Now the fun begins. That paste gets pumped into a long, thin casing. In the old days, it was sheep intestines. Natural casings give that satisfying “snap.”
How to Make the Best Weenies at Home? - yumymeals.com
Today, most cheap hot dogs use cellulose casings. Think of it as plastic wrap made from wood pulp. It’s peeled off after cooking. The dog gets a tan, then loses its clothes.
The machine twists the filled casing into links. Hundreds per minute. It’s hypnotic. I once watched a YouTube video for an hour. No regrets.
The Cooking and the Smoke
The links then go through a smokehouse. It’s a hot room that cooks them and adds flavor. Some get real smoke from smoldering wood chips. Others get liquid smoke spray.
Liquid smoke sounds like a sci-fi prop, but it’s legit. It’s just condensed smoke from a fire. Even so, a real smoker is better. Don’t tell the budget dogs I said that.
After cooking, they get a cold shower. This sets the texture and makes them plump. Think of it as a spa day, but for processed meat.