This week’s Chopped preview: How to hot dog

This week’s brand-new episode of Chopped Season 40, Episode 73 brings an all-American staple back to the kitchen. Summer grilling isn’t over yet, and these chefs have some cooking to do.

When I was growing up, we heated up frozen hot dogs in the microwave before eating them — on the very rare occasions we had them. It’s just what we did. The first time I had a grilled hot dog — probably some July Fourth cookout at a friend’s house — I never went back.

Hot dogs are as much of an American food staple as burgers and french fries, and like pizza, different regions prep and dress them differently. In Chicago, you’re quite brave if you ask for ketchup on your wiener. When I order from Portillo’s, I always wait until I get home to finish mine off with some Heinz.

How you cook a hot dog, therefore, isn’t even the whole package. It matters what you put on top of it (sometimes chili, always yellow mustard) as well as what you serve with it (any carb will do, but potato chips are usually a must).

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On this week’s episode of Chopped, “Hot Dog Hotshots,” contestants are going to have to get fancy with the hot dogs in their baskets. Simple grilling might not even be enough to impress the judges this time.

According to the episode synopsis:

"“The chefs gear up for an epic hot dog battle in a nonstop celebration of the phenomenal frankfurter. In the appetizer basket, they discover a hot dog creation that takes the prized piece of Americana to another level. A state fair treat with a twist awaits the three contenders in the entree round, and an intriguing dessert basket contains the mysterious ‘wieners in a quilt.'”"

Not sure how you feel about incorporating hot dogs into a dessert? You’ll just have to tune in to this week’s episode to find out how the final two chefs make it work. As always, only one of them will win the night.

Let’s settle this debate once and for all: Why do some people think a hot dog is a sandwich, and why are they wrong?

Chopped is back Tuesday night at 9 ET on Food Network.