Knowing how long to microwaved hot dogs could just be the dinner options of a busy person’s dreams! Plus, there are so many ways to make them even tastier and filling in recipes.
When you are looking for the fastest way to get dinner on the table, look no further than the common frankfurter!
Picture this: birds chirping, a smokey grill wafting scent under your nose, a cold one, a paper plate, and a perfect hot dog, tender and juicy, on a fluffy bun. They are one of the most versatile things we can have in our kitchen.
They are also one of the most underutilized and misunderstood ingredients in our kitchens.
But let me tell you, hot dogs can be a life saver in a pinch when you need to get dinner on the table fast!
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A Variety of Methods to Cook a Frankfurter
Do you love hot dogs? I do! They’re one of my favorite foods. But, I never knew there are so many ways to cook hot dogs.
In this blog post, I’m going to teach you how long to microwave a hot dog for the quickest way to get a yummy addition to your dinner instead of getting out a heavy pot of water and waiting for it to boil.
I will also discuss other methods of cooking a hot dog fast so that it’s perfectly cooked every time.
What internal temperature for microwave hot dogs?
The safest temperature for most meats is 165 degrees F for food safety reasons. In the microwave, heat them to about 150 degrees as they will rise slightly after you remove them from the microwave oven.
If you are using other methods such as grilling or a toaster oven in which the hot dogs are cooked lower and slower, you can let me cook to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit as they will continue to cook for a few minutes after being pulled from the heat source.
The best way to cook a hot dog is to grill them, that brings out their flavor the most and is considered the gold standard.
Uncooked vs cooked hot dogs
When making hot dogs at home, it is important to pick out the right ones in the grocery store.
If you will be grilling hot dogs, you can certainly opt for the uncooked or uncured hot dogs as you will cook them and bring them up to a safe temperature while grilling.
However, for most practical applications in the everyday kitchen, you will want to have pre-cooked hot dogs on hand. Then you simply need to warm them to a safe temperature to eat them, which usually only takes minutes to do.
How Long to Microwave Hot Dog
Microwaving a hot dog does not take long. You only need about one minute to microwave a hot dog long enough to come to a food safe temperature. This is the fastest cooking method and also the easiest way to cook a hot dog.
The only tricky thing is, because of the high heat, your hot dog may split slightly from being rapidly cooked. Consider using a microwave steamer with a few tablespoons of water in it to cook your hot dogs in as this will help to protect them from splitting.
You can also try adding a few tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe plate and covering it with a microwave safe splashguard to help cook them more evenly.
You will also want to cook your hot dogs for about 30 seconds at a time to help monitor for doneness and splitting.
How to Cook Frozen Hot Dogs
If you are cooking a frozen hot dog, you should adjust the power level or wattage of your microwave, if you can, to about half and microwave for a minute to thaw the hot dog first.
You can also wrap them in a damp paper towel to protect them from splitting in the high heat.
If you cannot adjust your microwave power, check the hot dogs about every 20 to 30 seconds or use a defrost setting if you have one.
For the best results, try to thaw your hot dogs in the refrigerator overnight instead as they cook much better when thawed appropriately.
You also want to make sure that you are only cooking hot dogs in a single layer on your microwave-safe dish. This method is the best for cooking 1-2 hot dogs, but you can cook more as long as they are about an inch apart on your plate so there is room for heat to circulate around them.
How Long to Microwave Hot Dog
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 1 Package Hot Dogs
- Water
Instructions
- The only tricky thing is, because of the high heat, your hot dog may split slightly from being rapidly cooked.
- Consider using a microwave steamer with a few tablespoons of water in it to cook your hot dogs in as this will help to protect them from splitting.
- You can also try adding a few tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe plate and covering it with a microwave safe splashguard to help cook them more evenly.
- You will also want to cook your hot dogs for about 30 seconds at a time to help monitor for doneness and splitting.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
How long to cook hot dogs in the air fryer?
Another easy way to quickly cook a hot dog is an air fryer. Air fried hot dogs tend to have a crispier outside and juicy inside, sort of like grilling them. Cook hot dogs in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 to 3 minutes. You can also put the hot dogs into the buns and back into the air fryer to make the hot dog bun and hot dog nice and crispy, then serve with your favorite condiments. Toasted buns make a world of difference when it comes to sausages.Nutrition
Other Fast Cooking Methods for Hot Dogs
How long to cook hot dogs in the air fryer?
Another easy way to quickly cook a hot dog is an air fryer. Air fried hot dogs tend to have a crispier outside and juicy inside, sort of like grilling them. Cook hot dogs in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 to 3 minutes.
You can also put the hot dogs into the buns and back into the air fryer to make the hot dog bun and hot dog nice and crispy, then serve with your favorite condiments. Toasted buns make a world of difference when it comes to sausages.
Can you eat a hot dog cold?
You can eat precooked hot dogs cold, just like you can deli meat. However, it is not always the smartest choice since bacteria can still be present on the outside of the hot dog, especially if they had been sitting out for longer than a few minutes.
That is why it is important for pregnant women to avoid uncooked meats. Most other people with strong immune systems are safe to eat cold hot dogs and cold lunchmeats.
What to do with leftover Frankfurters?
Wondering what to do with your package of hot dogs or leftover hot dogs from a BBQ? No worries, they are so handy in the kitchen to make an easy meal and their flavor can surprise you in a variety of dishes, so much that you may not even be able to tell you are eating a hot dog and not something more decadent! Here are some different ways to serve hot dogs that are sure to please:
- Spaghetti with marinara sauce and hot dogs cut up into pieces
- Buffalo style hot dogs on a bun with ranch and hot sauce
- Classic hot dogs on a bun with ketchup, mustard, and relish
- Croissant hot dogs aka wiener wraps
- Chili dogs
- Chili cheese hot dog casserole
- Homemade corn dogs
- Hot dog and potato hash
- Fry them for breakfast with your eggs
- Cut up into macaroni and cheese
- Add as the protein to your fried rice
One of the great ways to use leftover hot dogs is in soups. We have a fantastic soup recipe, Cabbage Hot Dog and Potato Soup. It is so filling and savory, plus, the hot dogs are so full of flavor that they end up tasting more like a kielbasa sausage!
Slow Cooker Hot Dogs
Another one of the simplest methods you can use to cook hot dogs is in the slow cooker. You can cook a ton of hot dogs in the slow cooker for your next party. This method just requires a little extra cooking time.
Simply select hot dogs that fit vertically in your slow cooker and cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours. Then, you can place them on the warm setting for a couple of hours to serve your guests. Even in our small slow cooker, I can fit about 20 hot dogs.
Try this method the next time you will be need a lot of hot dogs for fun things such as a hot dog bar or to speed up the process at your next summer barbecue.
How Long Does it Take to Boil a Hot Dog?
Once the water is boiling, it only takes 5 minutes to cook the hot dog through. However, if you are starting with frozen hot dogs, it will take up to 10 minutes.
You can boil your hot dog in water or beer if you prefer even more robust flavor.
When the skin looks a bit wrinkled and darker it is done. Generally, you will be able to smell the delicious aroma of the hot dogs once they are heated through too.
Pan Searing Hot Dogs
One of our favorite methods of cooking hot dogs is in a cast iron skillet on the stove. Just add the hot dogs and cook over medium-high heat. Turning every minute so they don’t burn. It will take about 5 minutes to cook through and get a golden color on the outside.
The outside skin will get a bit charred, and they will taste just like you grilled them. We love cooking our hot dogs this way in the winter when it is too cold outside to stand by the grill.
History of the Hot Dog
The humble hot dog is one of America’s favorite food items, and it has a long and storied history.
Though its exact origins are uncertain, it is thought that the hot dog comes from a variety of sausage-like dishes that were popular in Europe during the Middle Ages.
These dishes typically consisted of minced meat, spices, and breadcrumbs, and were often cooked in casings made from intestine or stomach.
In the 18th century, Germany became renowned for its sausages, and many German immigrants brought their love of sausage with them when they settled in the United States.
It was here that the hot dog as we know it began to take shape. The first recorded use of the term “hot dog” was in 1871, when a cartoonist named Thomas Nast used it to refer to a dachshund that was being sold out of a cart on the streets of New York City.
Over the next few decades, hot dogs became increasingly popular, and they soon became an American staple. Today, Americans consume billions of hot dogs every year, making them one of the most popular food items in the country.
