The real reason hot dog buns commonly aren't in the same quantities as frankfurters has finally been revealed.
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council explained why buns are typically sold in packs of eight despite hot dogs being packaged in various quantities, including six, eight, 10 and 12, on its frequently asked questions page.
"When hot dog buns were introduced, hot dogs were sold in varying quantities at the butcher shop," the council wrote. "Not until 1940 were hot dogs packaged the way we currently see them in the grocery store. When manufacturers began packaging hot dogs, they chose the 10 to the pack formula. Today hot dogs are sold most often in eight or ten to the pound packs, but some are sold other quantities as well.
"Sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns, most often come eight to the pack because the buns are baked in clusters of four in pans designed to hold eight rolls. While baking pans now come in configurations that allow baking 10 and even 12 at a time, the eight roll pan remains the most popular."
The council noted that a consumer would need to purchase five backs of eight-to-the pack buns and four 10-to-the-pack hot dogs simultaneous to break even. The buns also vary from quantities of sausage links in a pack, which they're also commonly used to hold.