How to make hot dogs on stove

Nothing says summer more than enjoying a good old-fashioned hot dog. Although this classic and purely American invention varies regionally in what it’s topped with, there’s something universally delicious about biting into a soft bun filled with a plump and snappy sausage. For many people, the preferred way to cook these dogs is to char them over an open flame outside while drinking the best beer their state has to offer.

Unfortunately though, most of us don’t have access to an expensive grill all year round — some us don’t have access at all — so sometimes we must rely on other types of cookery to get the job done. From pan frying or griddling to oven roasting and even microwaving, hot dogs are so versatile that they can be prepared in many different ways, even if you don’t have a grill.

Pan-fried
Probably the most convenient way to cook these sausages at home is simply in a skillet or good-quality cast-iron pan. Just add a small amount of water to a pan set over medium-high heat. Add the dogs to the skillet once the water starts to gently boil and cook, rolling the hotdogs regularly until evenly brown.

Pro tip: “Want a more decadent flavor? Swap out the water for a generous dab of butter or a few tablespoons of oil.” – Nathan’s Famous

Griddled
Iconic hot dog vendor Nathan’s Famous always cooks its sausages exclusively on large flattop griddles — and one thing you might not know about trendy Shake Shack is that they use a similar method. This technique ensures that the dogs will sear nicely on all sides, achieving a crisp exterior, but it doesn’t overcook them or dry out the center.

Pro tip: Take a note from the culinary geniuses over at Shake Shack and split your hot dogs down the middle, so they open up like a book, before throwing them onto the griddle to cook. This creates the perfect crevasse that can be filled with your favorite condiments so you never have to worry about the toppings falling out.

Oven-roasted
Roasting your frankfurters in an oven is an easy, mess-free alternative when the craving for these dogs hits but grilling is out of the question. Just place the hot dogs on a baking sheet or oven-proof dish and cook for 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 degrees.

Pro tip: Make cleanup easy on yourself by lining the baking sheet with aluminum foil. That way, after you’re finished cooking, you can just remove and throw out the used foil, rather than having to scrape and scrub the pan.

Microwaved
Although this technique may be frowned upon by hot dog purists, desperate times call for desperate measures. There is an upside to microwaving these sausages, though: You can have a ready-to-eat dog in less than a minute.

Pro tip: To microwave a single hot dog, cook on high for 45 seconds. For each additional dog, add 15 to 20 seconds to the cook time. Also, make sure to poke a couple holes in the dogs so the casings don't burst when cooking.

Now that you know the different options for cooking them, it’s time to try these 10 creative hot dog ideas for your next backyard bash. 

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

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 way to 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

• 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.

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. 

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place your hot dogs on a rack that is placed inside a baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with foil for extra easy cleanup.
3. 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

1. 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.
2. Air fry for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
3. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Carefully remove the paper towel as it is likely to release hot steam.

Hot Dog Toppings

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.

How to cook hot dogs

Main dish

American

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 15 Min

How to Pan Fry Hot Dogs

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

How To Pan Fry Hot Dogs

1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place your hot dogs on a rack that is placed inside a baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with foil for extra easy cleanup.
3. 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

1. 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.
2. Air fry for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
3. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Keep in mind, microwave oven power varies, so you'll likely have to play around with the microwave time to heat the hot dogs to your liking.
4. Carefully remove the paper towel as it is likely to release hot steam.

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

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.

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