Learn how to boil hot dogs for the quickest and simplest way to prepare dinner for your family or a large group of people. You will love it!.
Learn how to boil hot dogs for the easiest way to make dinner quickly. I strongly advise attempting to cook hot dogs in the crock pot if you need to prepare a number of them for a crowd.
Step Picking Makes Perfect
Of course, starting with the best—a Nathan’s—is the first step. Choose your favorite from our selection of succulent Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, including Original Skinless Beef Franks, Bun-Length Skinless Beef Franks, and more. They%E2%80%99re all 100% beef, with no artificial flavors and no by-products
Step Cook It!
There are countless ways to cook a dog, including pan frying, grilling, baking, and, dare we say it, even microwaving. But which method is the tastiest?
The good news is that you can enjoy a piping hot, mouthwatering Nathan’s hot dog regardless of how you prepare it. Choose your cooking technique, and we’ll provide our best advice from there.
Pan Frying on the Stove
The perfect amount of browning occurs when hot dogs are browned in a pan.
- Add water to a skillet or frying pan. Cover the surface with half an inch of water.
- Turn the heat on medium-high. Heat the pan until the water starts to boil off.
- Gently add the hot dogs. With this technique, you’ll only want to cook a few at a time.
- Steam them. Roll the hot dogs frequently to ensure even browning.
Famous Tip: Want a more decadent flavor? Swap out the water for a generous dab of butter or a few tablespoons of oil.
- Serve. Use tongs or a fork to remove the hot dogs. Then enjoy!.
Famous Tip: For a rich and toasty bun to pair with your frank, try this trick.
Turn off the heat after removing the hot dogs from the pan, then dunk the buns in the accumulated juices. Let them simmer for about 45 seconds.
There is no other way to get the smoky, summery flavor that grilling gives your hot dog. Plus, no pots and pans to clean! Home run.
- Turn on your grill. You want your grill’s one side to be hotter and the other side to be cooler. Put more coals on one side of your charcoal grill if you have one. If you own a gas grill, make the necessary knob adjustments.
- To ensure that the hot dogs heat through without burning on the outside, cook them on the cooler side of the grill. You’re looking for that perfect brownish-red color.
Famous Tip: Lay the dogs at an angle for that beautiful, diagonal char mark that makes your mouth water.
- Cook one minute on each side.
- Place the hot dogs on the grill’s hot side. Move your hot dogs to the hot side of the grill if they haven’t already developed that mouthwatering, deep brown color, and keep rolling them until they do.
- Serve. Take your hot dogs off the grill, customize them however you like, and then tuck in!
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy loved Nathan’s dogs, and served them at the White House. The only question is: did she grill, boil or roast?
Hot dogs can be browned just like they can on the grill by baking them instead of grilling them. In the dead of winter, the oven is the next best thing to a juicy, grilled hot dog!
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Put your hot dogs in a pan or tray. If it has a rim for catching juices, you can use a baking tray, roasting pan, or casserole dish. Line the dish with foil for extra easy cleanup.
- Cook for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on your dogs. When you notice them starting to brown and curl slightly, they are finished. Can’t you just hear the sizzle?.
If you like your dogs extra crispy, turn on the broiler.
- Serve. Hot dogs should be topped after they are removed from the oven.
The ability to prepare a hot dog in the microwave in under a minute is its best feature.
- Prep your frank. Alternatively, put the hot dog on a plate and wrap it in a paper towel before placing it in the microwave. As the hot dog cooks, moisture escapes from it, but the paper towel captures it, keeping it juicy.
If you’re cooking more than one, place them all on a plate side by side and cover them all with a paper towel. Just be certain to leave some space between them so they cook equally.
Famous Tip: It’s a myth that you need to fork your frank first. Actually, piercing it lets the delicious juices escape so your dog dries out.
- Cook on high. Start at 40 or 50 seconds for one frank. For each additional, add about 20 seconds.
- Check in. When the allotted time has passed, make sure they have fully warmed up. If not, give them another 30 seconds in the microwave and retest one. Repeat until your hot dog is cooked to perfection.
- Carefully remove your frank. Just be cautious as you remove your hot dog because you’re so close. Trapped steam can burn.
- Serve. Top it and take a bite!
Famous Tip: For a warm, fluffy bun, microwave it separately for 10 to 15 seconds.
We simply don’t advise boiling hot dogs if you’re looking for the best method. When Nathan Handwerker started it all in 1916, we didn’t, and we still don’t.
All of that distinctive flavor rushes out into the water when you boil a Nathan’s. And let’s face it, who wants to eat a hot dog that has been thinned out?
Step Top That
Go traditional with ketchup, mustard, and relish, or step it up with bold ingredients to make a BBQ Bacon Hot Dog or a Chili Cheese Hot Dog.
Get more ideas in our recipes section.
How Do You Cook It?
Tell us, do you have a traditional way to cook your Nathan’s hot dogs that’s different? Tell us on Facebook or Instagram!
How To Cook: Hot Dogs on the Stove | in a pan
FAQ
What’s the best way to cook beef hot dogs?
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Put your hot dogs in a pan or tray. If it has a rim for catching juices, you can use a baking tray, roasting pan, or casserole dish. Line the dish with foil for extra easy cleanup. Cook for 15 minutes.
How long to cook beef franks?
Hot dogs are done grilling in a matter of minutes. A hot dog typically heats through in no more than ten minutes, though it may take as little as five. Less time is needed to grill your hot dogs the leaner they are. Most standard-sized beef franks require grilling for four to eight minutes.
Is it better to boil or fry hot dogs?
My preferred method of preparing hot dogs is pan frying. This is the recommended way to cook hot dogs on the stove. I don’t recommend boiling hot dogs ever. Boiling dilutes and eliminates the flavor of the hot dog.
How to cook hot dog franks?
Put 1 quart of water in a large saucepan and bring it to a boil. Add 8 hot dogs to the water. Bring to a full boil and heat for 4-5 minutes. Boil frozen hot dogs for approximately 8 minutes.