Red Snapper Hot Dogs | Maine’s Favorite Home-Grilled Hot Dog
Known for their neon red color and natural casing “snap,” Maine’s Red Snapper hot dogs are a backyard barbecue and camp grill favorite.
By Aimee Tucker|May 26 2021|
New England hot dogs are easily identifiable in split top buns.
Photo Credit: Aimee SeaveyOne way to know for sure that you’ve crossed into Maine is when you notice certain brands of hot dogs in the grocery store are a shocking, bright red. Ladies and gentlemen… the red snapper hot dogs of Maine.
A favorite mainstay at family barbecues and campsites all across Vacationland, these natural casing beef and pork franks earned the name “red snapper” because of their obvious color (just red dye) and the SNAP sound the natural casing makes when you bite into it. More of a “home BBQ” hot dog than a roadside dog, red snappers are jarring to look at, but plenty tasty to eat.
And of course, like all good local hot dogs, they’re served in the traditional top-split New England hot dog bun, which are also a popular choice for all of the best lobster rolls. Unlike the side-split rolls common throughout the rest of the country, top-split rolls not only stand up better on a plate after the hot dog and toppings have been piled on, but its flat sides are ideal for buttering and toasting, either on a grill or in a frying pan. Of course, some folks will say they like theirs steamed rather than toasted, and that’s okay, too.
As a city apartment dweller, grilling is a pleasure I’ve yet to experience, so it’s stove-top toasted for now.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
In Maine, Bangor-based W.A. Bean & Sons is the foremost red snapper brand. They’ve been making hot dogs since 1918 (“150 Years, 5 Generations, and 4 Million Hot Dogs Last Year” their Web site says), but once you venture further south you may only be able to find Kayem “Reds,” a red snapper-style dog made in Chelsea, MA. We hear there might be red hot dogs in a few other pockets of the southern USA, but around here, red dogs are as Maine as lobster and blueberries.
When the hot dogs are hot and ready, put them in the warm rolls and load on the toppings. Here, one hot dog is waiting for a simple squiggle of ketchup while the second gets dressed with traditional relish and a slug of Maine-made Raye’s “Down East Schooner” Mustard. A third (the melted cheese underneath hidden by the hot dog) has a few spoonfuls of sauteed mushrooms and onions. When it comes to hot dog toppings, the combinations (and opinions about the best combinations) are endless, and we embrace them all.
Lined up and ready, a plate of red snapper hot dogs is a Maine summer supper at its finest (that is, if you’re not in the mood for lobsters). Just add a bag of Humpty Dumpty chips, potato salad, french fries, or anything else that’s a little greasy with an ice cold root beer, Moxie, or grape soda.
Are you a fan of Maine’s red snapper hot dogs? Or do you prefer the other New England hot dogs, Fenway Franks? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.
See More:
75 Classic New England Foods
Best Hot Dogs in New England
Flo’s Hot Dogs | Local Flavor
love red dogs and moxie
Nothing better than a good red hot dog in a split top bun toasted, Humpty Dumpty BBQ chips and Moxie.
I have never had a Red Snapper, possibly because I’m from New Hampshire (though for now, alas, I live in Illinois), but they sure look good. As do the New England-style buns, something I wish I could get here. I’d put my hot dogs in those if I could find them. But I do take issue with ketchup as a hot dog condiment. Ketchup is good on some things, but on hot dogs, as far as I’m concerned, it’s just wrong!
Ketchup on hot dogs is wrong. It belongs on burgers and fries!
Will, you can order the buns from W.A. Bean & Sons or make your own with this recipe and equipment:
http://www.beansmeats.com/order-meat-online/category/122-hot-dogs-rolls-and-other-maine-favorites.html
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/new-england-hotdog-buns-recipe
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/new-england-hot-dog-bun-pan
They used to be made by Jordan’s in downtown Portland. I remember the theme song: “It’s delicious, delightful, have another bite-ful, hot dog, hot dog, it’s Jordan’s!”
Back in the day in down town Portland was B.D. Sterns, they sold the “Red Snappers”. A friend worked for them, then Jordans bought them out. But they were the go to hot dogs for my family and still are! Nothing like a Maine dog!
I have bought the buns at Krogers.here in Ohio. They are sold under the name New England style hot dog rolls/buns. I don’t remember if it is rolls or buns. They are not necessarily with the rest of the hot dog rolls.
i am so excited to find your store!!!! I am from Maine but live in Virginia now. Will definitely make an order for red snappers and rolls.
I would like to know if these are the kind served at The Maine Diner. We love those and if they are it is nice time know I can purchase them up there.
Phyllis you’ve said it right! That right there was one of the most popular suppah’s down at Pleasant Lake, Alexander Maine, during my childhood summers! Everything you said right down to the moxie and Humpty Dumpty bow chips!! Awesome!!
Jordans are now made by Kayme. I’m not sure why Hannaford doesn’t carry them cause they sell Kayme. You can get them ate BJ’s and Walmart i know, maybe others. They are always my favorites. Bygone Maine brands. Kirschner, Cuddhey.
I moved to Maine last year and these have become an unhealthy addiction lol. These would be sold as sausage in Europe and if hotdogs are chuck steaks to beef, these are filet mignons. The texture is about the same as hotdogs but the taste is entirely different, with none of the nasty fat aftertaste. I prefer the lamb casings but will eat pretty much any of these regardless hehe.
I’ve seen pink hotdogs in Hawaii, the Philippines and Hong Kong but those taste like regular hotdogs, and they are fortified with calcium through milk powder while they taste much like regular hotdogs, maybe a little fattier.
I made the mistake of boiling 8 of the snappers a few days ago so that I could eat them throughout the week. They lasted 2 days unfortunately and for me, the best way to cook them seems to cook as many as I will eat immediately as otherwise the fact that they are sitting in the fridge and waiting for me never leaves my mind until there are none left hehe..
I am the beer chef in the Marshall Wharf Brewing Company Beer Store on Sunday’s and we do a beer brunch. We serve snappy reds all week but on Sunday’s we do a Benny dog with IPA hollandaise and a heart attack dog with Welsh Ratebit and bacon! Extreme yum!
One of the many things I miss from home are Red Snapper Hot Dogs!!! I searched high and low for anything like them, but they are definitely one of a kind. And far tastier than any other hot dog in existence!!!
I was born & grew up in Maine and always had red hot dogs, baked beans and brown bread every Saturday night. It was a standard and I loved them. Now live in FL and was surprised to see red hot dogs are not sold here. It was a very big disappointment. I order them on line now as I hate being without them. They are the best!!
Linda, if you were able to order them on line I am guessing there a any people out here who would love to do the same. Where do you order them from? Thank you.
My family and I love the red hot dog’s, I introduced my family to the red hot dog’s when we took a trip to Maine, I bought a large package and they couldn’t get enough, they are from here and I’m from New England that’s how I’ve heard of them, the only down side is we live in Texas and I looked everywhere here and can’t find them anywhere I’ve looked at Walmart and the military base nearby with no luck at all…. Wish y’all could sell them down here in Springtown TX.
When inn in Maine, no matter where I make my way to Lewiston to visit my favorite hot dog place in the world-class Simones Hot Dogs for two red dogs (I think they might use Keyem’s). OMG they are so good. I like them grilled but they are streamed if you don’t ask for grilled. The New England buns are to die for too. Wish we had them in both St. Louis and Florida where we live. No lie, I’m known for being a hot dog connoisseur and visit places all over the world in search of the perfect dog. Wish I could post a picture but the wall photo on my Facebook just before my grandkids was of two red dogs taken at Simones. Now I’m hungry.
Snap hot dogs in NY are from the Glazier Company in Malone. Best hot dogs ever and combined with a New England hot dog bun, sheer heaven! Grill them until they break open and are slightly charred.
I never knew what thr proper name of this hot dog was !!! I married into a family who HAD to travel the 17 miles to Fryeburg, MAine just to get the “RED HOT DOGS ” That is what we always have called them–I now live in Edinburg, Virginia and I still have to have my RED HOT DOGS-before my husband passed away we used to go back home and we would always bring home 2-3 large packages ohf the dogs -freezing them we we got here— Now I don’t travel but I have a brother who still lives up there and every time he comes down he brings me a few packages of my “Red Hot Dogs–he was down in Sept and I have one left which-before reading this -I wasgoing to have tonight with some baked beans–and of course I always have to have the “New England ” hot dog bun –which we always brought back !!!– I would have t hem more often if I could find them down here –oh well I DO enjoy them when I have them–a New Englander at heart !!!!
How can we get some of these hot dogs and buns for our family reunion in Michigan?
I grew up in Bangor Maine, and I am familiar with the Howard Johnson’s because we used to go there all the time and my mom later in life had a job there as a waitress it kind of chugs at my heart because Howard Johnson’s was always a big part of our family. Later in life my mom had a job at that very a location as a waitress and she worked there for a few years. It’s sad that it’s closed and that the other fast-food chains were able to push Mojo’s off the map. As a matter fact practically right next door to it is a Ground Round restaurant and people tend to go there because they have a novelty where they deliver a basket of peanuts to your table and you supposed to open the peanut eat the peanut through the shell on the floor so you walking a peanut shellsperiod according to them it presses the oil into the floors and they never really have to do anything to the floors other than vacuum them up. As for the red hot dogs and the New England Frankfurter rolls I miss them terribly period we used to get the red hot dogs from beings they were known as”Beans, the Dean of Franks” whenever I have friends come to visit me from Maine the one thing I tell him I want three Maine Staples, 1. Red hot dogs, 2. Frank rolls, 3. Moxie. And let’s not forget mustard pickles. I miss Maine…????
in RI, we do have the reds, but proudly eat our own snappy dogs called Saugies…they are to die for, in a NE style grilled bun, just a bit of kraut…..mmmmm
The worlds best hot dog in our opinion are saugies. My wife and I are from northern R.I. and when we moved to the west coast my wife’s folks would send us a 5 pound box. Now we’re retired and living only twenty minutes from the W.A. Bean plant. My favorite day to do a little shopping at the plant is Friday when steamed red hots and buns are set out for customers (and employees – always a good sign) to snack on. We have become big fans of the red snappers, but when we make a trip to R.I. in July, we’ll be bringing home some saugies.
I first tried these in 1970 in and auction barn in Gray Maine. At 1st I thought them to be a joke then I tasted one. OMG they were Oh So Good! I lived NH then, but met my wife at Bar Harbor. She was from Mapleton ME in Aroostook County ME, and her and her family grew up there and had these Red Snappers every Saturday with home made baked soldier beans, all home made (brown bread, creamy and chunky potato salad, coleslaw, and warm home made bread also . We also had our choice of NE rolls too. We still keep this tradition, but am getting so making home made gets hard as you age, but we still try. I married in Mapleton and lived there for 25 yrs. then moved to Bangor Maine. By the way Bean Hole Bean Suppers are also always with Red Snappers and all the extras. It is hard to find this today, but In the County (Aroostook) these suppers still can be had and are great fun also. The whole town usually turns out. Please treat yourself and try these Red Snappers, you will not be sorry!
We visited Eastport ,Maine about 20 years ago. That’s a long time to remember a hotdog that we had on the dock from a little stand. It was the best hotdog I ever had and have wondered what it was ever since. Perhaps it was one of these special Maine brand!
I was a fisherman @ the breakwater you are speaking of @ the time you were there …The name of the place is Rosie’s hot dogs Eastport me….It’s a Icon of downeast
They would have been Jordan’s hot dogs, that was the 1st company to make the red hot dog! That was my dads company..I miss them so much!
Rice’s Hot Dogs. Still made in Bangor at WA Bean factory. In Maine since 1888.
Living in Conn. I never had a red hot dog. Several years ago coming through Brewer , Me. we shopped for groceries before crossing the border. My husband picked up a huge package of red hot dogs because he had them as a kid and loves the casings on them He had me try one and now I am a diehard fan of them. Also must have the open top buns. Best noon meal in our house.
As a Mainer who moved to the south, I have seen these Southern red hotdogs. They are nothing more than a cheap hot dog with cheap red dye. They are completely different than the real thing.
The Kayem Reds are a novelty item and nothing more. I haven’t tried the Bean’s dogs but I’d love to sometime. My favorite is an all beef Pearl Kountry Klub dog made in Randolph, MA. The natural casing is nice and thick so they really snap and the taste is wonderful. Grill up some of those and serve on toasted top split buns (nothing else will do) along with your favorite mustard, relish and finely chopped onion (ketchup not allowed in my house) and you have a backyard feast for fit for royalty.
I read through all the comments and people are just wanting to order the beans are the Jordan’s hot dogs with the hot dog buns but there’s no answer to where you order them maybe that should be included hello
The buns as tradition goes are j.j.nisson buns!
Can you ship red snapper dogs to Alaska???
I live on Acquidneck Island RI, all I can find is the Kayem reds, love them, eat in REAL buns, the NE kind, with cheese or kraut, or nothing, if having with B and M beans and B and M canned brown bread Saturday evenings…it’s a family ritual at our house, just like fish, scallops, and steak fries on Fridays. Love them, sure the originals r better tho…
The Red Hot Dogs are so Maine my father was born in Maine 105 years ago and every time we went to Maine for the summer it was a staple and this article brought back such good memories .
Nancy, is your dad still with us? My mother is going on 101. She was born in Maine on 8/29/17. When she was about two, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, which is where we live. She is doing fine, aside from some arthritis. She’s a tough New England lady!!! She was from a small town not far from Woodland, Maine. When we were kids, my dad took us all on a long road trip one summer and we visited there. I want to do it again soon!!! I enjoyed reading your post. Interestingly, it was just on the news that the oldest person in the United States, a 113-year old woman, lives in the same community that we do, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Her family said she eats a yam every day. Well, my mother doesn’t do that, but she’s going on 101! I think it’s her Maine roots!!!
Wow, that is remarkable for your mom to be still with you. Hope she is as now 2019. My grandparents also lived in Woodland, Milltown and Calais Maine. Red snappers were a treat and a half when I visited. Always had to toast the bun and sometimes my dad had them with baked beans as a topper on the hot dogs! Delicious either way…I like onions, kraut, cheese sauce or mustard on mine.
W A Beans & Sons, Bangor ME – Red Snapper Hot Dogs:
We ship anywhere in the United States and are happy to answer any questions you may have about your order or delivery. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-649-1958 or email us at sales @beansmeats.com.
Rice’s Hot Dogs!!!!!
In Maine since 1888. They used to be a competitor with W.A Beans but now are both made by Beans factory in Bangor. Ask for them at any Hanaford in New Engalnd they can get them.
I was just home and bought 15 lbs in Falmouth to bring home to Hawaii.
Yes it is my family!
Fred Rice
Red snapper dogs all the way! One of my favorite memories is going for the “red dogs,” as we called them, at Wassons Grove, Falmouth, when we were kids. We’d sit on the glider swings and chew on our hot dogs. I’m so glad I got to bring my son there before they closed. Sadly, my grandchildren will never have that chance.
Where can I buy red dogs and have them shipped to California? Thanks….
http://www.beansmeats.com is our website address. We do ship to the lower 48 states. Shipping cost is high as they are coming from Bangor, Maine and we usually ship overnight or 2nd day in some cases.
Well, yes they do exist, but honestly they are not as good as I get older as I remember as when young. Compared to all beef…the only thing neat about them is the red casing…otherwise they really are not very good or good for you. Sorry.
I lived in Massachusetts for the first 29 years of my life (I’m 75 now). I don’t ever remember having red hot dogs. Do they still “snap” when you bite in to them?
A few months ago, there was an article published on the Raye Mustard plant in Eastport describing how mustard is made at their plant.
Growing up in Maine we would buy Bean’s (who remembers- “Beans, the Dean of franks,” red franks. I now live in Brooklyn and pine for them. Whenever someone is visiting from Maine, I request four things; homemade mustard pickles, moxie, New England top load Frankfurter buns and of course 20 to 25 lb of my favorite red hot dogs. We can’t get to the good old-fashioned New England top load hot dog rolls here and to me it is a sin to put my red dogs onto the traditional hinged hot dog roll oh, that is so sacrilegious.
Oh I am with you there! I grew up in NH, and my mom’s family lives in Maine so I spent a lot of time there. Red hotdogs and top load buns are life. That snap!
I had a fantastic surprise visiting a friend in Virginia, he told me he was going to treat me to the best hot dog in the world. The place was a combination Marina/Gas Station/ Campground office. The dogs came out in little foil pouches like dogs from a drive in movie theater. I unwrapped the foil to find a bright red hot dog.
We camped in Maine arnd OOB area back in the 70s/80s we LOVED the red dogs from Jordans made in Portland…However they sold out 2 a company I THINK was in Green Bay Wis….BUT now the Jordan’s Hot dog recipe is made by K/M in Chelsea Ma and YES they still Make the REDS…ALLS GOOD….
Miss Jordan’s Red Hot dogs with Moxie!
come to south ga alma ga and get you a D. l lee and son RED Hot Dog the are the BEST THATS ALL WE EAT HERE IS RED HOT DOGS
Those are red hots, not the same as red snappers. Red snappers don’t have chili powder in them.