Bratwurst is a funny little word, isn’t it? “Wurst” means sausage and “brat” derives from “brato,” the Old High German word for hacked meat. Bratwurst in the United States is usually served on a hot dog bun or with a hard roll and topped with assorted condiments typically used on hot dogs, such as mustard, onions, relish and sauerkraut. Bratwurst should be boiled before grilling to ensure that they are thoroughly cooked and picking up bratwurst fresh from your local butcher will make them a healthier alternative to hot dogs as they will not contain nitrates. However, smoked bratwurst (“krainerwurst”) will contain nitrates due to the smoking process.