant refers to a classic hotdog with small bits of cheddar or American cheese inside. The cheese adds a creamy, milky, and buttery taste to the usual hotdog. Enjoy eating this mildly salty hotdog that is usually fried or grilled, then topped with bacon, onions, or more cheese.

Chicken hotdogs are made of mechanically separated chicken. It is lower in calories and rich in proteins. There are also chicken hotdogs that come with cheese bits to add another twist to your plain hotdog.

This flavored chicken hotdog has a bit of turkey or chicken-like taste but doesn't really differ from the classic ones. They are also just the same when it comes to texture or tenderness as well as juiciness.

Hotdogs come in different sizes- they vary in terms of width and also in length. The most common of which is the regular-sized ones; they are typically 6 inches in length. However, some brands also offer sizes like jumbo, cocktail, bun length, and footlongs. 

It's best to get the right size according to the meal you plan to have. If you want to share it with your loved ones, you can choose footlong, bun length, and jumbo size. For the kids, you can opt for the regular-sized ones. Meanwhile, cocktail hotdogs are often used for appetizers at parties.  

It is also equally vital to consider the quantity. Most hotdog brands come in a 1kg, 500g, and even 250g pack. They can also differ in amount according to their size. A 1kg of regular-sized hotdogs would usually come with 30 pieces, while a 1kg pack of jumbo-sized hotdogs can only come with 12 pieces. If you're trying a brand for the first time, you may want to opt for smaller packs.

Be sure always to check the nutritional facts on the label of the product. Often located at the back of the packaging, this will make it easier for you to compare each product based on the total amount of fat, calories, protein, and salt. A regular hotdog usually has 150 calories, 38 grams of fat, and 350 milligrams of sodium. 

To give you a rundown, here are our top 5 picks for the hotdogs you can buy online:

1. Best overall: Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog
2. Best cheesedog: New Yorker Cheese Filled Hotdog
3. Best beef hotdog: Wildflour Beef Hotdog
4. Best chicken hotdog: Purefoods Tender Juicy Chicken Hotdog
5. Best cocktail hotdog: Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdog Cocktail

The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.

Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, Samantha Morales, RND, is not affiliated with, nor is she endorsing any of the brands we mention below.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.

Hotdogs can become contaminated by the germ called Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause the foodborne disease listeriosis. Thus, it's important to cook them thoroughly or at least heat them until they're steaming hot before consuming them.

Some hotdogs are red due to their casing that contains an artificial food color. This red coloring is used to add some vibrancy to the food and make it appear more appealing. Because of this, it is also easier to distinguish Filipino hotdogs from other variants like franks and sausages.

No. Hotdogs are not the best choice to serve protein for your dogs and cats. Hotdogs tend to have high levels of fat, salt, and preservatives that their digestive systems are not designed to process. 

Beat the heat and your boredom by adding these yummy treats to the arsenal of snacks in your pantry and fridge. Check out the articles below for more of our product recommendations that will help you choose the best merienda to complete your day. 

Author: Cristel Joy Aron

Re-editor: R. Victoriano

Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.