Are Ball Park Franks Good Hot Dogs?

Ballpark Beef Franks have always been my good to hot dog. The pack I just bought was not what ballpark has been. Gone is the salty, smoke flavor that made Ballpark franks my favorite.

Taste testers looking for more than just a salty hot dog ranked Ball Park Deli Style beef franks highly for its “classic” taste mixed with a “hint of sweetness.” Described as “rich” and “beefy,” this “satisfying” hot dog hit the spot and had tasters reaching for seconds. ballparkbrand.com Reviewed: July 2012

Ball Park Lean Beef Franks are primarily beef, water and modified corn starch, but they also include corn syrup, sodium phosphate and sodium diacetate; they’re nitrate-free. If you’re on a low-fat diet, this may not be the best option, given one hot dog still has 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat and 20 milligrams of cholesterol.

Ball Park Turkey Franks are loaded with sodium. While the main ingredient is mechanically separated turkey, these franks do contain beef stock. The sodium sent this turkey dog to the bottom of our health ranking.

Ball Park Lean Beef Franks are primarily beef, water and modified corn starch, but they also include corn syrup, sodium phosphate and sodium diacetate; they’re nitrate-free. If you’re on a low-fat diet, this may not be the best option, given one hot dog still has 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat and 20 milligrams of cholesterol.

It was also substantial, which seemed appropriate for our most expensive dog, but it didn’t fit in standard buns. The Ball Park hot dog had noticeably less flavor and tasted more of additives than any of the others in our tasting. The Trader Joe’s frank suffered from a rubbery, unfamiliar taste.

How much fat is in a Ball Park frank?

One of Ball Park’s famous all-beef franks packs 15 grams of fat, including 6 grams of saturated fat (30 percent of your daily value), per Ball Park’s website. Plus, each frank contains 510 milligrams of sodium. The Angus beef franks have identical amounts of fat and slightly less sodium while the prime beef variety provides a staggering 20 grams of fat, including 45 percent of your daily value of saturated fat. The classic franks compare favorably, with 11 grams of total fat and 480 milligrams of sodium, but they’re still not great. Even so, you might wonder why Ball Park franks should be singled out. After all, it’s no secret that hot dogs are basically edible red flags. Time reported in 2017 that your average pork hot dog packed 18 grams of fat and 620 milligrams of sodium without condiments, like ketchup and mustard.

After all, it’s no secret that hot dogs are basically edible red flags. Time reported in 2017 that your average pork hot dog packed 18 grams of fat and 620 milligrams of sodium without condiments, like ketchup and mustard. However, Ball Park is in a league of its own in terms of popularity. According to Statista, in 2019, roughly 89 million …

The Angus beef franks have identical amounts of fat and slightly less sodium while the prime beef variety provides a staggering 20 grams of fat, including 45 percent of your daily value of saturated fat. The classic franks compare favorably, with 11 grams of total fat and 480 milligrams of sodium, but they’re still not great. …

However, McVay also conveyed a serious warning: “Just to be aware, because you never know. I understand a baseball, but not a hot dog.”. Frankly, that’s probably not the only kind of ballpark hot dog you should keep a wary eye on.

Fortunately, the brand’s smoked turkey franks are a whole different ball game. The company website says they’re made with 100 percent white meat and contain zero fat. They also have lower sodium (430 milligrams). Compared to beef franks, these “fowl” hot dogs knock it out of the park.