As we celebrate National Hot Dog Day, it's time to look at some of the common barriers to hot dog enjoyment, and cover the solutions.

Bad buns are a dry and crumbly scourge on our great land. Even some of the fresh baked varieties are problematic, because they're so thick that they throw off the proper dog-to-bun ratio.

When you do get the bun right, you still have to worry about condiments. Spread them carelessly and there is no going back. That's why I recommend dipping your dog on a per-bite basis. This allows you to regulate ratios and try different condiments (or no condiment) on different bites.

If you're stuck with bad buns, don't lose hope. I've developed a variety of techniques to help. Watch the latest installment of my Cooking Channel web series You're Eating It Wrong for more.