7 Ways You Can Cook A Hot Dog

It’s crazy to think that you can cook a humble hot dog in so many ways! From grilling to boiling, the options are endless. 

To ensure you’ve got all options covered, we will look at the different ways you can cook a hot dog in more depth. 

1.) Using an air fryer to cook your hot dog

What is it that your air fryer can’t do? This approach is based on Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole’s Basic Air Fryer Hot Dogs recipe.

What You’ll Need:

• Hot dogs
• Buns
• Air fryer

Directions for hot dogs:

• Heat the air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Buns may be optionally placed in the basket and heated for two minutes. Remove the buns.
• After three minutes, put the hot dogs in the basket and transfer them to the buns.

2.) Using the grill to cook your hot dog

The most traditional way to prepare hot dogs is on a grill. 

What You’ll Need:

• Hot dogs
• A grill

Hot dogs on a grill Instructions:

• Get the grill hot.
• Place hot dogs on the grill at an angle to get diagonal grill marks.
• For one minute on each side, grill hot dogs.

3.) Using a slow cooker to cook your hot dog

Use a slow cooker to cook hot dogs in bulk for a totally hands-free approach.

What You’ll Need:

• Hot dogs
• Slow cooker

Directions for hot dogs in a slow cooker:

• Put hot dogs in your slow cooker standing up. Don’t include water! As the hot dogs heat up, moisture and steam will be released.
• Heat for either two hours on high or four hours on low.

4.) Using a frying pan to cook your hot dog

If you enjoy a crispy frank, you’ll enjoy cooking hot dogs in a frying pan using this straightforward pan-fry technique.

What You’ll Need Is as Follows:

• Water (or butter or oil)
• Tongs
• Skillet
• Hot dogs 

Directions for hot dogs in a frying pan:

• A skillet should have 12 inches or more of water covering the entire surface. In addition, you can substitute a tablespoon or two of oil or butter for the water. Put in a medium-high heat source.
• Water is brought to a boil.
• Add a few hot dogs at a time with tongs.
• Roll the hot dogs regularly with the tongs until all sides are browned.

5.) Using a microwave to cook your hot dog

A microwave is the quickest way to heat a hot dog. Therefore there isn’t much to say about it.

What You’ll Needs:

• Hot dogs 
• A microwave-safe plate
• Paper towels

Instructions:

• Put the hot dog(s) on a dish that can be used in a microwave and cover it with a paper towel.
• In 15-second intervals, microwave on high until the desired result is achieved.

6.) Using an oven to cook your hot dog

Large quantities of hot dogs can be prepared for a party using the mess-free oven-roasting technique.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Hot dogs 
• Aluminum foil
• Rimmed backing sheet

Instructions:

1. Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. A baking sheet with a rim should be lined with foil.
3. Until you hear a sizzle, bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. The hot dogs can be broiled for an additional few minutes if you want the outside to be even more crispy.

7.) Boiling your hot dogs

Cooking a lot of hot dogs is simple when using this tried-and-true boiling method.

You’ll need these ingredients:

• Tongs
• Hot dogs
• Water
• Large saucepan

The instructions to follow:

1. Put enough water in a big saucepan to completely submerge hot dogs (about 1 cup per hot dog).
2. Water is brought to a boil.
3. Using tongs, add the hot dogs one at a time.
4. The hot dogs should simmer for three to six minutes on low heat; the longer they simmer, the crispier the hot dogs will be.
5. Once finished, remove them from the water with tongs and pat them dry with paper towels.

Which cooking method should you use?

Determining which approach to use all comes down to personal preference. How quickly do you want to eat hot dogs? How many do you need to cook?

Do you prefer a hot dog with a bit of toughness and texture? Are you looking for something that’s going to be soft and quick? Ultimately, your choice of cooking method is going to come down to the type of hot dogs you like the most. 

If you’re reading this and you’re an avid cooker, you can have a lot of fun trying out different hot dog recipes. 

Mistakes you need to avoid when cooking hot dogs

Here are some of the common mistakes we see people make when cooking hot dogs: 

Have fun with different condiments

Even the best hot dogs can become monotonous when served with just one condiment.

If you want a more gourmet experience, don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors and combinations, even though mustard or ketchup work just well.

Choosing an acidic topping will create the perfect flavor balance because it will balance out the hot dog’s smokiness and high-fat level.

For instance, you may try making hot dogs that are jerk-inspired by the Caribbean by combining grilled pineapple, cilantro, lime zest, a little rum, and jerk seasoning ingredients.

Stay away from skin-less hot dogs

Do you know that delicious crunch you get when you bite into a hot dog that’s been cooked to perfection? It is from the casing of the meat.

Choosing a skinless hot dog means forgoing that snap and may also make the hot dog lose moisture more quickly on the grill.

The texture is a key part of the hot-dog experience, so choose dogs with natural casings for the greatest outcomes.

Don’t forget to prepare your hot dog buns as well 

Perfectly prepared meat is no doubt the centerpiece of the hot dog experience, but the bun is also a critical factor.

No one enjoys cold buns, so make sure you don’t neglect them.

A hot dog bun ought to be gently toasted, which can be achieved by chucking the buns on the grill for about one minute per side.

For added flavor, brush the inside of the toasted bun with a little butter or oil.

Make sure the grill is hot enough before adding hot dogs

While a grill that is too cool can also ruin hot dogs, a grill that is too hot can end up burning your hot dogs or splitting their casings, neither of which are desirable!

If your grill is too chilly, your hot dog will get tough or dried out. Be sure to give your grill some time to warm up. I normally set my grill to 425 degrees [F] and cook food for around 10 minutes.

Don’t poke or slit your hot dogs before cooking

You might be tempted to examine your hot dogs’ “doneness” while grilling with a knife or fork, but you should attempt to break the habit.

Hot dogs are frequently precooked, so there is no need to pierce or split them open while cooking. Your dogs’ juicy, delectable juices are released when you poke and prod them.

Flip them with care using tongs to guarantee that the hot dogs’ casings remain whole and flavorful.

Cooking your hot dogs over direct heat

Hot dogs can readily burn when cooked over an open flame since they are little pieces of meat.

To prevent burning or overcooking, don’t cook your hot dogs over direct heat — which can cause the casing to burst. So, cook them over indirect heat on your grill grate and frequently move them around. This is imperative to ensure the side gets touched by the heat source.

If you place your hot dogs directly over the flames, their shells may burn and sear before the interior has a chance to heat up.

Boiling hot dogs for too long

Though they may look pink, most hot dogs have been cooked already, and so they’re technically ready to eat right out of the package. This means that boiling them for ages before throwing them on the grill is probably unnecessary and can suck the flavor out of your dogs.

But you may want to ensure your chilled hot dogs are fully heated before you toss them on the grill.

Which is your preferred method when cooking hot dogs?

As you can see, you can use many different methods when cooking hot dogs. Which one is your favorite?

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