One of the most sensible things in the world would be for hot dogs and buns to be sold in equal quantities.
Buns specifically designed for hot dogs don’t quite fit burgers, and it’s rare to see anyone enjoying a hot dog without its bread.
That would definitely be a red flag.
Given that hot dogs and buns are the perfect match, you’d expect manufacturers to coordinate and ensure equal numbers of each are sold.
Unfortunately, reality isn’t always so accommodating.
Typically, hotdogs are sold in packs of 10 while buns come in packs of eight, leaving a couple of hot dogs without buns.
Though frustrating, there is a logical reason behind this.
According to the National Hot Dog Sausage Council – yes, it’s a real organization – the disparity is due to logistical reasons.
The council states on its website: “When manufacturers began packaging hot dogs, they chose the 10 to the pack formula. Today, hot dogs are sold most often in eight or ten to the pound packs, but some are sold in other quantities as well.”
“Sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns, most often come eight to the pack because the buns are baked in clusters of four in pans designed to hold eight rolls.”
“While baking pans now come in configurations that allow baking 10 and even 12 at a time, the eight roll pan remains the most popular.”
Although some manufacturers may offer equal numbers of buns and sausages, the traditional formula is often uneven.
To avoid having extra sausages at a BBQ, the council suggests buying five bags of eight buns and four packs of 10 hot dogs to even things out.
Efforts have been made to rectify this imbalance over the years. Heinz even started a Change.org petition to address the issue.
Commenting on its initiative, Heinz said: “Help us change the hot dog industry for the better and continue to get wieners and buns sold in even packs all over the world.”
“We’ve succeeded in select parts of Canada but we’re not stopping until the hot dog packaging mismatch is solved globally. Hot dog history is in your hands.”
The petition garnered over 35,000 signatures and was successful in Canada, leading to the release of ’10-packs of Wonder® buns’ in Ontario.
For hot dog enthusiasts elsewhere, you might have to double up on those final two sausages. It’s the most practical solution.