Difference Between Frankfurter and Bratwurst (With Table)

Sausages have long been considered a staple dish around the globe, either as a standalone meal or as part of a larger dish. However, sausage is a common term for a meat alternative that is far more complicated than meets the eye. Because there are numerous options available on the market, each has its own set of complexities. The two being contrasted here, however, are the frankfurter and the bratwurst.

Frankfurter vs Bratwurst

The main difference between frankfurter and bratwurst is that frankfurter is a much more popular sausage throughout most parts of the globe. It has the typical thinned appearance, with a slippery or smooth exterior and a ‘bite’ to it. Bratwurst, on the other hand, is typically vast and coarse in texture, but it is not widely available.

A Frankfurter is a slim partially cooked sausage prepared from pure pork in a sheep’s intestine casing. The flavor is obtained through a low-temperature smoking technique. Frankfurters are not always cooked before consumption; they are only warmed in hot water for around eight minutes to protect the skin from exploding.

Bratwurst is a kind of sausage that is closely linked with Germany, where it emerged. The sausage is typically strongly spiced and delivered with mustard and a hard roll, though it is provided diversely in some places. Many supermarkets and butcher shops sell bratwurst, and you can also purchase German sausage from a specialized vendor.

Comparison Table Between Frankfurter and Bratwurst

Parameter of comparison

Frankfurter

Bratwurst

Outlook

Regular and thin.

Thick and long.

Calories

Fewer calories. 

A little more calories than in frankfurter.

Texture

Slippery or smooth surface. 

Juicy but coarse in texture.

Where to find

More commonly found and is spread all across the continent. 

It is often limited to sports stadiums.

Cooking

Can be cooked in Bain Maries.

Not a method recommended for the Bratwurst.

What is Frankfurter?

Frankfurters, also known as a wiener or hot dog in the U. S., is an extremely seasoned sausage made of a mixture of beef and pork. Frankfurters are given the name after Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where they were first marketed and consumed in beer gardens.

Frankfurters were presented to the United States around 1900 and fastly became synonymous with American cuisine. In 1916, the first so-called hot-dog display launched in Coney Island, New York, marketing the sausages as a sandwich on what is now the basic long hot-dog bun. The hot dog stayed mainstream all through the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, particularly at barbecues, picnics, and sporting events.

Frankfurters are sold bare, vacuum-packed, or bottled, ready-cooked and softly smoked, to be cooked by grilling, steaming, or mild, quick boiling. The German and Austrian frankfurter is also recognized as a würstchen, or “little sausage,” and there are multiple kinds of these sausages. Frankfurters are consumed hot with sauerkraut in Germany and Austria, and chilly with potato salad if gently smoked.

The average American frankfurter is 55 % water, 28–30 % fat and 12–15 % protein. There are also all-beef and turkey frankfurters available, as well as low-fat variants. Most competitively marketed frankfurters comprise sodium or potassium nitrates, which inhibit the development of the botulism-causing type of bacteria Clostridium botulinum and protect the meat’s distinctive red hue, which would normally be lost during processing.

What is Bratwurst?

Bratwursts, or brats, are a kind of German sausage. In Germany, the phrase “bratwurst” refers to all sausages: “brat” refers to ground meat, and “wurst” refers to sausage. Bratwursts are generally made with pork and veal, but they’re also created with beef and veal or any other pairing of meat. The seasonings, specifically marjoram, distinguish German bratwursts. Ginger, paprika, sage, cumin, nutmeg, coriander, and caraway are some other prevalent bratwurst spices.

Bratwurst is usually purchased as a raw, fresh sausage in its organic casing or as a link sausage. Brats can be grilled, boiled, or simmered in beer, which is a prevalent preparedness in Wisconsin. Brats can be served in a stew, on a sandwich, or as a main course with sauerkraut and potato salad. Mustard, ketchup, relish, slaw, and aioli are common brat toppings.

Although bratwursts are a sort of sausage, not all sausages are bratwursts. Sausages with an organic or inorganic casing can be found in the supermarket or butcher shop, whereas bratwursts typically have an organic shell made from animal intestines or skin. Some sausages are managed to sell pre-cooked or smoked, which eliminates the need for cooking. Bratwursts are sold fresh, with raw meat, and must be cooked.

Main Differences Between Frankfurter and Bratwurst

  1. Frankfurter has a thin and regular outlook while bratwurst is thick and long.
  2. Frankfurter has fewer calories while bratwurst has comparatively more calories.
  3. Frankfurter has a slippery or smooth surface while bratwurst is juicy but coarse in texture.
  4. Frankfurters are more commonly found and are spread all across the continent while bratwurst is limited to sports stadiums.
  5. Frankfurter can be cooked in Bain Maries while it is not a method recommended for bratwurst.

Conclusion

Frankfurter is created with veal, pork, or even other meats and is seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika. It is steamed and consumed with mustard and Bock beer. It resembles an arched hot dog. Bratwurst is a grilled sausage manufactured from finely minced pork and beef that is typically provided with sweet German mustard and a slice of bread or hard roll. After considering the taste, texture, and acceptance of each one, it is ultimately concluded that it is a matter of personal preference. Whether one tends to prefer the Bratwurst or the Frankfurter, the popularity of sausage as a delectable dish is growing. Numerous meals have been prepared with these items and are still enjoyed by people all over the world.

References

  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-4565.2010.00232.x
  2. https://www.agriculturejournals.cz/publicFiles/65_2009-CJFS.pdf