Part 9/11:
Once cooked, hot dogs with cellulose casings have their casings removed, resulting in a perfectly smooth surface. This process, known as peeling, uses high-pressure steam to loosen the casings. Natural cased hot dogs retain their casings, offering a firmer bite and marketed as gourmet options.
After peeling or retaining casings, hot dogs undergo final inspections for quality assurance. This process includes scanning for imperfections and ensuring that every hot dog meets brand specifications.
Once cleared, the hot dogs are either flash frozen or vacuum sealed, depending on intended sale or storage. Flash freezing locks in freshness, preserving the quality and flavor during transportation.