Vienna sausage

Würstl, virsli or European vienna sausage

Smoked Vienna sausages

North American Vienna sausage in tomato sauce

A Vienna sausage (German: Wiener Würstchen, Wiener; Viennese/Austrian German: Frankfurter Würstel or Würstl; Swiss German Wienerli; Swabian: Wienerle or Saitenwurst) is a kind of sausage that is traditionally made from pork and beef.^[1][2] The word Wiener means Viennese in German.^[3] In Austria the term "Wiener" is uncommon for this food item, which instead is usually called Frankfurter Würstl.^[4]

The ingredients, preparation, size and taste can vary widely by both manufacturer and region of sale.

Europe

In some European countries, cooked and often smoked wiener sausages bought fresh from supermarkets, delicatessens and butcher shops may be called by a name (such as in German or French) which translates in English as "Vienna sausage." Traditionally, they are made from spiced ham. Wieners sold as Vienna sausage in Europe have a taste and texture very much like North American "hot dogs" or "frankfurters", but are usually longer and somewhat thinner, with a very light, edible casing. European Vienna sausage served hot in a long bun with condiments is often called a "hot dog", referring not to the wiener itself, but to the long sandwich as a whole.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

North America

In North America the term "Vienna sausage" has most often come to mean only smaller and much shorter smoked and canned wieners, rather than hot dogs.^[10] North American vienna sausages are made similarly to pork wieners, finely ground to a paste consistency and mixed with salt and spices, most notably mustard, then stuffed into a long casing, sometimes smoked and always thoroughly cooked, after which the casings are removed as with hot dogs. The sausages are then cut into short segments for canning and further cooking. They are also available plain (in a gelatin, similar to aspic) or with a variety of flavorings, such as smoke, chili or barbecue sauces.

They are a common staple in lunches for skilled trade workers (such as construction trades) due to their ability to be eaten without being heated, their portability, and their stable shelf life in hot climates. They are often paired with saltine or Ritz Crackers.^[11]

See also

• Canned food
• Frankfurter Würstchen
• Hot dog variations
• List of sausages
• List of smoked foods
• Potted meat food product

References

Sausage
Overview	Casings List of sausages List of sausage dishes Sausage making
Fresh sausage	Biała kiełbasa Boerewors Boudin Braadworst Bratwurst Breakfast Carniolan Falukorv Knackwurst Kohlwurst Kupati Merguez Thüringer Weisswurst
Dry sausage	Salami Cacciatore Ciauscolo Genoa salami Soppressata Prasky Other Chinese Chorizo Fuet Landjäger Longaniza Lukanka Metworst Pepperoni Saucisson Sobrassada Sujuk
Smoked sausage	Andouille Kolbász Kulen Lebanon bologna Linguiça Morteau Rookworst Skilandis Teewurst
Cooked sausage	Battered Bologna Botifarra Bratwurst Braunschweiger Brühwurst Cervelat Cumberland Gelbwurst Hot dog variations vegetarian Italian Lincolnshire Mortadella Saveloy Vienna
Cooked smoked sausage	Bierwurst Bockwurst Cabanossi / Kabanos Kielbasa
Precooked sausage	Black pudding Blood sausage Boudin Goetta Haggis Head cheese Kaszanka Kishka Knipp Kochwurst Liverwurst Pinkel Salceson Stippgrütze Sundae
Related articles	Charcuterie Dried meat List of dried foods List of embutidos List of smoked foods Lunch meat Pâté Salumi