Consumer Reports' Favorite Hot Dogs Have No Skin But Still Snap

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Hot dogs can feel like a strictly summertime treat, but why limit yourself to their perfectly processed, salty, and meaty goodness only a few months out of the year? Although they might not be as prominently featured on shelves during the fall through spring, most grocery stores sell prepackaged hot dogs year-round. But out of all the commonly sold brands, it can be hard to tell which hot dogs are worth the excess sodium in your diet. In its ranking of the best hot dogs of 2026, Consumer Reports names Nathan's Famous Skinless Beef Franks as the Editor's Choice, beating out other well-known brands like Hebrew National and Oscar Mayer. 

Consumer Reports refers to Nathan's Famous skinless beef franks as "the Goldilocks of hot dogs," meaning they had the best balance of everything one would look for in a hot dog, like juiciness, crisp skin, and a uniform texture that has subtle hints of spice and flavor. The hot dogs are made with 100% beef, making them appropriate for those who don't eat pork, as many hot dogs on grocery store shelves can contain a blend of both beef and pork. The skinless beef franks don't contain any artificial fillers or mystery meat byproducts, making them a fairly straightforward frank. Nathan's famous skinless beef franks are also made without gluten or corn syrup, making them a bit more accessible for hot dog lovers with those dietary restrictions. 

To judge the hot dogs, the Consumer Reports team first tried each hot dog without a bun or any condiments, then they tried the hot dogs with their preferred toppings, basing their judgments on how snappy, juicy, smooth, and flavorful each of the hot dogs were. Consumer Reports found the taste of Nathan's Famous skinless beef franks to be "supremely delicious" even when served plain without any condiments, also saying that the flavor of Nathan's Famous skinless beef franks holds its own even against other strong flavors that the testers at Consumer Reports paired with the franks, like hot sauce with mayo, sauerkraut, and even kimchi.

Despite being skinless, Nathan's Famous skinless beef franks still produced a pleasant snap after they were oven-roasted. Hot dog casings can be made out of a few options, whether they be natural casings like animal intestines (commonly seen in fresh sausages) or an inedible blend of wood and cotton that is later removed after cooking. As you may have surmised from the name, the skinless beef franks do not contain a casing; however, Consumer Reports notes that despite the lack of casing, they still present a subtle snap after they've been cooked, a snap which is still satisfying as you bite into the dog. If you're still looking for more excitement in each bite, try our favorite five toppings to add crunch to your hot dogs.