How to Boil a Hot Dog

Have you ever craved a delicious hot dog but lacked the motivation or time to grill it? These simple instructions will teach you how to make a delicious boiled hot dog in just a few minutes.

Ingredients

• Hot dogs (as many as needed)
• Water
• Hot dog buns (to match amount of hot dogs)
• Condiments to put on the hot dogs such as chili and cheese, onions, etc.

Steps

1. 1
   
   Fill a medium-sized pan about half way up to the top with water.
2. 2
   
   Place as many hot dogs in pan as desired. Turn on the stove (heat) to high.
   • Wait for 5-10 minutes. This will be the heating time needed for the water to boil.
   • In order to ensure even cooking, you may want to let the water boil first before placing hot dogs in the water; however, this optional step is a matter of personal preference.
3. 3
   
   Let the hot dogs boil until they are plump and ready to eat. This can be anywhere from 3 minutes for a less crispy and more moist hot dog, to 6 minutes for a hot dog with more of a snap to each bite--only if the dogs have casings; if "skinless", they will not become crisp unless they're fried, broiled or otherwise cooked with dry heat or oil. The time needed will depend on the brand of hot dog.
4. 4
   
   Heat buns, if desired. This can be done a multitude of ways, but steaming it for a short time over the hot dogs (use a cooling rack), or "toasting" it in a hot skillet with butter are among the most popular and flavorful ways.
5. 5
   
   Remove from the boiling water. Use tongs to take them out of the hot water.
6. 6
   
   Place the juicy hot dogs in buns.
   • Put on any type of topping you like, such as sauerkraut, relish, chili, cheese, onions,ketchup, and/or mustard. Let your imagination run wild!

Video

Scott Herbert shows how to make Chicago-style hot dogs (boiled). There's also an added bonus for making a frosty root beer float to go with the hot dog.

Tips

• If you don't want your bun to be soggy, dry the hot dog with a paper towel before placing your hot dog in the bun.
• Heating your bun will often make it more pliable, preventing it from splitting all the way through and potentially making a mess.
• If you don't have time to actually boil your hot dog, microwaving is the next best thing. For microwave cooking, slit the hot dog with a fork or knife and put in microwave for 30 seconds. This works for less than or equal to 4 hot dogs; adding an additional 20 seconds per microwaved hot dog.
• Note that grilling or pan grilling will usually bring out the real hot dog taste, but it's an issue of personal preference.

Warnings

• Be sure not to fill the pan too high with water, otherwise it may overflow when it boils.
• Be careful when removing the hot dogs from the boiling water with improper grabbing utensils. If the hot dog falls back into the boiling water it may splash possibly causing harm. Use tongs for a good grip.
• Some hot dogs will actually burst and almost turn inside out if you boil them. This kind needs to be heated in water close to (but not) boiling.

Things You'll Need

• Medium-sized pot
• Stove
• Tongs
• Serving plates