If you’re going to be enjoying a delicious hot dog, there’s no better way of ensuring the most supreme taste experience than by making your own buns.
You can make sure that your hot dog buns are soft but not too soft to the point that they collapse as soon as you bite into them. You can also experiment with different buns and flavors.
With that being said, read on to discover everything you need to know about making your own hot dog buns.
What is a hot dog bun?
A soft bun known as a “hot dog bun” is designed primarily to hold a hot dog or any other kind of sausage.
Throughout most of the country, side-loading buns are the norm. However, in New England, top-loading hot dog buns are more typical.
Chicago-style hot dog buns now come with poppy seeds, among other regional variants.
The history of the hot dog bun
During the 19th century, Central European immigrants brought frankfurters and wieners to the United States. By the 1860s, German beer gardens started to flourish across many U.S. cities, and these restaurants sold a lot of German foot staples, including potatoes, bread, and sausages.
According to author Bruce Kraig, Charles Feltman started selling sausages in a hot dog bun from a pushcart along the boardwalk of Coney Island back in 1867.
It’s believed that Feltman created a special roll for his sausages to be served inside – the good ol’ hot dog bun we all know and love today!
However, there is a lot of debate and discussion about who really invented the hot dog.
Either way, Feltman’s food cart was very much a hit. By the early 1890s, the humble pushcart had turned into a thriving food empire! Feltman owned an entire city block with an outdoor beer garden, nine restaurants, and more.
Soon, he would own one of the country’s biggest restaurants and serve over five million customers yearly.
Why are homemade hot dog buns better than store-bought hot dog buns?
Hot dog buns are widely available. However, not all of them have the same flavor. Typically, supermarket hot dog buns are…
- Overly rigid or dense
- Squish and vanish in your mouth
- Have an excessive reliance on chemicals to lengthen shelf life
- Possess an artificial flavor
I like my bread buns soft, but who wants them to be so thin that they fall apart in your mouth? Although homemade hot dog buns are soft, they aren’t soft to the extent that they crumble after a mouthful.
The best part is that you can make the buns in any size you wish. Make them big enough to hold larger, thicker sausages or tiny enough to hold small hot dogs.
Plus, the dough for these hot dog buns is extremely flexible. It can be used to make hamburger buns, New England-style hot dog buns, and sub-buns.
Hot dog buns you cook yourself are fresh and taste delicious! You can be certain that there are no fake substances or chemicals because you know exactly what you’ve put into the dough.
Recipe for homemade hot dog buns
Now you know why homemade hot dog buns are better, let’s take a look at how to make them.
Ingredients
- One large egg
- 1 and a half teaspoons of salt
- 1 (0.25 ounce) of instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup milk
Steps to follow
- In a small saucepan, warm the milk, water, and butter over medium heat until they are about 120 degrees F.
- Combine 1 ¾ cups flour in a sizable basin with the sugar, yeast, and salt. Pour the warm milk mixture in and blend by stirring.
- Add the egg and combine.
- Beat well while gradually adding the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time.
- Turn out the dough on a lightly dusted surface and knead it for 8 minutes or until it is elastic and smooth.
- The dough should be divided into 16 equal pieces if creating hot dog buns. Create a 6×4-inch rectangle out of each piece.
- Roll up each piece tightly, then seal off the edges and ends with a pinch.
- Butter a baking sheet and place the hot dog buns on this.
- Cover the dough for 20 to 25 minutes and leave it to the side so it rises.
- Set the oven to 200 degrees C / 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Hot dog buns should be baked in a preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.
How long will your hot dog buns last?
In general, hot dog buns hold up well on the shelf. Depending on the kind of bread used, they can keep it for a few days to a few weeks before going bad.
There are multiple ways to increase your bread’s shelf life, including freezing it or keeping it in a bread box, so the answer to this question will vary depending on a number of different factors:
1. What type of hot dog buns you have
All hot dog buns will have a sell-by date if you’ve purchased them from a store. The store has until this time to sell them; else, they will remove them from the shelves. However, this does not necessarily imply that they will spoil on that specific date. Even after this date, the buns can still be edible for a few days.
Of course, how fresh they were, to begin with, and how they were preserved both have a key role to play in this. For instance, hot dog buns will often keep longer if bought from a bakery or supermarket shop with a high turnover rate compared to if they have been sitting on the shelf for a few days.
2. How you’ve stored the hot dog buns
Hot dog buns will survive longer if they are kept in a cool, dry environment as opposed to a warm, humid one. The shelf life of the buns will also be increased by using an airtight, sealed container.
Store-bought hot dog buns should last 5 to 7 days in a typical room environment if properly wrapped and kept.
On the other hand, homemade hot dog buns might not keep as well as ones from the supermarket. Nonetheless, they should remain fresh for around 3-5 days if stored correctly in an airtight container.
What if you’ve gotten bored of the hot dog bun?
If you’re fed up with having a hot dog in a bread bun, we’ve got some unique suggestions you can try, including:
- Potato bread – There’s a reason potato hot dog buns are a favorite among both children and adults: it’s buttery, sweet, and as soft as a pillow. I challenge you to find a better option than a hot dog on potato bread when it comes to a late-night snack! No matter when you eat it, it’s a delicious snack that you can spice up or eat plain. Make sure the potato bread gets a nice dose of butter added first if no one is looking. You won’t regret it!
- Rye bread – A hot dog Rueben sandwich sounds good, doesn’t it? This toasted melty sandwich is very satisfying, especially on chilly days. You can make this with grilled franks, melted Swiss, warm sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing sandwiched between two pieces of toasted dark rye.
- Pretzel buns – Who doesn’t love a warm pretzel bun? The salty flavor of pretzels and the chewy feel of a roll make this the perfect accompaniment for a frankfurter. Tuck half a frankfurter into a small pretzel bun and top it with mustard.
- Tortillas – Serve hot dogs wrapped in a soft wheat or corn tortilla whenever you’re in the mood for a flavor of Tex-Mex, whether it’s a quick weekday dinner or a weekend snack. For an extra fiery kick, add cream cheese, jalapenos, salsa, and cheddar on top.
- Hawaiian buns – If you’ve never had Hawaiian bread, you’re in for a delectable treat. Hawaiian hot dog buns are fluffy, soft, and sweet. It comes in sliced loaves, whole bread, rolls, and even split-top buns. Hawaiian hot dog buns are guaranteed to be a hit, making them ideal for sizable backyard barbecues or tailgate gatherings. When you serve your franks in Hawaiian buns, everyone will remark on how delicious they are. Just make sure you have enough relish!
- Sandwich rolls – Serve hot dogs in a large, crusty sandwich bun for dinner to give them an extra meaty feel. For a frank that truly tastes like a meal, cover them in sautéed onion and green pepper. Consider a jumbo frank to make sure it doesn’t get lost in a crusty, big sandwich roll.
- Wholegrain buns – Serve a hot dog between two slices of whole wheat or whole grain bread for a cheap, healthy school lunch. Turkey and chicken franks contain less fat than traditional ones but have just as much delicious flavor if you want to keep it light. Make a frank-lettuce-tomato sandwich by adding some fresh lettuce leaves, tomato slices, and mayonnaise. This is a great way of ensuring your children’s school lunches are exciting without being too unhealthy.
- English muffins – Who said that hot dogs were only for dinner or lunch? A toasted English muffin with a sliced hot dog inside is perfect for an early morning treat. Add some egg and cheese to create your version of the popular McMuffin.
Make your own hot dog buns to take your experience to new heights
So there you have it: the complete guide on making your own hot dog buns. If you want to enjoy the best possible taste experience, put everything in your own hands and start baking.
Once you get confident with mastering the classic hot dog buns, you can have fun experimenting with different ingredients and flavors.
And remember, you don’t even have to have your hot dog bun in a classic roll, either! Plenty of other exciting options exist, from potato bread to pretzels. You’ll never run out of options when enjoying one of America’s most-loved foods.
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