Boiled, grilled, griddled, roasted, or pan-fried, there are lots of totally tasty ways to cook a hot dog. But not every method is masterful. Avoid these blunders on a bun.
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00:00Boiled, grilled, griddled, roasted, or pan-fried, there are lots of totally tasty ways to cook
00:06a hot dog, but not every method is masterful. Avoid these blenders on a bun.
00:11First up, if you're not buying the right kinds of hot dogs, you're just not going to have
00:15a stellar experience. Yes, it's tempting to buy the budget-brand hot dogs that are on
00:19sale, but you'll regret it. The bare minimum measure of quality when it comes to hot dogs?
00:24An all-beef center.
00:26Hashtag unbreakable beef bond.
00:29If the packaging says that the hot dog is made up of some strange mixture of chicken,
00:33beef, and pork, you probably ought to stay away. After all, you don't really want to
00:37mix up all of those proteins in any other dish you make, so why would you want to do
00:41that for your hot dog? Another sign of short quality? If the hot dog has a natural casing
00:45made from pork or lamb, you're likely in good hands. You want something that's going to
00:49snap when you bite into it. When a hot dog snaps, that means it's fresh.
00:54Along these lines, you want to pay attention to what your hot dog's packaging says about
00:58its casings, or skin. Natural pork and lamb casings are the most desirable, as they not
01:02only provide that snap, but they also hold in all of the hot dog's natural juices. But
01:07don't be fooled if you see a hot dog that claims it's made with a cellulose casing,
01:11because that's not a real casing at all, and you don't want it.
01:14What's the difference? In the instance of a natural casing, the casing is retained through
01:18cooking, and then when eating. If a hot dog uses a cellulose casing, though, that means
01:22the maker simply fills the casing with their hot dog meat, smokes it, and then peels the
01:26casing off before packaging and selling the hot dog. That means the hot dog doesn't come
01:31with an intact casing, and it is, essentially, skinless. That means no snap and nothing to
01:36hold in those juices. So when you're shopping for some hot dogs, look for the natural casings
01:40only.
01:41According to the USDA, hot dogs last about two weeks in the fridge, unopened. Then, after
01:46opening, they last a week. However, if you pop them in the freezer, they'll last one
01:50to two months at top quality and indefinitely at subpar quality. But just because you can
01:54do something doesn't mean you should.
01:56The problem isn't with the freezing itself, though. It's in the defrosting. According
02:00to Today's Experts, if you don't thoroughly ensure that your dogs have completely come
02:04up to room temperature all the way through, they just won't cook evenly, and you'll have
02:08a difficult time. You might even find that your hot dog is burnt to a crisp on the outside
02:12before it even becomes remotely warm on the inside.
02:15So to play it safe, don't freeze your hot dogs. Just purchase the hot dogs within two
02:19weeks of when you plan to eat them.
02:21Hot dogs. It's what's good in life.
02:23Once you're ready to start cooking those hot dogs, you need to take a look at your grill.
02:27Just like you wouldn't cook with a grime-encrusted dirty pan in your kitchen, you don't want
02:31to cook on a grime-encrusted dirty grill in your backyard. So give it a clean with a grill
02:35brush, first and foremost.
02:37Then, you want to oil up your grill ahead of turning on the heat. This is vital to your
02:41hot dog cooking experience, because if you skip this step, you're very likely to end
02:45up with hot dogs that simply won't rotate easily, or that altogether stick to your grates.
02:50And no one wants to spend their grill session ripping hot dogs off a grate.
02:53For oil, you can either spray your grill grates with a nonstick spray from the kitchen, or
02:58use a paper towel with a bit of high-heat oil and manually wipe down the grates.
03:03It's happened to us all before. You start up the grill and really get it going, you
03:07throw on some hot dogs, and then the distraction happens. Whether it's your thirst for another
03:11frosty beer from the fridge, a friend or family member who's just arrived at the barbecue,
03:15or shooing a hungry pup from beneath your feet, whatever that distraction is, it effectively
03:20gets you away from the grill. Then when you return, your hot dogs are worse for wear.
03:24That's because hot dogs take very little time to cook, and if you're cooking grass-fed beef
03:28hot dogs, they'll take even less time to cook.
03:30According to a Men's Health article, your average hot dog only takes about two to three
03:34minutes to char on each side, which means your hot dog will cook in six minutes or less.
03:39If you're cooking grass-fed beef hot dogs, they'll take about one minute per side, or
03:42two minutes total, due to the lower fat content. In other words, walking away for even a few
03:47seconds could spell disaster for your hot dogs.
03:50We've already talked about how a high-quality hot dog is apt to have that tasty, all-natural
03:55casing that just snaps when you bite into it, releasing all of those tasty spices and
03:59juices. But what if your hot dog snaps prematurely? That's exactly what can happen if you put
04:04the hot dogs over too high a heat, allowing the casing to burst and leaving you with a
04:08hot dog that's less than ideal.
04:10According to the Hoffman Sausage Company, which has been making German-style hot dogs
04:14since the late 1800s, high grill flames are your enemy when it comes to cooking hot dogs.
04:19The company, which is based out of Syracuse, New York, told Syracuse.com,
04:22"...the trick is to not put the hot dogs over a high flame, otherwise they're apt to split
04:27and burst open and leak juices and fat, which can lead to flare-ups."
04:31I bought a grill and the grill won."
04:33But on the other side of things, while you don't want to cook your hot dogs over high
04:37heat due to the risk of your hot dogs bursting open, you also don't want to cook your hot
04:41dogs over too low of a grill heat. If you start your grill and don't allow it to heat
04:45up and just toss your hot dogs right on, you could end up with a tough, dry hot dog that's
04:49just been sitting over low heat for too long.
04:52The same thing could happen if you let your grill die down too much before adding your
04:55hot dogs. The key is striking just the right balance.
04:58According to the experts interviewed at Business Insider, the ideal grill temperature for cooking
05:02hot dogs is about 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Not sure how to check your grill's temperature?
05:08Use the hand test. If you can hold your palm roughly three inches above the grill grate
05:12and hold it there for four seconds before pulling it away, your grill is somewhere between
05:16400 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
05:19I know what you're thinking, even more rules about hot dogs than heat? Well, it turns out
05:24that incorrect heat, whether it's too low or too high, can really ruin your hot dog
05:28experience. Additionally, according to today's meat experts, you shouldn't cook your hot
05:32dogs over direct heat, either. Avoid direct sources of heat and open flames, regardless
05:37of whether you're cooking with charcoal or gas.
05:40And if you are cooking with charcoal, the experts recommend wait until the coals are
05:43completely white before you add any of your food to your grill. This will ensure your
05:47temperature isn't too high. Charcoal brand Kingsford further recommends that when cooking
05:52hot dogs over charcoal, only stack your charcoal on one side of your grill so you can move
05:57your hot dogs around the grate if you find that the heat is too low or high in one spot
06:01after you start cooking.
06:03Not all hot dogs should be grilled at the same temperature. Just like as mentioned before,
06:08not all hot dogs can be grilled for the same amount of time due to varying fat content.
06:12Grilling expert and condiment creator Julie Boucher told Business Insider that grill masters
06:17at home should consider the fat content in the hot dogs to determine the appropriate
06:21level of heat to grill them at. Boucher went on to say,
06:24"...higher fat dogs should be cooked at a medium heat, whereas leaner dogs should be
06:27grilling on a medium-low setting."
06:30Look at your hot dog's fat content before you plop them on the grill. And if you know
06:33you specifically bought low-fat hot dogs, like some of the fat-free options on the market,
06:38or even turkey or chicken hot dogs, turn down that flame.
06:42Once you get your hot dogs on the grill and you're confident that you have the best heat
06:45level for your particular hot dogs, you can't just walk away. You have to rotate those dogs.
06:50Based on the fat content of your hot dogs, you'll want to rotate them every minute or
06:53every few minutes. You'll get a feel for how often you need to rotate by how quickly
06:57the hot dog casings develop grill marks. It's better to err on the side of rotating too
07:02quickly than it is to err on the side of rotating too slowly.
07:05And once you have grill marks all the way around, you're not done. As Good Housekeeping
07:09points out, you want to roll those dogs all the way to the coolest side of your grill
07:13so that you can use your gas or charcoal heat for the next step in the necessary process
07:17for grilling a perfect hot dog.
07:20And that next step in the process? Grilling your bun, of course. Regardless of what kind
07:24of hot dog buns you buy, you can upgrade them with a little time on the grill. Just use
07:28the same heat you were using for your hot dogs, and once the dogs are done, toast up
07:31your buns for a minute or two.
07:33An NYC hot dog expert told NPR that adding a little bit of butter to the bun ahead of
07:37grilling helps, too. Mom's grilled cheese sandwich when you were a kid was always kind
07:42of made in a frying pan with butter, and was always delicious. Anything with butter on
07:46it is great.
07:48And if you're just plain bored with your average hot dog bun, Nathan's Famous has a few ideas
07:52for you to shake things up a little by adding your grilled dog to a baguette, pretzel bun,
07:57or even a tortilla.
07:59Oh, you thought once your hot dog was done and your bun was toasted that you were finished
08:03creating the perfect hot dog? Not so fast. You're going to want to pay close attention
08:08to your condiments, too. While you could go with plain mustard and ketchup, if you really
08:12want to take your grilled hot dogs to the next level, you're going to want to get creative
08:16with your toppings.
08:17Hey, hot dog guy, can I get six hot dogs down here, please?
08:20Right away.
08:21And make it right, please, you know, with the mustard and the ketchup and the relish.
08:24Don't make me hit you up for more.
08:25Don't be scared. Your hot dogs are a blank canvas on which you can paint an endless array
08:30of gourmet flavors.
08:32Colombian perros calientes, literally translating to hot dogs, get a creative and crunchy twist
08:38thanks to a handful of potato sticks or crushed chips. The combination is absolutely heavenly,
08:45with the crisp, salty chips playing off the meaty hot dog, soft bun, and oodles of tasty
08:50toppings. Sounds great, right? Just simply purchase a bag of potato chips or sticks,
08:55crumble them on top, and let the magic begin.
08:58Another way these dogs get sufficiently dressed up is the salsa rosada, or pink sauce. It's
09:03a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup that adds a hearty, delicious zing to your hot
09:08dog. Toss on some fresh slaw, salsa, and pickles if you want to get really fancy.
09:13One of the best places to discover new hot dog recipes is…
09:17Reddit.
09:18Obviously.
09:19And there you can find mention of a hot dog piled high with tomatoes, feta, and maybe
09:24an olive or two. This fresh Greek-inspired combo works because it cuts back on the fat
09:29from the hot dog itself and infuses bold and bright flavors into every bite. The feta adds
09:34a sharp, cheesy bite that pairs perfectly with ripe, juicy tomato slices. Add a few
09:39cucumber moons to the mix if you want to go full on.
09:43Although cucumber might seem like a strange topping for your favorite hot dog, the coolness
09:47of the veggie works in brilliant contrast with the hot dog itself.
09:51Finally, homemade or store-bought tzatziki rounds off the dish. While you don't technically
09:56need it, the tanginess and creaminess of the sauce really wraps it all together.
10:00Savvy foodies can find kimchi dogs on menus all over the world, but you can also make
10:05them right at home, since plenty of specialty stores and even larger traditional convenience
10:11stores carry the condiment. Although it's akin to sauerkraut, kimchi packs a little
10:15more flavor, with notes that are both familiar and exciting all at the same time. So if you
10:21love slaw or sauerkraut on your hot dogs, there's a good chance that you'll find kimchi
10:26right up your alley.
10:28Although freshly chopped onions are the ideal companion to any tasty hot dog, there's
10:33something simply divine about sautéed or caramelized onions. As with many of the other
10:38toppings on our list, slow-cooked onions bring a satisfying dose of sweetness to your
10:42charred hot dog. Plus, texturally, they go well with a crunchy toasted bun and a nicely
10:47cooked dog. That makes for one of the more gourmet toppings on our list.
10:52The key to melt-in-your-mouth caramelized onions is patience. These babies have to cook
10:57low and slow until they get that golden, richly caramel-colored hue and fantastic flavor.
11:03A bit of butter, some olive oil, and sliced onion plus at least 45 minutes is all you
11:08need to dive headfirst into sweet onion heaven. But if you're looking for a textural difference,
11:14you can also throw in some raw or fried onions for contrast and some additional flavor.
11:19The Sonoran hot dog is one of the country's most beloved regional hot dog styles. Although
11:24every corner of Arizona does them differently, there are a few key things that you'll find
11:29on these bacon-wrapped beauties, including avocado and salsa. Whether your salsa is hot,
11:34medium, or mild doesn't matter much. What's truly vital is the pairing of both these yin
11:39and yang ingredients. One brings the heat, and the other brings the cool smoothness of
11:44fresh avocado. Being the iconic street food that it is, the Sonoran hot dog is crowned
11:49with everything imaginable, like pinto beans, mushrooms, peppers, and condiments. They top
11:54a beautiful foundation of chunky, fresh salsa and ripe avocado. You can duplicate it yourself
12:00at home with homemade or canned salsa and thinly sliced or smashed avocado.
12:06Pineapple on pizza is about as polarizing as it gets, but they're pretty good on hot
12:15dogs, which can get a fruity glow up from some sunny-hued pineapple salsa piled on top.
12:21Known as the hula dog, this fantastic dish originated in Hawaii. It made its way to the
12:25mainland thanks to the twin flavors of sweet tropical pineapple and sriracha. Although
12:30you can get super fancy and make your hula dog with pineapple salsa, some purists love
12:35to simply pile on the fruit and enjoy the delicate dance of sweet and savory. Although
12:40sriracha is the original hula dog spice, you can use any hot sauce that you have on hand
12:45or simply forgo it altogether. The beauty of this sweet and sassy dog is its simplicity
12:50and unexpected flavor profile.
12:53When you think of hot dogs and cheese, do you picture that neon yellow gas station goo?
12:58If so, it's time to upgrade your thinking. Good melted cheese is phenomenal on hot dogs.
13:04Think brie, gruyere, or smoky sharp cheddar. Once you have your satiny, creamy blanket
13:10of premium cheese, you can dress your dog up any way that you'd like. Chili is phenomenal
13:16with cheese dogs, and fried onions give the dog a little extra kick and texture. You can
13:21even opt for several different kinds of cheeses, for varying tastes and flavors, or look to
13:27the Midwest for cheesy inspiration. Their designer cheese dogs are a regional favorite,
13:33and you can find them on tons of different menus. For example, in Kansas City, hungry
13:38diners can scarf down a hot dog loaded up with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. Piling freshly
13:44roasted corn on top of a perfectly cooked hot dog and a piping hot bun is an excellent
13:49example of execution and primo flavor pairing. Sweet roasted corn complements the richness
13:54of a meaty hot dog, and you can brighten up the whole thing with some citrus. If you like
13:59your dogs hot, throw on some chili powder, jalapenos, or even a little cheese. A mix
14:05of hot sauce and mayo wouldn't be amiss either. Purists can simply go with the corn
14:09and the hot dog, reveling in the sophisticated interplay of flavors and textures. Although
14:14you can get this masterpiece in plenty of places all around the country, it's easy
14:18enough to replicate at home. Just make sure that you use fresh, not canned corn, and roast
14:23it to perfection before loading it on your dog.
14:26Macaroni and cheese is one of the world's cherished and classic comfort foods, while
14:31it works perfectly as a sidekick for your hot dog. True connoisseurs know that the best
14:36way to do it up properly is to load your macaroni and cheese right onto the dog itself. In fact,
14:43many restaurants offer versions of this delicious duo, but you can certainly make it yourself
14:47right at home. All you need is a few generous scoops of store-bought or homemade macaroni
14:53and cheese, a perfectly grilled dog, and a sturdy bun. Since the mac and cheese tend
14:58to be pretty heavy and goopy, it's good to toast your buns before loading them up,
15:03especially if you're adding other tasty elements like bacon bits or crushed potato
15:08chips. Also, make sure that you have plenty of napkins on hand.
15:12We got enough napkins? Yeah, yeah, we got enough napkins. That's enough. That's enough
15:15right there.
15:16When it comes to toppings, ranch dressing is in a league of its own. People slather
15:21this undisputed king of condiments on everything from chicken wings to garden salads. So why
15:27not try it with the humble hot dog? If you want to make your hot dog shine, swap out
15:32ketchup or mustard for a generous drizzle of ranch dressing. It adds a creamy, tangy
15:37vibe to the hot dog that goes well with another topping fave on our list, potato chips.
15:43Thanks to its inspired flavor profile, the ranch hot dog craze is picking up plenty of
15:48steam. So whether you use store-bought or make your own, we recommend you try this unexpected
15:53and fun flavor combo this summer. It might not be the most outside-the-box topping, but
15:59you might find yourself swearing off the ketchup and mustard forever and discovering
16:03a whole new dimension of ranch dressing.
16:06Pesto is an excellent, bright, herb-like topping for your hot dog. Packed with plenty of cheese,
16:11garlic, basil, nuts, and oil, pesto is straight-up yummy and can add a dose of springtime to
16:17an otherwise heavy meal. However, if you opt to top your dog with pesto, be careful of
16:22competing flavors. Pesto tends to be stronger, so it plays nicely with creamier dressings
16:27like mayonnaise. It's also intensely flavorful, so a little drizzle will definitely do for
16:33you. If you want to get really varsity-level, consider tossing a few basil leaves in a toasted
16:38bun before loading up your dog with a squirt of pesto. The contrasting textures will make
16:43the dish sing, and certainly give you a brand new hot dog-tasting experience like no other.
16:49For those who don't have a grill, the use of a frying pan, an oven, a microwave, or
16:53a pot of boiling water works well, too. However, boiled water presents a problem for some home
16:58cooks, as there is often confusion as to whether or not hot dogs should be left to sit in scalding
17:03hot temperatures. Here's why that's a big no-no.
17:06Let's start with this fundamental question, how should you cook hot dogs in boiling water?
17:15According to Food52, it's a pretty simple process. Boil some water, drop your hot dogs
17:20in, and let them swim around for four to six minutes. Don't cover the pot with the
17:25lid. Remove the hot dogs when they start to look plump, and let them rest on a plate lined
17:29with paper towels. What happens when hot dogs sit in the pot for too long? Hot Dog Prophet
17:34states that they'll get mushy and emphasizes that hot dogs should never be left in boiling
17:39water. Lacademy goes on to explain that over-boiled hot dogs won't taste as good, their texture
17:44will be off, and they might even burst. To add insult to injury, over-boiled hot dogs
17:49also result in off-putting gray colors and bland flavor, since the hot dogs won't have
17:53any salt and or preservatives left inside. The solution lies in the dirty water dog technique.
17:59About an hour before serving, warm water is mixed with a variety of ingredients, such
18:03as ketchup, onions, vinegar, and or any number of suitable seasonings. Hot dogs then sit
18:09in this water, which begins to take on a dirty water appearance. The water should not be
18:14kept at over 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This way, the hot dogs will stay warm, plump, and
18:19flavorful because of the seasonings and or food extracts in the heated water.
18:24Ranking right up there with cereal, hot dogs are probably the easiest food to assemble
18:28and eat. Place it into a bun and shove it into your mouth, right? Wrong. Well, at least
18:34according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, which is apparently a thing that
18:39even has its own acronym, NHDSC. The NHDSC is actually a marketing extension of the American
18:46Meat Institute, which is funded by contributions from hot dog and sausage manufacturers and
18:51those who supply them with equipment, ingredients, and services. Essentially, it's the mouthpiece
18:57of Big Wiener, which is a sentence we never thought we'd say, and it's really not happy
19:02with how you've been chowing down its most prized product. So, if you find yourself taking
19:06smaller bites than most people, there's a chance you haven't been eating your hot dog
19:10the right way. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council's Hot Dog Etiquette
19:15Guide, it shouldn't take more than five bites to finish one dog. However, if you're eating
19:20a foot-long hot dog, it's acceptable to finish it in seven bites.
19:24Some of the NHDSC's other rules include how to dress your hot dog properly, having no
19:29frills serving, using a paper napkin to clean your mouth rather than cloth, and perhaps
19:34most controversially, giving up ketchup on your hot dog after you turn 18. This isn't
19:40just an NHDSC rule, either. Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry held a deep disgust for those
19:45who taint their franks with globs of ketchup.
19:48You know what makes me really sick to my stomach? What? It's watching you stuff your face with
19:53those hot dogs. Nobody, I mean nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog.
19:58Per CNBC, Chicagoans also have been pretty vocal about their disdain for ketchup. Even
20:04Blasting Heinz are trying to muscle in on their famous hot dogs. But before you go thinking
20:09eating a hot dog is all serious business, the NHDSC gives you one final rule to remember
20:14— there's never a bad time to serve hot dogs.
20:18According to the council, an astounding 75 percent of Americans prefer their hot dogs
20:22over the grill, while a paltry 2 percent prefer them microwaved. Meanwhile, 76 percent of
20:28Americans enjoy their franks with an ice-cold soda, with the classic cold beer following
20:33close behind at 54 percent.
20:35The NHDSC even takes a stand against the, quote, tall tales about myths of what exactly
20:41goes into a hot dog. Disregarding the rumors of pig hooves and awful, the NHDSC takes viewers
20:47on a video tour of a meat plant, showing hot dog-hungry citizens that nothing but real
20:51meat goes into their wieners.
20:53There's nothing in a hot dog that can't be found on the ingredients label. The NHDSC
20:58assures fans. There's one hot dog-related topic on which fans may never agree — whether
21:04or not a hot dog can be classified as a sandwich. In a jocular 2015 announcement, the National
21:10Hot Dog and Sausage Council declared that a hot dog is not a sandwich. The NHDSC president,
21:17Janet Riley, said in a statement,
21:19"...limiting the hot dog's significance by saying it's just a sandwich category is like
21:24calling the Dalai Lama just a guy. Perhaps at one time its importance could be limited
21:28by forcing it into a larger sandwich category, but that time has passed."
21:33Riley went on to add,
21:34"...we therefore choose to take a cue from a great performer and declare our namesake
21:39be a hot dog formerly known as a sandwich."
21:43A separate NHDSC poll found that 57 percent of Americans don't consider hot dogs sandwiches.