The Surprising History Of How Hot Dogs Became 'The Ultimate American Food'

Hot dogs are a staple in many American pastimes, from backyard barbecues to baseball games and other sporting events, but have you ever wondered how hot dogs became so popular and synonymous with American cuisine? While they may be "the ultimate American food," the Hungry for History podcast delves into the background of hot dogs and how they are not even originally from the U.S.

On the September 26 episode of Hungry for History , hosts Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejon delved into the origins of hot dogs and sausages, tracing it back to first century Roman emperor Nero and even further with mentions of blood sausage in Homer's Odyssey that dates back to around the 8th century BC.

The sausage made its way through Europe before arriving in Germany, with German immigrants later going to New York where they would sell wieners and sauerkraut from street carts as well as in St. Louis in the 1860s where they would sell sausages on buns called "Red Hots." The concept of a sausage in a bun was then introduced at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.

The pair joked also about how someone came up with the "weird" idea to stuff pig intestines with ground meat and spices to make links.

"That sounds so odd to me that somebody goes, 'This is a good idea,' that sounds almost like serial killer-y," Longoria said, as Gomez-Rejon added, "It is a little weird but at the same time it makes sense, talk about being resourceful."

The duo also shared theories on how the hot dog was introduced in Mexico, from an ill-fated attempt to bring them to bullfighting rings in Mexico city to 20th century American circuses in Sonora, that ultimately led to the conception of a wrapped hot dog.

Hungry for History has returned for its second season and its hosts are back "to take an even bigger bite out of the most delicious food and its history." According to the podcast description:

"This season features more of what you love: family stories from Eva and Maite, fascinating facts on the yummiest ingredients from their culture, interviews with food enthusiasts, chefs, and historians plus on-location episodes that bring you closer to the hidden history of your favorite foods. Oh, and lots more taste testing, drink making, and recipes for you to try at home. ... Learn more about the dishes and drinks you grew up enjoying while discovering the origins of new favs too."

Past episodes cover topics like the tacos and the history of street vending, the perception of Mexican food within America, the most popular cocktails in the world, and the history behind the "mighty potato," to name a few. Catch up on past episodes of the Hungry for History podcast and follow along with ones each Thursday at iHeartRadio.com .