Why Are Some Maine Hot Dogs Red? And Who Makes The Best Ones?

We have the answers to these very important summer questions!

Most people outside of Maine, have no clue why we love this treat so much. And some people don’t even know they exist!

With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, you can't help but think of relaxing on a hot summer day, and firing up the grill in the backyard, but the question is, what kind of hot dog do you want to eat?

Awhile ago back on Reddit, I saw someone pose an interesting question “Who Makes The Best Red Snapper Hot Dogs”

Why are they called that? Red #40 food dye saturates the sausage's exterior, while the interior remains a standard pinkish color. Despite rumors that meat companies add dye to camouflage unsavory ingredients, Red Snappers are simply a successful marketing ploy.

They earned the name “red snapper” because of the color, and the snap sound it makes when you take a bite. This is not a normal occurrence in other parts of the United States. Add in a top split bun, your condiment of choice, and you have a delicious treat.

You can’t talk about red snapper hot dogs, without mentioning Bangor’s W.A. Bean & Sons, the last makers of this delicacy here in Maine.

However, not everyone feels this way. I have found that when the subject comes up, people have mixed opinions. Some prefer a regular hot dog and have no interest in the red snapper.

Here are some of the responses on what people think are the best of the best:

RditAcnt
Jordan's are where it's at nowa days.

Jamievs26
Shields Hotdogs, local brand and they sell them at Hannaford and Market Basket

987nevertry
1970s Maine teen lunch - 2 Jordan Reds, a bag of Circus Time chips (“they’re wicked good”), a Moxie, and a whoopie pie.

flyfishor2010
WA Beans in Bangor has good reds.

xrocket21
Lewiston Lobsters

Trajan476
I usually got my reds served hot at a nearby convenience store when I was a kid. They always had the best snap. I don’t know what brand they were though. Nowadays I just get Kayem

geneticswag
pretty sure Kayem is not a Maine brand

MistakeVisual3733
Born and raised in Maine but don’t live there anymore. Are Jordan’s hot dogs still around?

MathematicianGlum880
Jordan’s have always been the best.

PrestigiousMoose
When I first moved back to Maine as an adult, I about lived on red hot dogs and Italians for a good 3 months. Probably not recommended but boy, did I miss them.

sudsymugs
I personally think shields makes the best hot dogs you can cook yourself. So much so my dad actually gets them to put in the freezer whenever he comes to visit

Yourbubblestink
WA beans in Bangor

Admirable_Trifle_164
None of the above
Zwiegels, Hoffmans, or Salens are your only choices

Chronicle is a show that bills itself as an “Insider's Guide to New England” It airs weeknights at 7:30 on WCVB-TV Channel 5, the ABC affiliate in Boston, Massachusetts. The best way to describe it would be that is similar to the show 207, which airs locally, here on Channel 2.

A few years back, they paid a visit to the Pine Tree State, to figure out why we love red snapper hot dogs so much.

Now if you will excuse me, I need two red snapper hot dogs with mustard and ketchup, a bag of Humpty Dumpty chips and a soft drink (anything but Moxie) for lunch!