Hot dogs are one of America’s most beloved foods, with millions consumed every year at backyard barbecues, baseball games, and Fourth of July celebrations. But just how many hot dogs can a person eat at one time? Competitive eating contests have pushed the limits of hot dog consumption, with participants vying to consume the most frankfurters in a single sitting.
Joey Chestnut’s Record-Breaking Performance
The current record holder for most hot dogs eaten in one sitting is Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. At the 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held in Brooklyn, New York on the Fourth of July, Joey Chestnut once again broke his own world record by consuming a staggering 63 hot dogs with buns in just 10 minutes.
This beat Chestnut’s previous record of 76 hot dogs at the 2021 contest, which had broken his 2020 record of 75 hot dogs. The 14-time champion has completely dominated the competition for over a decade. To put his eating abilities in perspective, the second place finisher in 2022 was Geoffrey Esper, who ate 47 hot dogs and buns.
So how did Chestnut eat so many hot dogs? Competitive eaters have various strategies, but Chestnut is known for dipping the buns in water to help soften them and slide the hot dogs down his throat faster. He also expertly squeezes the buns together around multiple hot dogs to create a dense package he can swallow more easily.
Chestnut’s Competitive Eating Career
Chestnut, from California, has been the reigning hot dog eating champion since dethroning 6-time defending champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007. His first record was 68 hot dogs, and he’s increased the mark nearly every year since.
Prior to his hot dog eating fame, Chestnut was a construction worker. He was introduced to competitive eating by his siblings and entered his first contest in 2005. After realizing he had a real talent for it, Chestnut began entering eating contests full-time and working his way up the competitive eating ranks.
In addition to hot dogs, Chestnut has set records for eating hard boiled eggs, chicken wings, pączki donuts, and more. He has also branched out into non-eating stunts, such as catching grapes in his mouth and chugging full pitchers of beer.
Thanks to his success, Chestnut has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money and sponsorships over his competitive eating career. He has helped grow the Nathan’s contest into a beloved July 4th tradition and expanded the limits of what many thought possible when it comes to eating large quantities of food.
Other Notable Hot Dog Eating Records
While Joey Chestnut dominates the Nathan’s contest year after year, there have been other impressive hot dog eating feats throughout history:
- In 1916, Pancho Villa reportedly ate two dozen hot dogs after waking up from a coma.
- In 1941, Louis “Red” Deutsch devoured 19 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes at a Coney Island contest.
- In the early 1960s, Walter Paul ate 28 hot dogs in 5 minutes at an exhibition.
- In 1976, Jason Schechter finished 16 hot dogs and buns in 5 minutes at Nathan’s Famous.
Some other individuals have also claimed to have broken Chestnut’s record in unsanctioned eating events:
- Oscar Rodriguez said he ate 65 hot dogs at a qualifying event in 2021, but there was no official judge.
- Don Lerman claimed to have eaten 74 hot dogs and buns in 6 minutes in 2005, but Nathan’s contest officials disputed the feat.
While these other marks are impressive, Chestnut’s world record of 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes continues to stand as the verified benchmark in the world of competitive hot dog eating.
Women’s Hot Dog Eating Records
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo dominated the Nathan’s contest from 2014-2020 by winning 7 consecutive championships. Her personal best is 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 2020.
However, Sudo took 2021 off from competitive eating as she was pregnant. This allowed Michelle Lesco the chance to claim the women’s title by eating 30.75 hot dogs and buns.
In 2022, Miki Sudo returned to eat 40 hot dogs and reclaim her championship crown from Lesco who ate 26.
Here are some other notable women’s hot dog eating records:
- Sonya Thomas ate 45 hot dogs in 10 minutes in 2012.
- Juliet Lee ate 31 hot dogs in 2009.
- Eater X ate 35 hot dogs in 12 minutes in 2004.
While the women’s tally generally does not reach the same levels as top men like Chestnut and Esper, female competitors train hard and also employ strategies to maximize their hot dog consumption.
How Do Competitive Eaters Consume So Many Hot Dogs?
The sport of competitive eating requires intense physical and mental training to expand the stomach capacity and improve mind over matter mental toughness. Top competitors use various tactics to prepare for events:
Stomach Stretching
For months leading up to a contest, competitive eaters will drink massive amounts of water and eat copious amounts of food to physically stretch out their stomachs. This expands the organ’s capacity and elasticity to allow more hot dogs on competition day.
Strategic Eating Methods
Eating techniques like the “Solomon method” involve breaking hot dogs in half and eating multiple halves at once to increase intake speed. Dunking buns in water, then squeezing them together around multiple hot dogs, allows the food to slide down smoothly.
Mental Preparation
Eating dozens of hot dogs requires intense mental stamina. Competitors practice meditation and visualization tactics to prepare. Slowing breathing and entering a trance-like state helps ignore discomfort and maintain rapid consumption.
These methods allow top competitive eaters to consume 4-5 entire hot dogs per minute. They also must have incredible discipline to maintain the grueling training regimen required.
Negative Health Effects
While competitive eating may seem extreme, the body is surprisingly adaptable. Top competitors do not typically suffer long-term health consequences.
There are some risks of physical discomfort during and immediately after an event, such as:
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Indigestion
- Dehydration
However, the capacity and speed of the digestive system returns to normal within a day or two. Proper training helps the stomach expand and contract without permanent damage.
That said, medical experts do not recommend untrained individuals attempt such excessive eating feats. Aspiring competitive eaters should always start slowly and consult a doctor.
The Hot Dog Eating Contest Tradition
The annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has become a beloved American tradition since its early days as a publicity stunt in the 1970s.
The contest attracts massive crowds to Nathan’s original Coney Island restaurant and is broadcast live on ESPN to 1.1 million viewers. It showcases the wild extremes people will push their bodies to in pursuit of winning a bizarre eating competition.
Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo have become household names and eccentric sports heroes by breaking record after record in their pursuit of hot dog eating glory. Love it or hate it, the Nathan’s contest has undeniably become a quirky symbol of American excess and competitiveness.
Conclusion
Joey Chestnut has pushed the limits of hot dog consumption to new levels, downing a world record 63 dogs and buns at the 2022 Nathan’s contest. While competitors have showcased the human body’s surprising capacity for extreme eating, medical experts caution against untrained imitation.
The Nathan’s competition has become a beloved Independence Day tradition, with Chestnut cementing his legend as the king of Coney Island. America’s love affair with fast food, competition, and excess is on full display every July 4th through the spectacle of competitive eating.
