Which summer classic will be the home run of your BBQ?

Luke is a writer and actor based in Philadelphia who loves deviled eggs and elaborate food adventures.

"Hm, yes. These are definitely hot dogs."

My niece is learning how to write numbers. Can you guess which ones she did?

The toothpicks indicate which hot dog is which number. Very scientific method kind of stuff.

If you're keeping track, this brings our hot dog brand count to nine.

Nathan's 8-pack of dogs is on the higher end, rounding out to 81 cents each. But for flavor, these can't be beat. These received top marks from our panel of scientists. The only thing that was a little bit lacking was the snap; since these are skinless beef franks, they don't have as much compared to others.

This package of hot dogs costs $9.99, a full $2.50 more than its highest-priced competitor. We are talking $1.24 a dog. That's wild! And yet, if you're serving hot dogs to your town's mayor or other heads of state, or you just want to treat yourself to a gourmet hot dog night, you must try these. Excellent flavor, juiciness, snap, all around a great dog. The price is the only thing holding it back from consideration as an overall winner.

Maybe we have been programmed after years and years of Oscar Mayer dogs to like the taste. But I was shocked that this wound up as my personal top choice in the taste test. To me, it had the beefiest flavor of all the dogs. And our panel of scientists agreed, giving it very high marks across the board. This was the only package that came with 10 dogs, averaging out to 65 cents each.ย 

While it is one of the best deals per dog, it does perpetuate the "8 buns to 10 hot dogs" problem that has stymied mathematicians for ages. But if you're throwing a load of dogs on the grill this summer, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than Oscar Mayer.

While I respect the Costco hot dog tradition, I wouldn't call myself a Costco Guy; I needed to meet my sister at the store so I could use her membership to buy them. I find shopping at their stores chaotic and stressful. And still, factoring in all the parameters, Kirkland was the clear winner of this contest.ย 

Both of my parents listed it as their favorite, commenting that they knew almost immediately that it was the number one spot. The flavor is strong, just the right amount of spices, and it has a respectable snap. And nothing beats the price; the 55 cents per dog is the cheapest option amongst all the brands.

You may scoff at the idea of having you buy 36 hot dogs at a time. But trust me, it's worth it. Kirkland is the perfect party dog for its value and the perfect at-home dog for its taste. Just put the extra packages in the freezer, and you'll be chomping on quality dogs throughout the summer.

Or, do what I did and deliver the massive amount of leftover hot dogs you have to your friends and family, like some kind of Hot Dog Fairy/Santa Claus. Share the wealth!