Hot dog & hamburger buns - does it matter?

[rworange]

I'm going to a potluck on the 4th and have been assigned to bring the buns.

I'm almost certain I won't get to a bakery on the 3rd, so I need to rely on supermarket buns.

It has been so long since I bought a package of hot dog buns that I didn't realize that SOMEONE got smart and started selling them in packages of eight instead of six. Yeah! No two missing buns for an eight-pack of dogs.

Anyway, does it matter which bun? Is Sarah Lee or Ball Park any better than Wonder? Are any of them any noticbly better than the cheapo supermarket brand or Rainbow?

Doing a trial run tonight I bought some Sarah Lee Whole Grain white hot dog buns. They also had gourmet white and heart healthy wheat. I might buy one package of wheat, but it's not that type of crowd.

The whole grain white tasted like a plain old white classic bun. However, it fell apart easily.

I was going to go with Ballpark which looked nice but there was something about the feel of the bun that was, well, un-hot-dog-bunish.

Any preferences? Are the pricy (on sale) 2 bags for $4 'name' buns any better than the 99 cent no name buns?

And what about hamburger buns? Any favorites?

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

I'm chiming in late here, but my favorite hamburger bun is either a kaiser roll or onion roll/bun. I had a faboulus burger in Tahoe where they used onion rolls, it really transformed the whole burger eating experience. Unfortunately, only cheap onion hamburger buns are available at my local grocery store but with a little TLC and a close eye on the grill they come out great. As for hot dog rolls I prefer Muzio brand rolls. They are sourdough, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. They are a little doughy but they are better than the Rainbow or Wonderbread choices.

[hatless]

For basic white buns, I'm fine with my local supermarket buns (Publix and Winn-Dixie). Of national brands -- white and and whole-wheat -- I like Pepperidge Farm and Arnold.

I don't like the Wonder whole-wheat or the Martin's whole-wheat potato rolls. The former are too soft and light; I like a bit of snap. And I just don't like the flavor of whole-wheat potato rolls. Your mileage may vary.

[echo]

you might wanna try them 'ciabatta' type hamburger buns.

regardless, i'm a big fan of toasting whatever kinda bun you get. i think it makes a big difference in taste, texture, and keeping the wet stuff from soaking the bun too much.

[Phoo D]

Don't do hotdogs much, but I've never found better supermarket burger buns than Orowheat. Cracked wheat or onion are my favs. Noticeably better than all the others I've tried.

ed (former handle: e.d.)

[Nancy Berry]

I'm fussy about my hamburgers and hot dogs and I'm fussy about my hamburger and hot dog buns. My favorite hamburger buns are Oroweat egg or cracked wheat buns or Safeway whole wheat kaiser rolls (or their poppyseed kaiser rolls) from their bakery. My favorite hot dog buns are (depending upon my mood) either Columbo hot dog rolls (available at Safeway and sometimes at Albertson's) with the yellow and blue label or Oroweat cracked wheat or potato hot dog buns.

[rworange]

Thanks to all. I love Pepperide farm in general, but they are not available in the SF Bay Area. So I went to Safeway and picked up mainly the Oroweat egg hamburer buns and a package of the wheat buns. There were both used up. I went 50/50 with the Columbo hot dog rolls and the Oroweat potato hot dog buns. The latter were more popular and I didn't get to try them ... actually the only bun I DID try was the Columbo hot dog roll which I liked very much. Thanks Nancy. I'm still keepin an eye out for those Nathan's franks with casings. Nothin yet.

[MollyGee]

I like the Oroweat cracked wheat buns. They hold up really well if you're adding a bunch of moist detritus (like chili) and they don't get gummy like some of the whiter buns do when you chew 'em.

[coll]

I like potato buns, they have a nice taste and texture. And if you have to get burger buns also, make sure to get the oversized ones, the normal ones are too little.

[yayadave]

Potato buns are less like cotton candy.

[foodieX2]

I too like the potato rolls. They now make whole wheat ones which have a slight nutty taste.

[Bob Martinez]

Another vote for potato rolls. Here in the Northeast the best by far are made by Martin's. They make a hot dog bun billed as a Long Roll and an extra large hamburger bun, garnished by sesame seeds, called a Big Marty. These are outstanding and I use them for sandwiches as well as burgers.

A number of large national bakeries have also introduced potato rolls but they are a distant second to Martin's.

[jfood]

I second the Pepperidge Farm for the buns versus Wonder, or generic. The one head's up I would give you is the "doneness" of the bun. I purchased PF sandwich last weekend and they were darker than normal. They were a little more dried out than normal, so look for a lightish color if you go with the sandwich variety.

My daughter won't "eat white" so we've been buying the wheats as well. I'm becoming a convert and am beginning to like the added flavor on the tongue these bring. Another challenge on how best to complement, but not for this thread.

One trick i also learned is to check the color of the plastic thing that keeps it closed. They are color coded by "bake date." Although PF rolls are good they change flavor quickly so the freshness of them is also important. Take a few seconds to see if the blue tab or the yellow tab or the green tab are the freshest of the bunch.

[hummingbird]

As you mentioned regarding the hotdog buns - as long as they don't fall apart while you try and pull them apart. Unless you grill them, I haven't found much difference. I just like them to have a bit of weight for that reason

I've had good luck with .99 store brand sometimes. I like Pepperidge Farm for the side sliced most of the time.

I also like their sandwich rolls instead of hamburger buns. I think they are called Farmstead style. They are a bit larger and hold the burger better.

There was just something on this at CI. I'll go check ait out.

Pepperidge Farm Premium Bakery Rolls (not the smaller "Classic" variety), had a generous 4 1/2-inch diameter, hearty texture, "wheaty" taste, and the least amount of sugar in the lineup.