Hot dogs are a summer classic!
They’re a great way to come together with friends, enjoy some snacking while watching the big game, or enjoying the outdoors.
But don’t think hotdogs have to be boring – there are many ways you can make them fun and exciting.
Here we’ll talk about some of our favorite hacks for cooking and eating hot dogs.
1. Add a toasted bun

So you have your hot dog ready, and it’s time to put it on a bun.
But wait! The sandwich needs to be toasted first (is a hot dog a sandwich?)
Toasting the bun gives it a crispy texture that contrasts with the softness of the hot dog, making for an interesting texture contrast. Toasting also makes room for other toppings like cheese or sauerkraut since you’ll want all those crispy edges to grab onto these tasty additions.
If you’re feeling adventurous (or just really hungry), some hot sauce might go great with your toasted creation as well!
2. Cook them in beer
When boiling hot dogs, add beer to the water. The alcohol will help cook the casing faster, letting you enjoy your hot dog sooner.
When grilling or frying hot dogs, use a pan with beer in it rather than oil or butter. This will give your dog a nice crispness without adding too much fat.
If you’re planning on baking or steaming hot dogs, add beer to the water (or steam) for extra flavor!
3. Cook them on your grill like a skewer

If you want to cook hot dogs on the grill like a skewer, here’s how to do it:
- Cook the hot dogs according to package directions
- Place each cooked hot dog onto a skewer or toothpicks and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Freeze for at least 1 hour until completely frozen and solid. You can also stick these in the freezer for 30 minutes if you don’t have time to wait for an hour (this will just take more time).
- When ready to eat, heat up your grill at medium high heat and place the frozen dogs directly onto the grill rack coated with cooking spray or oiled lightly with oil so they don’t stick!
- Cook until golden brown on both sides; this should take about 5-7 minutes total depending on how well done you like them!
- Enjoy!!
4. Try some fancy toppings.
Hot dogs are a great canvas for experimenting with toppings. You can use all sorts of condiments and toppings—the options are endless!
Try different combinations of condiments and toppings (ketchup, mustard, relish, sauerkraut) to see which combinations you like best.
You can also try different types of bread (brioche buns, pita bread). And don’t forget the meat—you can choose from beef hot dogs or turkey hot dogs if you want something healthier than processed meat stuffed into a tube.
Use your imagination!
5. Wrap your hot dog in bacon
You might try wrapping your hot dog in bacon. This can be done many ways, but the most common way is to cut a strip of bacon in half and wrap it around the hot dog.
When wrapped properly, you should end up with a tight spiral that completely encloses your hot dog.
6. Blanch your dogs
Blanching is a cooking technique that involves immersing food in boiling water for a short time to cook it, then plunging it into cold water to stop the cooking process.
It’s commonly used to loosen the skin of fruits and vegetables, so you can peel them easily.
The same method can be used for sausages!
7. Put ketchup and mustard on the inside of your hot dog bun

This one is more basic. But before you put your hot dog in the bun, apply the ketchup, mustard, or other toppings inside the bun.
This will be the best way to keep your hands from getting messy and potentially avoid that blop of ketchup that always seems to find its way to your shirt.
Conclusion
And those are just a few of the ways you can have fun with your hot dog. You can use these hacks to add some creativity to your next cookout, or even while you’re firing up the grill by yourself.
The important thing is to not take this too seriously, because it’s supposed to be fun!
There’s no right or wrong way to eat a hot dog—or at least that’s what we’ve been told—so don’t feel bad if none of these work for you. Instead, try experimenting on your own and see what kind of new creations you come up with.
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