Elementary Chef

Consumer Reports’ June issue has a special section on light beer and reduced fat hotdogs. Now, I gotta say, folks… If you’re going to eat a hotdog, you might as well go, well, whole hog. Who cares about light hotdogs? But for those of you who do… Here is the summary:

Savvy consumers in search of a lower fat dog can fill their buns with a relatively flavorful dog, though the pickings are slim. Of the seven hot dogs that received the “Very Good” Rating by Consumer Reports for flavor and texture, two were of the lower fat variety: Hebrew National Kosher Reduced Fat Beef Franks (120 calories/10 grams fat) and Boar’s Head Lite Skinless Beef Franks (90 calories/6 grams fat). While these two lower fat dogs contain less sodium than many of the hot dogs, as a general rule, hot dogs are loaded with sodium.

When it comes to beer, bigger flavors can be had, even when calories are spared. Eleven light beers rated “Very Good” for flavor with Michelob Ultra Amber leading the pack (114 calories), followed by Michelob Light (113 calories) and Michelob Ultra (95 calories). And beer lovers will be pleased to learn that Consumer Reports also identified three Best Buy beers, Busch Light, Natural Light, and Keystone Light. They all combine
fruity and floral notes and cost less than $4 for a six pack. Unlike “light” foods, there are no government regulations for “light” beers so consumers should keep a watchful eye on calorie labels. CR also notes that consumers watching their alcohol intake may be surprised to learn that light brews have almost as much alcohol as regular beer, despite the “light” label.

Hot Dogs: Dogging Your Health
Consumer Reports tested hot dogs from 23 well-known brands and leading retailers on a concession style grill with rollers. CR identified three Quick Picks, chosen because they had less fat calories and sodium than their full fat brandmates, but a taste and texture that was similar: Hebrew National Kosher Reduced Fat Beef Franks ($.57 per dog/120 cal/10 g fat/360 mg sodium); Boar’s Head Lite Skinless Beef Franks ($.44 per dog/90 cal/6 g fat/270 mg sodium); Oscar Mayer Light Beef Franks ($.32 per dog/90 calories/7 g fat/380 mg sodium). However, most of the best tasting hot dogs were the full-fat beef variety. Nutritionists consulted by CR refused to put these dogs in the “never, never eat” category, noting that a sound diet, with moderation, can accommodate an indulgence from time to time.

Best of the Light Brews
Americans now drink more light beer than any other kind, and more varieties have frothed up to quench the thirst of calorie-counting drinkers. Since there are no standards for light beer, calories and taste are all over the lot. The range of calories across the light beer category is wide, from the 65 calorie Beck’s Premier Light (deemed “cardboardy” by CR’s testers) to the 119-calorie Sam Adams Light (which merited a “Very Good”).

Consumer Reports tested the top-selling light brews along with some pricier newcomers. Overall, six brews stood out for taste: three Michelobs, including the newer Michelob Ultra and Ultra Amber; Sam Adams Light; Budweiser Select; and Coors Light in a can.

Less Is More When You’re Filling Your Cooler
Consumer Reports’ beer ratings also indicate that high price does not necessarily mean better taste when it comes to light beer. Except for Sam Adams Light, at about $7 a six-pack, the best-tasting beers were all in the mid-price range, about $5 to $6 a pack. The more expensive beers like Heineken Premium Light, Amstel Light, Beck’s Premier Light and Corona Light fell to the bottom of the Ratings because of defects, including oxidized and metallic flavors.

CR identified three Best Buys, rated for a combination of taste and price: Busch Light ($3.87/6-pack; 95 calories each); Natural Light ($3.54/6-pack; 95 calories each); and Keystone Light ($3.75/6-pack; 104 calories).

And CR notes that beer is a delicate drink — to lock in freshness and prevent exposure to sunlight, consumers should opt for beer in a brown bottle or can. And beer lovers should pay attention to expiration dates: Wine is for aging.

Consumer Reports, Beer, Hotdogs