Frankfurter Würstchen facts for kids
A Frankfurter is a yummy sausage that comes from Frankfurt, Germany. It's a thin sausage with a special casing, usually made from a sheep's intestine. These sausages get their great taste from being smoked slowly at a low temperature.
When you want to eat a Frankfurter, you usually heat it in hot water for about eight minutes. This stops the skin from breaking open. Sometimes, people also cook them on a grill, either propane or charcoal. Frankfurters are often served with bread, mustard, horseradish, or potato salad.
History of Frankfurters
Sausages from Frankfurt have a long history. People were already talking about them in the Middle Ages. They were often served during important events, like the coronations of emperors at the Römerberg square.
Smoked Frankfurter Würstchen have had special protection in Germany since around 1860. This means only sausages made in the Frankfurt area can be called "Frankfurter Würstchen." This rule started in 1929 and mainly includes sausages from places like Neu-Isenburg and Dreieich.
Originally, Frankfurters were made without special curing salts. After being aged and smoked, the sausages turned a golden color. They were then packed into wooden boxes with parchment paper between the layers. This is why traditional Frankfurters often have a square shape, though some are round.
Frankfurters Around the World
Outside of Germany, the word "frankfurter" is often used for boiled sausages. For example, in North America, hot dog sausages are sometimes called frankfurters. In Germany, these hot dog-like sausages are known as Wiener Würstchen, which means "Vienna sausages."
In Austria, people call Vienna sausages Frankfurter Würstl. This is because a butcher named Johann Georg Lahner, who trained in Frankfurt, supposedly brought them to Vienna. In 1805, he started making sausages there from a mix of pork and beef.
