Where can I get a spiral hotdog slicer?

A few years ago, I saw a late night infommercial for a hotdog gadget. The gadget was a plastic tube about four inches long, with three blades strategically placed in the center. You would twist a hotdog into the gadget and it would come out the other end perfectly scored. The blades made an 1/8th inch spiral cut all around the hotdog. The first time I saw it, I thought "Whoa, there's a lawsuit just waiting to happen." because some idiot might put his/her finger in there, just for kicks. That's the reason I didn't buy it. I was living with an idiot at the time.

Does anyone remember this item? Or an item that is similar? One that scores the hotdog with a perfect spiral. Or one that just plain scores the hotdog. I've always used a knife, but it's such a pain. I have tough time controlling the depth and the hotdog usually falls apart.

Thanks,
Beth

I'm not sure about the spiral gizmo, but found this while searching and had a good laugh:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Octodogs-Frankfurter-Converter-hotdog-slicer_W0QQitemZ4429044306QQcategoryZ20649QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Okay, I'm gonna have nightmares about octodogs now.

Might be good for a "sushi" party with Swedish fish on Rice Krispie treats.

I'm not suggesting it's not a great idea, but I can't help wondering why a person would want to spiral-slice a hotdog.

Octodog claims it reduces the risk of a child choking on a hot dog.

quote:

Originally posted by chicagostyledog

Octodog claims it reduces the risk of a child choking on a hot dog.

Shouldnt the parents be watching their kids?

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

I'm not sure about the spiral gizmo, but found this while searching and had a good laugh:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Octodogs-Frankfurter-Converter-hotdog-slicer_W0QQitemZ4429044306QQcategoryZ20649QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

OMG, I see what you mean, hot dogs as art!
I am still laughing....

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

quote:

Originally posted by chicagostyledog

Octodog claims it reduces the risk of a child choking on a hot dog.

Shouldnt the parents be watching their kids?

Absolutely! We always cut up hot dogs into small chewable pieces before feeding them to our toddlers. Especially, the natural casing versions which increased the choke factor.

http://www.hotdogworld.com/page6.html
Maybe these people can tell you...

Man O man, I can see asking the missus for a butter spreader for the buns of my octodog!

Not what you're looking for but something no home should be without
[img]http://images.hammacher.com/prepped/50929.eps.fpx?wid=145&cvt=jpeg[/img] http://images.hammacher.com/prepped/50929.eps.fpx?wid=145&cvt=jpeg
Pop-Up Hotdog Cooker

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Operating much like a pop-up toaster, this unique kitchen appliance lets you easily prepare two hot dogs (complete with toasted buns) in minutes. To use, simply drop two wieners in the center basket and the buns in the two toasting baskets on either side. Its 660-watt electronic heating coil has four controllable heat settings so that you can cook the wieners and toast both buns to your taste preference. Crumb basket removes for cleaning. Plugs into household outlet. 8-1/2" H x 10-1/2" W x 5-1/4" D.

$49.95

(not sure why the pic wouldn't show, but the link shows a small pic in all its glory)

Wow, forgot all about the toys at Hammacher... Felix4067 turned me onto their catalog a few years back.. Some unique toys to say the least!

quote:

Originally posted by MilwFoodlovers

Not what you're looking for but something no home should be without
[img]http://images.hammacher.com/prepped/50929.eps.fpx?wid=145&cvt=jpeg[/img] http://images.hammacher.com/prepped/50929.eps.fpx?wid=145&cvt=jpeg
Pop-Up Hotdog Cooker

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating much like a pop-up toaster, this unique kitchen appliance lets you easily prepare two hot dogs (complete with toasted buns) in minutes. To use, simply drop two wieners in the center basket and the buns in the two toasting baskets on either side. Its 660-watt electronic heating coil has four controllable heat settings so that you can cook the wieners and toast both buns to your taste preference. Crumb basket removes for cleaning. Plugs into household outlet. 8-1/2" H x 10-1/2" W x 5-1/4" D.

$49.95

(not sure why the pic wouldn't show, but the link shows a small pic in all its glory)

Now, thats quite an invention.....

Michael

The hotdogs plump and expand in length about two to three inches when you score the skin or casing. When grilling them, the scored dogs drain of excess fat and become crispy in the places that were scored. It adds up to a longer crispier dog.

If you're into marinating your dogs with beer or hot sauce, scoring allows the marinade to penetrate into the meat of the hotdog.

If you're on a low sodium diet (you really shouldn't be eating dogs) scoring allows a lot of the salt to be released during the boiling process. Unfortunately, depending on the dog, it also allows a lot of the flavor to be lost as well.

My sow-sodium friend (he can't live without hotdogs) likes to score and boil them in beer and then grill them until they become plump and crispy.

I hope that gives you an idea of why I like to score my hotdogs.

It certainly does.Thank you for the explanation.