Method for making a shaped hot dog

A shaped hot dog, and a method of forming a shaped hot dog from an elongated generally cylindrical wiener. The wiener is provided with cuts extending longitudinally from each end a distance selected to maintain a cylindrical middle portion intact. The cuts form distal portions which extend away from each side of the middle portion. The distal portions curl outwardly on cooking, and the resulting shaped hot dog has an appealing shape which, in a preferred embodiment, resembles a spider.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates to food products, and in particular, to hot dogs and
 methods for preparing same.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The simple hot dog is a perennial favourite among children and adults. Hot
 dogs, also known as frankfurters, are generally sold in airtight packages
 of eight or twelve, and are typically cooked by roasting them on a
 barbecue or over a campfire, or boiling them in a pot of water. Hot dogs
 are often served in specially designed elongated buns, although many
 people choose to eat hot dogs without buns.
 The hot dog when served without a bun tends to have an uninteresting shape,
 especially to children. While modifications to the hot dog can be made
 after cooking to improve its appearance, such as cutting the hot dog into
 small pieces, these modifications tend to be a nuisance. The hot dog may
 prove to be too flexible or slippery to cut properly, and the heat
 emanating from the hot dog may sometimes cause discomfort during the
 cutting process.
 When hot dogs are cooked, sections are sometimes undercooked or overcooked.
 As a result, the hot dog may have portions with an undesirable taste or
 texture or which pose a health risk.
 There is accordingly a need for an improved hot dog which overcomes the
 disadvantages of the prior art.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is directed towards a shaped hot dog comprising a
 generally cylindrical wiener having a longitudinal axis. The wiener is
 provided with cuts which extend longitudinally from each end of the wiener
 a selected distance along the longitudinal axis which maintains a
 cylindrical middle portion of the wiener intact. The cuts form distal
 portions extending away from each side of the middle portion which curl
 outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis on cooking. The cuts
 preferably comprise a pair of orthogonal, diametrically extending,
 intersecting cuts.
 Another aspect of this invention is a method of forming a shaped hot dog
 from an elongated, generally cylindrical wiener. Cuts are made that extend
 longitudinally from each end of the wiener a distance selected to maintain
 a cylindrical middle portion of the wiener intact. The cuts form distal
 portions which extend from each side of the intact middle portion. The
 wiener is then heated using an appropriate cooking means until the distal
 portions curl outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis.
 The subject method preferably involves making a pair of intersecting,
 orthogonal, diametrically extending cuts. Alternatively, the cuts may
 extend radially inwardly from the periphery of the wiener. Where radial
 cuts are used, the cuts are made to a specified depth such that a thin
 longitudinal axial portion of the wiener remains intact. The distal
 portions separate upon cooking, allowing them to curl outwardly relative
 to the longitudinal axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, illustrated therein is a hot dog 10 made in
 accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, shown
 prior to cooking. Hot dog 10 comprises a wiener, frankfurter or the like,
 composed of meat and/or vegetable materials, having a generally elongated,
 cylindrical shape. Prior to packaging or immediately prior to cooking, hot
 dog 10 is cut as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 using a knife or other appropriate
 cutting means.
 Longitudinal cuts 12, 14 extend from wiener ends 16, 18 a selected distance
 along longitudinal axis A such that cylindrical middle portion 20 remains
 intact. In the case of a conventional 6" long wiener, cuts 12 and cuts 14
 extend approximately 2" along longitudinal axis A to a position
 approximately 1/2" from the mid-point of the wiener, resulting in an
 intact middle portion 20 approximately 1" in length.
 Longitudinal cuts 12, 14 are preferably orthogonal to each other and
 preferably extend diametrically across wiener ends 16,18, so as to
 intersect each other at center point 23 of wiener ends 16, 18. Cuts 12, 14
 form four cut distal portions 22 extending away from each side of middle
 portion 20, for a total of eight distal portions 22 per wiener. Each
 distal portion 22 has a generally quadrant-shaped cross-section.
 After cuts 12, 14 are made, hot dog 10 can be packaged and stored in the
 usual fashion. Alternatively, hot dog 10 can be immediately cooked by the
 end user. Hot dog 10 is preferably cooked by piercing cylindrical middle
 portion 20 with a long fork or some other appropriate instrument and
 holding hot dog 10 over an open fire or other heat source.
 Referring now to FIG. 4, during cooking the smooth outside surface 41 of
 distal portions 22 does not expand, whereas the cut inside portions 43 of
 distal portions 22 expand upon exposure to heat. As a result, during the
 cooking process, distal portions 22 curl outwardly, away from longitudinal
 axis A, thereby assuming a convex shape relative to longitudinal axis A.
 The resulting cooked hot dog 40 has eight curved "legs", and looks
 something like a spider.
 Referring now to FIG. 5, in an alternative embodiment of the invention,
 each end of hot dog 30 is provided with three longitudinally extending
 radial cuts 32 made at angles of approximately 120.degree. from each
 other, which intersect at mid-point 31. The resulting cut distal portions
 34 have sector-shaped cross-sections of similar size and shape. Upon
 cooking, hot dog 30 assumes a six-legged "spider" shape.
 Referring to FIG. 6, in another alternative embodiment of the invention,
 each end of hot dog 40 is provided with four longitudinal cuts 42 which
 extend radially inwardly from the periphery 41 of hot dog 40 at 90.degree.
 angles to each other, thereby forming four distal portions 44. The radial
 length or depth of cuts 42 is selected so that cuts 42 do not intersect,
 leaving uncut central portion 46 extending along the longitudinal axis of
 the wiener. As a result, distal portions 44 are not fully severed prior to
 cooking, which allows for ease of packaging. As long as uncut axial
 portion 46 is relatively thin, upon application of heat to hot dog 40,
 distal portions 44 separate from one another. The resulting severed distal
 portions 44 curl such that they are convex with respect to the
 longitudinal axis.
 Referring to FIG. 7, in yet another alternative embodiment of the
 invention, each end of hot dog 50 is provided with three cuts 52 extending
 radially inwardly at angles of approximately 120.degree. from each other,
 thereby forming three distal portions 54. The depth of cuts 52 are
 selected so that cuts 52 do not intersect, leaving uncut central portion
 56 along the longitudinal axis of the wiener. As a result, distal portions
 54 are not fully severed, which allows for ease of packaging. As long as
 uncut portion 56 is relatively thin, upon cooking hot dog 50, distal cut
 portions 54 separate from one another, and curl outwardly relative to the
 longitudinal axis.
 The subject invention accordingly provides a hot dog that will assume an
 interesting shape upon cooking which appeals greatly to children. The
 method of the subject invention also results in a hot dog which is cooked
 evenly and thoroughly.
 It should be understood that various changes may be made to the embodiments
 of the invention described herein without departing from the subject
 invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims.