How To Cook Hot Dogs (2024)

Ask 3 different people and you'll most likely get 3 different answers about How To Cook Hot Dogs, but no matter how you cook your hot dogs, that first bite of summer always tastes the best.

In this article you will learn how to cook hot dogs five different ways. You will learn how to pan fry hot dogs, grill hot dogs, oven roast hot dogs, air fry hot dogs, and microwave hot dogs.

Hot Dogs

We don't typically indulge in hot dogs, but I have to admit it is hard to pass up a deliciously grilled hot dog in the summer or a crispy pan fried hot dog on a lightly toasted bun.

I know there is a lot of debate over hot dogs and what goes into them, but if you buy all natural, uncured hot dogs you won't get all of those unwanted nitrites. That's a good thing and makes me feel better about indulging every so often.

I'm sure many would be willing to debate the BEST way to cook hot dogs, but I say the BEST wayto cook hot dogs is the way YOU like them, so I'm going to show you how to cook hot dogs in a pan on the stove (my personal favorite), on a grill, in the oven, in the air fryer, and in the microwave.

I like hot dogs cooked using different methods, but I think the BEST cooking method is to cook hot dogs is in a pan on the stove. Cooking hot dogs in a pan on the stove is quick and easy and makes an ideal hot dog with lots of flavor. Bonus - it doesn't involve standing over hot coals in the FL heat or heating up a big pot of water.

How To Buy the Best Hot Dogs

When buying hot dogs you want to get the best quality hot dogs you can afford with the following qualities:

Uncured hot dogs are best as they don't have added nitrates or nitrites, so they are a healthier choice
Natural casing hot dogs give you that satisfying 'snap' from the hot dog skin
100% all beef hot dogs

Hot dog Brands I like and feel make a flavorful dog are Thumann's, Boars Head, Applegate Farms, Nathan's, and Sabrett. Some of these brands can be difficult to find in your local grocery store, but I usually have no problem finding Boars Head uncured, natural casing, all beef hot dogs. They make a deliciously juicy hot dog.

Hot Dog Skins

All hot dogs are made and pre-cooked in casings or skins. I recommend buying natural casing hot dogs.

Skinless hot dogs - hot dogs labeled 'skinless' means the casing was removed after cooking. I'm not a huge fan of skinless hot dogs. They won't have the crunch natural casing hot dogs have and I love the crunch!
Natural Casing- The casing is what produces that satisfying snap. It's important to avoid hot dogs with an artificial casing as they can become tough and rubbery when cooked.

How To Cook Hot Dogs in a Pan - Pan Fry Hot Dogs

Pan frying hot dogs is my favorite way to cook hot dogs. If you want to cook hot dogs on the stove, this is the preferred method. I don't recommend boiling hot dogs ever. Boiling takes the flavor out of the hot dog and waters them down.

Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat, and add a small amount of water - just enough water to cover the bottom of the frying pan. TIP: Use a good-quality cast-iron pan.
Carefully place hot dogs in the frying pan and allow them to cook until the water is evaporated. Roll them around a little during this cooking time.
Once all the water evaporates, add a generous dab of butter and cook the hot dogs a little longer to brown the hot dogs.

How to Cook Hot Dogs on the Grill

It is hard to pass up a deliciously grilled hot dog cooked on an open flame in the summer. The barbecue grill gives your hot dog a smoky flavor with a great snap you just can’t get any other way.

Heat up the grill with two zones - a hot grill zone and a cool grill zone. For a charcoal grill be sure to stack all the coals on one side to create a hot zone and a cool zone. For a gas grill you'll adjust the knobs to control the temperature on each side of the grill with one side hotter than the other.
Place the hot dogs on the hot side of the grill perpendicular to the grate to get those wonderful grill marks. This also allows them to roll easier to keep them moving. Watch them closely as they will burn quickly.
When the hot dogs are nicely browned with beautiful grill marks, move them over to the cool side of the grill to finish heating. Hot dogs are fully cooked straight out of the package, so the objective is to ensure the hot dogs are heated through. This will take about five to seven minutes depending on the size of the hot dogs.

How to Cook Hot Dogs in the Oven

It doesn't get much easier than cooking hot dogs in the oven. If it's too cold outside to grill, oven roasting hot dogs is the way to go!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place your hot dogs on a rack that is placed inside a baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with foil for extra easy cleanup.
Cook the hot dogs in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. They're done when browned to your liking. You can turn on the broiler at the end if you like them extra crispy. Remember when broiling to keep the oven door ajar and watch them closely to avoid burning.

How to Air Fry Hot Dogs

I love cooking hot dogs in the air fryer. They come out hot, crispy, and delicious in no time with almost no effort!

Place hot dogs into the Air Fryer basket. Be sure you don't crowd them. They need space between each dog so the air can circulate and cook them evenly.
Air fry for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Carefully remove the hot dogs from the air fryer and place each hot dog into a bun. If you want toasted buns, place the hot dog and bun back into the air fryer and cook until desired toastiness - about 1-2 minutes.

How to Microwave Hot Dogs

Microwaving hot dogs is the most convenient way to cook hot dogs. I don't normally microwave hot dogs anymore, but if you're in a time crunch, this is the fastest way to get the hot dogs in your belly! It's also a very easy way to cook hot dogs.

Place the hot dogs on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a paper towel. The paper towel traps the moisture that escapes from the hot dog as it cooks, keeping your microwave clean and the hot dog hot and juicy.
Microwave on high until heated through, about a minute for one hot dog. Add 20-30 seconds for each additional hot dog on the plate. If not heated through, microwave another 30 seconds at a time as needed to heat the hot dogs to your liking.
Keep in mind, microwave oven power varies, so you'll likely have to play around with the microwave cook time to heat the hot dogs to your liking.
Carefully remove the paper towel as it is likely to release hot steam.

Hot Dog Toppings

Toppings for hot dogs are a very personal choice. Even more so than how to cook hot dogs. We like our traditional backyard summertime hot dog loaded with toppings! Our perfect hot dog is usually topped with Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles, diced onions, tomatoes, and our favorite condiments are ketchup, & mustard.

However, when we're feeling really special, we go all out and enjoy a fancy gourmet hot dog recipe. There's really no wrong way to enjoy hot dogs, so why not give them all a try and decide for yourself! Hot dogs make an easy meal any night of the week.

Our Best Hot Dogs

Don really loves the Banh Mi Hot Dogs. Inspired by the Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwich, this recipe takes the humble hot dog to a whole new level of gourmet deliciousness!

When we have a little extra time to caramelize some onions, my French Onion Hot Dogs are just like the ever popular French Onion Soup, but in a handy bun and extra delicious because it's a hot dog!!

Ingredients

How to Pan Fry Hot Dogs

4 Natural, uncured hot dogs
water
1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
4 hot dog buns

Instructions

How To Pan Fry Hot Dogs

In a skillet over medium-high heat, add enough water to cover the bottom of the skillet. Carefully place hot dogs in the skillet and allow them to cook until the water is evaporated. Roll them around a little during this time.
Once all the water evaporates, add a tablespoon of butter and cook the hot dogs a little longer to get a nice sear on them
Lightly toast the buns while the hot dogs are cooking. Serve topped with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

How to Cook Hot Dogs on the Grill

Heat up the grill with two zones - a hot zone and a cool zone. For a charcoal grill be sure to stack all the coals on one side to create a hot zone and a cool zone. For a gas grill you'll adjust the knobs to control the temperature on each side of the grill with one side hotter than the other.
Place the hot dogs on the hot side of the grill perpendicular to the grate to get those wonderful grill marks. This also allows them to roll easier to keep them moving. Watch them closely as they will burn quickly.
When the hot dogs are nicely browned with beautiful grill marks, move them over to the cool side of the grill to finish heating. Hot dogs are fully cooked straight out of the package, so the objective is to ensure the hot dogs are heated through. This will take about five to seven minutes depending on the size of the hot dogs.

How To Cook Hot Dogs in the Oven

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place your hot dogs on a rack that is placed inside a baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with foil for extra easy cleanup.
Cook the hot dogs in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. They're done when browned to your liking. You can turn on the broiler to if you like them extra crispy. Remember when broiling to keep the oven door ajar and watch them closely to avoid burning.

How to Air Fry Hot Dogs

Notes:

Uncured hot dogs are best as they don't have added nitrates or nitrites, so they are a healthier choice

Natural casing hot dogs give you that satisfying 'snap'

100% all beef hot dogs have the best flavor (imo)

Hot dog brands I like are Thumann's, Boars Head, Applegate Farms, Nathan's, and Sabrett. Some of these brands can be difficult to find in your local grocery store, but I usually have no problem finding Boars Head uncured, natural casing, all beef hot dogs in the deli section of my local grocery store

Calories

325.08

Fat (grams)

19.00

Sat. Fat (grams)

7.79

Carbs (grams)

27.34

Fiber (grams)

0.94

Net carbs

26.41

Sugar (grams)

4.40

Protein (grams)

10.72

Sodium (milligrams)

668.60

Cholesterol (grams)

35.47

Nutrition label disclaimer: Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

https://www.ourlifetastesgood.com/2016/06/how-to-cook-hot-dogs.html

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @lifetastesgoood on instagram and hashtag it #LTGrecipes

Created using The Recipes Generator

Greetings, enthusiasts of culinary delights! I'm here to guide you through the art of preparing hot dogs with a depth of knowledge and expertise that stems from a genuine passion for the subject. My culinary journey has involved not just savoring the perfect hot dog but also exploring various cooking methods, delving into the nuances of hot dog brands, and mastering the art of selecting the finest ingredients for this classic American dish.

Let's embark on a flavorful exploration of the article on how to cook hot dogs in five different ways: pan frying, grilling, oven roasting, air frying, and microwaving. The author rightly asserts that the best way to cook hot dogs is the way you personally enjoy them, and I'm here to provide insights into each method and offer additional information on hot dog selection.

Hot Dog Selection:

Before delving into cooking methods, the article emphasizes the importance of choosing high-quality hot dogs. Here are some key points:

Uncured Hot Dogs: Opt for uncured hot dogs as they do not contain added nitrates or nitrites, making them a healthier choice.
Natural Casing Hot Dogs: These hot dogs provide a satisfying 'snap' when bitten. Natural casings are preferred over artificial ones, as the latter can become tough and rubbery when cooked.
100% All Beef Hot Dogs: For the best flavor, the article suggests choosing hot dogs made from 100% beef. Some recommended brands include Thumann's, Boars Head, Applegate Farms, Nathan's, and Sabrett.

Cooking Methods:

Pan Frying:
- Preferred Method: Pan frying in a skillet with a small amount of water.
- Key Steps: Cook until water evaporates, then add butter for a nice sear.
- Benefits: Quick, easy, and results in a flavorful hot dog.
Grilling:
- Preferred Method: Grilling on an open flame with two zones (hot and cool).
- Key Steps: Achieve grill marks on the hot side, then move to the cool side to finish heating.
- Benefits: Imparts a smoky flavor and a satisfying snap.
Oven Roasting:
- Preferred Method: Roasting in the oven at 400 degrees.
- Key Steps: Place hot dogs on a rack inside a baking sheet for even cooking.
- Benefits: Simple and convenient, with the option to broil for extra crispiness.
Air Frying:
- Preferred Method: Air frying at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Key Steps: Ensure space between hot dogs for even cooking, toast buns separately if desired.
- Benefits: Quick, crispy, and requires minimal effort.
Microwaving:
- Preferred Method: Microwaving on high with a paper towel covering.
- Key Steps: Adjust time based on microwave power, add 20-30 seconds for each additional hot dog.
- Benefits: Convenient and quick, suitable for time crunches.

Hot Dog Toppings:

The article acknowledges that toppings are a personal choice. Traditional choices include homemade bread and butter pickles, diced onions, tomatoes, and condiments like ketchup and mustard. Additionally, the author shares gourmet hot dog recipes, showcasing the versatility of this beloved dish.

In conclusion, the article not only provides practical cooking instructions but also emphasizes the joy of experimenting with different methods and toppings to find the perfect hot dog experience for you. Whether you're a pan-fry aficionado, a grill master, or a microwave maestro, the key is to savor that first bite of summer with a hot dog cooked just the way you like it.