What type of meat is inside a corn dog?

The meat inside a corn dog is usually a hot dog, or wiener, coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried on a stick. The batter forms a crisp golden shell around the fully cooked sausage.

Corn dogs are strongly associated with American fairs, carnivals, festivals, and fast-food stands. Their exact inventor is disputed, but competing claims place their popularization in the United States between the late 1930s and mid-1940s. Earlier equipment and catalog references also describe similar battered foods on sticks.

“Hot dog” can mean either the sausage itself or the complete sandwich served in a bun, so the wording can cause confusion. In a corn dog, the sausage is the filling; there is no bun. Regional versions use names such as pogo in parts of Canada, Dagwood Dog in Australia, and Pluto Pup. Vegetarian sausages and cheese-filled versions are also sold.