It’s a perfect food for any time of the day, but for many Americans, the morning just isn’t complete without sausage. New research commissioned by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) and conducted online by The Harris Poll in September 2018 ahead of October’s National Sausage Month shows breakfast is the meal Americans say is their favorite for sausage. Overall 89 percent of Americans eat sausage, and among those, nearly 3 in 4 (74%) like to eat sausage for breakfast, followed by 59% who like it for dinner. A majority of those who eat sausage (61%) like it savory, while 54% like their sausage spicy.
“Americans clearly enjoy waking up their taste buds with sausage. And with so many different choices and flavor profiles, it’s no surprise that Americans love sausage and enjoy eating it throughout the day,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. “It’s the perfect food to give any meal an extra burst of flavor and protein’s nutrition.”
Retail sales data provided by Nielsen shows steady growth in both the breakfast and fresh sausage categories in recent years. In 2017, Americans bought more than 150 million pounds of breakfast sausage at retail alone with Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago leading the way as the highest consuming cities.
NHDSC hosting fifth annual sausage recipe contest
As part of its celebration of National Sausage Month, the NHDSC will host its fifth annual sausage recipe contest. Since breakfast sausage is so popular, sausage lovers are invited to submit their favorite recipes featuring breakfast sausage for a chance to win a gift card for their favorite sausage, a Sausage Pan and other great prices. Recipes must be able to be made in less than 20 minutes and should be submitted to [email protected] by October 19.
The best tasting and most creative recipe as judged by NHDSC team of experts will win a $250 gift card for their favorite sausages plus a Sausage Pan, designed with deep curves specifically to cook sausages. The first runner up will receive a $100 gift card for their favorite sausages plus a Sausage Pan. The top three choices all receive official National Hot Dog and Sausage Council t-shirts and wristbands and have their recipes featured on the NHDSC All-Recipes page. Previous contest winners include Chorizo Queso Bites with Cilantro Lime Crema, Sausage with Peppers and Spices on Puff Pastry, Breakfast Sausage Casserole, and Italian Sausage Variety Ring.
The NHDSC has more than 100 other recipes as well as a sausage glossary, cooking tips and more at www.hot-dog.org.
