While one taster complained that this mustard was bland and watery with a hot dog, another thought it held up well. “Traditional bottled mustard flavor. What you expect for a hot dog,” wrote a third, who still scored this mustard slightly below average. $1.99 for 10.5 ounces

While one taster complained that this mustard was bland and watery with a hot dog, another thought it held up well. “Traditional bottled mustard flavor. What you expect for a hot dog,” wrote a third, who still scored this mustard slightly below average. $1.99 for 10.5 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

What's the best mustard for a hot dog? We taste 12 brands

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Mustard and hot dogs just seem to go together — but which mustard? There are so many. The National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wis., has 5,975 mustards in its collection — and sells more than 450 of them.

But then there are a lot of dogs out there waiting to be slathered with mustard. Americans will eat 150 million hot dots on July Fourth alone, according to an estimate by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, a Washington, D.C.-based industry group.

Twelve mustards were put to a blind comparison, starting with yellow mustard, the traditional go-to for hot dogs. Then we added brown, Dijon and deli mustards because they represent popular varieties.

This was a blind tasting, meaning those who took part didn't know which mustard was which. Each taster was asked to sample and rate each mustard on its own, assessing appearance, aroma, texture and flavor. They were then asked to rate the mustards with a hot dog. We used a top-selling national brand, Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners, made with chicken, turkey and pork.

12. Plochman’s Mild Yellow Mustard

While one taster complained that this mustard was bland and watery with a hot dog, another thought it held up well. “Traditional bottled mustard flavor. What you expect for a hot dog,” wrote a third, who still scored this mustard slightly below average. $1.99 for 10.5 ounces

While one taster complained that this mustard was bland and watery with a hot dog, another thought it held up well. “Traditional bottled mustard flavor. What you expect for a hot dog,” wrote a third, who still scored this mustard slightly below average. $1.99 for 10.5 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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9. Best Choice Brown & Spicy Mustard (tie)

This mustard had a very spicy and almost fruity flavor profile. “So fascinating,” a taster wrote, “lots of spices like coriander. Complements the dog.” But others disagreed. One taster thought the mustard receded when paired with the hot dog, and another complained, “Can only taste vinegar.” $1.59 for 12 ounces

This mustard had a very spicy and almost fruity flavor profile. “So fascinating,” a taster wrote, “lots of spices like coriander. Complements the dog.” But others disagreed. One taster thought the mustard receded when paired with the hot dog, and another complained, “Can only taste vinegar.” $1.59 for 12 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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9. Mustard Girl Stoneground Deli Mustard (tie)

This mustard, manufactured for a Chicago-based company, tied for ninth place when paired with hot dogs but scored third when tasted on its own. “Sweet, tasty and sharp. Nice combination,” wrote one taster. But others thought the sweet note was too much, distracting from the sausage. $2.99 for 12 ounces

This mustard, manufactured for a Chicago-based company, tied for ninth place when paired with hot dogs but scored third when tasted on its own. “Sweet, tasty and sharp. Nice combination,” wrote one taster. But others thought the sweet note was too much, distracting from the sausage. $2.99 for 12 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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9. Koop’s Deli Spicy Brown Mustard (tie)

Koop’s huge mustard kick “makes the hot dog exciting,” one taster wrote. The mustard had a tart, vegetal note along with a low burn that lingered. $2.19 for 12 ounces

Koop’s huge mustard kick “makes the hot dog exciting,” one taster wrote. The mustard had a tart, vegetal note along with a low burn that lingered. $2.19 for 12 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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8. Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard

This very popular Dijon mustard brand started sharp but finished mild with a touch of saltiness that helped boost the hot dog. “Hides the blandness of the dog,” one taster wrote. But another thought the mustard very salty. $2.99 for 10 ounces

This very popular Dijon mustard brand started sharp but finished mild with a touch of saltiness that helped boost the hot dog. “Hides the blandness of the dog,” one taster wrote. But another thought the mustard very salty. $2.99 for 10 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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7. French’s Classic Yellow Mustard

Classic mustard aroma and flavor, with a taste profile that’s tangy and a bit sour, with a touch of warm spice. “This tastes like the mustard I expect on a dog,” one taster observed, but “it loses its flavor on the dog, oddly.” $1.79 for 8 ounces

Classic mustard aroma and flavor, with a taste profile that’s tangy and a bit sour, with a touch of warm spice. “This tastes like the mustard I expect on a dog,” one taster observed, but “it loses its flavor on the dog, oddly.” $1.79 for 8 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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4. Maille Traditional Dijon Mustard (tie)

This creamy, matte yellow Dijon mustard with its salty, lingering bite scored first when the mustards were tasted on their own. But the flavor was muted by the dog, dropping it in the rankings. $3.99 for 7.5 ounces

This creamy, matte yellow Dijon mustard with its salty, lingering bite scored first when the mustards were tasted on their own. But the flavor was muted by the dog, dropping it in the rankings. $3.99 for 7.5 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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4. Colman’s Mustard (tie)

This dark yellow prepared mustard had the electrifyingly hot flavor you’d find in Colman’s mustard powder. One taster thought the zippy kick brought out the hot dog’s salty, savory quality. But another found it “strangely terrible.” While in a three-way tie for fourth place when tasted with hot dogs, this mustard did come in second when tasted on its own. $3.99 for 5.3 ounces

This dark yellow prepared mustard had the electrifyingly hot flavor you’d find in Colman’s mustard powder. One taster thought the zippy kick brought out the hot dog’s salty, savory quality. But another found it “strangely terrible.” While in a three-way tie for fourth place when tasted with hot dogs, this mustard did come in second when tasted on its own. $3.99 for 5.3 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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4. Boar’s Head Delicatessen Style Mustard (tie)

Dark gold and flecked with seed, this mustard had a sharp vinegary note that held up to the hot dog. While most tasters ticked their scores up when matching mustard to hot dog, there were some notable dissents. “Doesn’t work with dog,” one wrote. “Just sour,” noted another. Boar’s Head was one of three mustards tied for fourth place. $4.49 for 9.5 ounces

Dark gold and flecked with seed, this mustard had a sharp vinegary note that held up to the hot dog. While most tasters ticked their scores up when matching mustard to hot dog, there were some notable dissents. “Doesn’t work with dog,” one wrote. “Just sour,” noted another. Boar’s Head was one of three mustards tied for fourth place. $4.49 for 9.5 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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3. Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard

This mustard’s aggressive horseradishlike profile had a kick while its acidity cut the fattiness of the meat. But one taster wondered if its sweet-tangy flavor was mellowed by the hot dog. $2.49 for 12 ounces

This mustard’s aggressive horseradishlike profile had a kick while its acidity cut the fattiness of the meat. But one taster wondered if its sweet-tangy flavor was mellowed by the hot dog. $2.49 for 12 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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2. Annie’s Naturals Organic Dijon Mustard

Rich with flavor, this smooth khaki-colored mustard had a salty, spicy quality that gave the hot dog a boost. While one taster favorably noted the mustard’s “rounded,” almost vegetal flavor, another declared, “Doesn’t seem right.” $3.99 for 9 ounces

Rich with flavor, this smooth khaki-colored mustard had a salty, spicy quality that gave the hot dog a boost. While one taster favorably noted the mustard’s “rounded,” almost vegetal flavor, another declared, “Doesn’t seem right.” $3.99 for 9 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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1. Heinz Yellow Mustard

This mild mustard plays with hot dogs very well, pushing itself from the middle of the condiment pack when tasted solo to first place when paired with an Oscar Mayer wiener. “Classic ballpark flavors,” one taster wrote. “Classic mustard flavor,” exclaimed another, while a third likened it to a “memory from childhood.” $1.25 for 8 ounces

This mild mustard plays with hot dogs very well, pushing itself from the middle of the condiment pack when tasted solo to first place when paired with an Oscar Mayer wiener. “Classic ballpark flavors,” one taster wrote. “Classic mustard flavor,” exclaimed another, while a third likened it to a “memory from childhood.” $1.25 for 8 ounces (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

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