A perfect hot dog in a white bun, topped with a squiggle of mustard.

4.75 / 24 votes

How to Cook the Perfect Hot Dog

The best hot dog means knowing the perfect way to cook a hot dog, whether you roast, grill, simmer, microwave, or turn it over an open campfire. Here's everything you need to know.

Prep Time2

Cook Time3

Total Time5

Course: Mains

Cuisine: American

Servings: hot diggity dog

Calories: 229

Ingredients

▢ 1 hot dog (or as many more as you need)
▢ 1 hot dog bun (or as many more as you need)
▢ yellow mustard
▢ Other condiments, as desired, (pickle relish, ketchup, sport peppers, sauerkraut, onions, cheese, and so forth)

Instructions

Choose your cooking method from the recipe options below, plonk the hot dog in a bun, slather it with mustard and any other desired condiments, and then take a moment to behold this greatness before demolishing it.

Notes

CHOOSE A METHOD

Microwave:

Is it as good as grilling or cooking on a stovetop? Not even close. But it’s darn quick and, if done right, it can make a decent, if not great, dog in a pinch.

First, wrap the hot dog tightly in a dry paper towel, tucking the ends under the dog so they don’t flip open.

Place the wrapped hot dog on a plate and microwave on 80 percent power for 30 to 45 seconds or until heated through.

Open Flame

Technically similar to grilling but a lot more fun. Perfect for campfires and cold evenings around a fire pit or fireplace. It creates a charred, wonderfully crisp skin and a juicy, piping hot interior.

First, prepare a fire.

Grab long-handled tongs, which are ideal, or a long-handled skewer made for roasting dogs and marshmallows. Hold the hot dog a few inches above the tops of the flames. Slowly rotate the dog while cooking until the skin is charred and crisp and the interior is cooked through 2 to 5 minutes.

Grill and Broil

Direct dry heat will magnificently crisp the skin on dogs made with natural casings. If you don’t have a grill, no worries. Broiling is essentially the same process except that it uses top-down heat instead of bottom-up heat.

If using a gas grill, preheat the grill to its hottest setting for at least 30 minutes. Just before tossing on the dogs, lower the heat to medium (about 400°F/205°C). Grill the dog for 3 to 4 minutes, until charred but not blackened. Flip and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

If using a charcoal grill, heat the charcoal for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the coals ash over. Spread the coals over the bottom of the grill. Grill the dog for 3 to 4 minutes, until charred but not blackened. Flip and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

If using a broiler, place the dogs on a broiler rack and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until charred but not blackened. Flip and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

Simmer

Compared to boiling, simmering incurs less risk of overcooking or splitting the dogs.

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring enough water to cover the dogs to a simmer.

Place hot dogs in the water and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). If you need to keep the dogs warm, you can turn the heat off and leave the hot dogs in the warm water—so long as it’s above 160°F (71°C)—for a short while.

Nutrition