How to Boil Hot Dogs

An essential cooking skill is knowing how to cook hot dogs. This is a great and easy weekday meal that takes only a few moments and can please anyone.

You can customize your hot dog recipes entirely and even make them fancy to feature on any five-star menu or at any holiday celebration.

There are ways to prepare hot dogs in every appliance and make something to impress.

You’ve probably only seen hot dogs done a couple of ways during your life, but there are so many ways to cook hot dogs!

how long to boil hot dogs

Have you ever wondered how to boil hot dogs? What about preparing them in an air fryer or the oven?

Have no fear! We’ll outline all of these options in this article and go through how to cook them, along with the times.

Not only that, but we’ll go through some of the most popular hot dog toppings and what cooking methods are the best for what you want to use your hot dogs for.

Finally, at the end of this article, we’ve included a delicious recipe that is so easy to work into your meal planning.

How To Cook Hot Dogs?

Hot dogs fall into two categories, and those have different cooking times. Raw hot dogs are rare in the modern world but need to be cooked as thoroughly as other types of meat. Pre-cooked hot dogs are the most common option in the grocery store nowadays and are easy to prep.

  1. First, you need to select your cooking method. Whether with steam, the microwave, or the air fryer, you can find options all over the place for your purposes. Each of them has a different cooking time, however.
  2. Next, consult your hot dog package. If there are manufacturer’s instructions, it’s best to follow those methods. Raw hot dogs will typically have a note about being raw on the back of the package.
  3. Raw hot dogs require more time and care. You need to cook them until they are hot all the way through. Reaching this point depends on the size of the hot dogs and the cooking method.
  4. Larger hot dogs may take more time to cook while boiling hot dogs might take less time than other options to prepare them. Your appliances and temperature settings might also make it harder to cook your hot dogs.

What Is the Best Way to Cook Hot Dogs?

The best way to cook a hot dog is to boil your hot dogs until they float and are cooked all the way through.

Once removed from the pot, you can serve and dispose of the hot dog water. Not only is boiling very simple, but it is also an easy mess to clean up.

All you have to do is dump out the hot dog water and put the pot in your sink. Like other methods, there isn’t a significant amount of grease to clean up or dispose of, and the outside of the hot dog won’t become too leathery.

Other great options include oven-baking, grilling, and air frying. All of these are great ways to enjoy hot dogs in a safe and timely manner. They are all pretty easy to clean up and will give you a stress-free evening.

How Long to Boil Hot Dogs?

How long does it take to boil hot dogs? Boiling hot dogs should take no more than ten minutes, even when cooking from frozen.

If you’ve added the hot dogs to water at a rolling boil, bringing them to fully cooked should be no problem, even for raw hot dogs.

The key to boiling hot dogs is putting them in while the water is at a rolling boil.

This will give you the fastest cooking time and the most consistently heated hot dogs. Be careful when adding your hot dogs into the water to avoid getting burned.

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how to boil hot dogs

How Long to Boil Frozen Hot Dogs?

Frozen hot dogs are slightly different but shouldn’t take more than ten to fifteen minutes.

You need to ensure your hot dogs are cooked all the way through and that they are hot for eating, like any other meat product.

Boiling frozen hot dogs is relatively simple. Put the block of frozen hot dogs into the pan and let them cook.

However, a crucial step is breaking up the hot dogs from each other. Breaking them apart will allow the hot water to surround the hot dogs and cook them evenly.

How To Cook Hot Dogs in An Air Fryer?

Cooking hot dogs in the air fryer isn’t a recommended option since there can be texture issues or cross-contamination, especially if your hot dogs are raw.

However, if you can safely prepare them and clean the fryer after, nothing stops you from enjoying air-fried hot dogs.

Hot dogs are easy to cook in the air fryer. Like the other methods we’re going through on this list, you should thaw them out and place them on the fry rack or basket. Once sealed, set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for five to ten minutes.

How Long to Cook Hot Dogs in An Air Fryer?

You should not cook your hot dogs in the air fryer for more than ten minutes.

The best range is around five minutes, adding two minutes for each level of crispiness you want. Toast your buns for two minutes in the fryer to complete the meal.

This will give them the perfect golden crispiness. If you like your buns crisper, you could put them in for longer or for less if you want them less toasted.

You can also adjust this time for the hot dogs themselves. If your hot dogs are raw, you may need to cook them longer, and there may be a different type of mess to clean up after.

However, this should not extend your cooking time beyond fifteen minutes.

How To Cook Hot Dogs in The Oven?

Oven-baked hot dogs are a great option, especially if you are trying to cut down on fats or keep the cooking heat contained.

They are typically a low mess meal and easy to clean up, especially if you like the hot dog tray with aluminum foil.

Cooking in the oven takes longer than other methods, but it can be a great way to eliminate all kinds of other issues with cooking hot dogs.

You can put a foil liner in the bottom of the pan you’re cooking with and make cleaning up even more straightforward.

With this method, you can also cook much of the fat out of your hot dogs, and you can throw the fat away during clean-up.

How to Boil Hot Dogs

How Long to Cook Hot Dogs in The Oven?

You should cook hot dogs in the oven for about fifteen minutes at around 400 degrees. This will heat your hot dogs all the way through. It would be best if you let all of your hot dogs cool down sufficiently before serving.

If left in the heat for too long, hot dogs in the oven can get a leathery, unappealing texture.

However, if you cook them for less time, you can cook them perfectly without making the exterior of the hot dogs unpleasant.

How to Grill Hot Dogs?

Grilling hot dogs and burgers is a great way to make food for a big event.

This is classic for summer BBQs and holidays, like the 4th of July! Grilling gives your hot dogs perfect crispiness and adds smokiness to your meal.

You need to bring your grill up to temperature and then place the fully thawed hot dogs directly onto the grate. Every couple of minutes, turn the hot dogs so they are evenly cooked and not burned on any side.

How Long to Cook Hot Dogs on the Grill?

Hot dogs on the grill should be cooked the same length as other hot dogs, so about ten minutes when thawed.

They will get crispier and have a similar leathery texture like oven or air-fried hot dogs if left for too long. You also don’t want your hot dogs to burn and have charred bits all over them.

The best way to avoid this is to keep the hot dogs moving consistently. However, if you like a robustly smoky flavor, you can let the hot dogs rest on each side for longer than this.

Frozen hot dogs will take significantly more time, so plan for that.

In addition, unlike other cooking methods on this list, you can’t let the hot dogs cook and separate on their own. Instead, you’ll need to separate them from each other.

The best way to do this is to let the hot dogs thaw. Once they are warmer, you should easily separate the hot dogs from each other. Carefully place each hot dog on the grill and cook as usual.

Hot Dogs Topping Ideas:

When getting a complete hot dog bar set up prepared, it can be hard to know where to start.

Do you lean into a particular style of hot dogs, like a regional variety? Or should you spice things up with an international topping your guests may have never heard of?

how long to boil frozen hot dogs

Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best hot dog toppings, so you know where to start!

Here are some of the best and most common toppings:

  • Chili
  • Sauerkraut
  • Cheese
  • Avocado
  • Kimchi
  • Pickles, tomatoes, and onions (Chicago style)
  • Jalapenos
  • Fancy ingredients (truffles, edible gold leaf)
  • Various sauces

All of these are excellent choices, and if you want to create the ultimate hot dog bar, these are the toppings you should highlight.

They are all delicious and can fit any occasion. Not only that, but there are so many easy ways to get these options together.

Some of these can be hard to find outside specialty stores, so you may have to make your own. Kimchi is a great example where making your own may be necessary. While it may take more time to prepare, the results can be incredible.

How to Boil Hot Dogs

How to Boil Hot Dogs

Yield: 8
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 hot dog buns
  • ¼ c butter(30 g), melted
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 slices cheddar cheese
  • 15 oz chili(425 g)
  • 2 tbsps fresh parsley,
  • 8 hot dogs

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place eight hot dog buns in a greased baking dish. Prepare chili of your choice and set it aside.
  2. Cut a hole in each hot dog bun and give enough space from the edge. Compress the bottom of the bun to provide you with more space and create a denser barrier against messes.
  3. Brush both the inside and the outside of the buns with garlic and parsley butter, then toast in the oven for five minutes.
  4. Place one slice of cheese inside each bun and spoon chili on top of the cheese.
  5. Place a hot dog on top of each chili boat and top with even more chili. Sprinkle with shredded cheese for a garnish, if you’d like.
  6. Bake until the cheese is golden brown and the chili has started to crisp. This should be about 20-25 minutes.
  7. To serve, cut the hot dogs along their seams and plate.

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Are Hot Dogs Better Boiled or Fried?

There’s technically no wrong answer here, but your hot dogs will have a better texture if you boil them than if you fry them. Drying will draw moisture from the meat and give it an unpleasant, rubbery texture.

How To Cook Hot Dogs in A Pan?

Cooking hot dogs in a pan is so simple. Heat up oil and place fully thawed hot dogs into the hot oil. Cover with a splash guard and let sear for two minutes before turning to another side.

Once all sides are seared, and the hot dogs are evenly heated, remove them from the pan and serve.

How To Know When Hot Dogs Are Done Boiling?

Hot dogs are done boiling when they have fully risen to the top of the pot and are hot all the way through. If your hot dogs are raw, you may have to cook them for longer than other types of prepared hot dogs.

Best hot dogs recipes:

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