Avoid poking or splitting your dogs. "Since hot dogs are usually precooked, there is no need to split them open or pierce them during the cooking process. By poking and prodding your dogs, you release the delicious juices that make them juicy," Sidoti said.
Instead, try using the tines of a fork to poke a few holes on the surface to allow steam to escape. However, if you're using raw hot dogs you get at the butcher's, you might find that splitting them open helps them cook more thoroughly.
Third—and most importantly—it increases the dog's surface area, allowing for additional browning and caramelization. For this reason, both Joshua Bousel and Daniel Gritzer recommend either slashing or spiral cutting skinless franks in their hot dog grilling guide.
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).
Avoid Overcooking: Heat hot dogs just until they are heated through. Overcooking can cause them to burst. Score the Hot Dogs: Lightly score the surface of the hot dogs with a knife. This creates small slits that allow steam to escape, reducing the chances of splitting.
Hot dog skins split when they are cooked at too high a heat. Cook them over an indirect heat to avoid them splitting, or if boiling, do not exceed 5 minutes.
Feeding your dog fatty foods, like hot dogs, bacon, ribs, or fried chicken, can upset your dog's stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can also lead to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. Some breeds, like Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, may be more prone to pancreatitis.
The Method
Grilling hot dogs gives you the char marks you want, but makes it easy to overcook. Boiling hot dogs is an easy way go to, but the end result is generally not very flavorful. This leaves the skillet as the de facto hot dog cooking technique.
According to a Costco food court worker on Reddit, Costco food court hot dogs are dropped in 180 degree Fahrenheit water for around 15 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, while the hot dog buns are steamed.
Instead of setting the dogs perpendicular to the grates, nestle them between the rods like the ones rotating in cases at a ballpark or convenience store. This setup exposes more of the meat to the flame, toasting the dogs more quickly and preventing them from rolling.
Because the hot dog is partially cut open, it cooks faster, which means more juices are retained.
If using a charcoal grill, cover grill with vents over the hot dogs. Cook with all vents open until hot dogs are heated through, about 10 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking. If using a gas grill, simply lower the cover (there will not be vents). Remove lid.
Though they may look pink, most hot dogs are actually already cooked and technically ready to eat right out of the package. This means that boiling them for ages before throwing them on the grill is probably unnecessary, and it can suck the flavor right out of your dogs.
Quite simply, marinated hot dogs are frankfurters that have been soaked in a flavor booster before being grilled or pan-fried. Mama Jill recommends using Italian dressing and your favorite seasoning blend. You can also make a homemade marinade using ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic.
As far as safety goes, the FDA claims that hot dogs can be stored in the freezer for up to one to two months. That said, Craig warns that longer freeze times mean that the hot dogs “won't be as high quality” in terms of taste and texture, so it's always smart to cook and eat the hot dogs as soon as you can.
The ingredients make Costco's food court hot dogs taste so delicious. Most hot dogs contain fillers and additives, but Costco's Kirkland brand frankfurters do not. Costco uses their in-house Kirkland Signature Beef Wieners in their food court, which are gluten-free with zero by-products, corn syrup, or fillers.
Grilling gives your hot dog that smoky, summer flavor you just can't get any other way. Plus, no pots and pans to clean!
As the official hot dog of Major League Baseball, we couldn't be more excited for the start of the season—and those delicious stadium franks, of course! For decades, the Nathan's Famous original all-beef frank has been the official hot dog of many teams around the league.
Chopped pickles, bacon bits, and guacamole are just a few easy additions. Quick pickled onions add a tangy taste to hot dogs, and they're surprisingly easy to make.
Not to burst your bubble, but a hot dog that's busting out of its casing is a sign of operator error. If your dog has split down the middle, or is bulging out at any point, it means that it was cooked at too high a heat. A little char is a good thing, so don't be too timid with the flame, but don't burn it to oblivion.
Take the example of a person eating one jumbo hot dog a day, every day. The fact that his risk for colorectal cancer is 36% higher than someone who doesn't eat processed meat is a real cause for concern. But note that a 36% increase, while substantial, is not anywhere near the risk associated with cigarette smoking.
Don't... Use ketchup on your hot dog after the age of 18. Mustard, relish, onions, cheese and chili are acceptable.