All Hail Maine’s Red Snapper—Named One of America’s Best

We’re heading into the July 4th holiday—arguably the best of them all.

It’s a celebration packed with parties, cookouts, adult beverages, swimming, camping, and, of course, delicious tubed meats. Seriously, the best part might just be the tubed meats—and here in Maine, we’ve got an iconic one.

Yes, I’m talking about the bright red sausage that somehow snaps when you bite into it. And, fittingly (or not), it goes by the wonderfully unoriginal name: the red snapper.

What is a Red Snapper Hot Dog?

Found throughout the state, this authentic Maine sausage is the bee’s knees. It’s the perfect combination of well-seasoned meat, savory juices, and a casing that only angels could have invented. There’s nothing like that snap when you take a bite.

Man, I love a red snapper. It completely outshines the competition. Fenway Frank? Nathan’s? Hebrew National? None of them even belong in the same league as the red snapper.

Even though they’re perfect for July 4th, red snappers are a year-round staple. They’re ideal for cookouts, birthdays, court hearings, ballgames, funerals, graduations, weddings, work parties, breakfast, lunch, dinner—you get the point. And unlike many of the other dogs on the list, the red snapper is a versatile vessel. Virtually any topping in the world can go on a red snapper, and it’ll still taste like it came straight from heaven.

The Red Snapper Has Been Named One of America's Best Hot Dogs

All of these reasons are why the red snapper was ranked the 10th best hot dog in the country by a popular pop culture site known for its fun foodie content.

The folks over at Matador Network included the snapper in their Top 10 Best Hot Dogs list, alongside icons like the Chicago dog, the Sonoran, and the Papaya dog—just to name a few. That’s some impressive company to be in.

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All hail the mighty red snapper. It’s wonderful to see it recognized as one of America’s best regional hot dogs. But maybe… it’s actually Maine’s best food.
Yes, I’m putting lobster in the corner.