11 Ways To Cook Hot Dogs That Go Beyond Plain Grilling

As long as you don't dig too deep into the question of what hot dogs are made of — just kidding, it's not that scary — it might just be the perfect food. You can call a hot dog a glizzy or one of at least a dozen other monikers, but we call it "delicious." Top it with mustard, top it with onions ... heck, even top it with Velveeta and chili! There are tons of ways to upgrade hot dogs, and everyone has their favorite. But what about preparing them?

Part of the tremendous versatility of hot dogs is how many ways there are to cook these links. Grilling is a classic method, and, during the summertime, you could be forgiven for defaulting to that old faithful. The smell of charring meat, the grill marks on the franks ... holy yum. There's a whole world of other ways to cook hot dogs, however, and you might actually be surprised by just how many options you have. Each variation on hot dog cookery highlights something a little special, whether it's convenience, unique flavor, or accessibility. 

Personally, we're of the camp that believes any hot dog is a good hot dog, so we're not picky about how it gets heated. Heading into the summer, we plan on eating a whole lotta hot dogs. It's fun and interesting to know all the various ways we can achieve hot dog perfection — and you can bet we're gonna try 'em all and run taste tests ASAP!

It's not hard to cook hot dogs in the air fryer, and the results are pretty special. The benefits are twofold: not only do the dogs get nice and crispy on the outside, but you can't argue with the scant handful of minutes it takes to get them there. Plus, the air fryer is already sitting on your counter, and it won't heat up the house. We like this method for weeknight dinners when time is of the essence. 

Some backyard pitmasters insist that you should skip grilling and smoke hot dogs for the best flavor. We won't quibble about the taste of the resulting hot dogs, as the permeating power of wood smoke improves just about every food it touches, but keep in mind that this is a lengthy process. First, the smoker will have to preheat, then you'll have to smoke the hot dogs for at least 45 minutes. This method is best for when you're already smoking something even bigger, like a brisket, and want to pop in some lunch. 

It's astounding to know how many hot dogs Costco sells per year. If you're feeding a crowd (maybe your kids have friends over?), you may sympathize with the warehouse retailer in terms of how hard it is to serve hot dogs by the dozen. Baking your hot dogs is a great way to cook a lot of hot dogs at once — we're talking even two packages at a time! If you crank the oven up, you'll get a pleasant toastiness on the skin, and the process is pretty hands-off, to boot. 

You can't eat raw hot dogs; you have to cook them. For many enthusiasts, pan-frying hot dogs is the way to go. It's simple, plus you can speedily batch-cook lots of dogs. Some folks will start the pan with a little water to steam the franks before the heat of the cookware starts to sizzle, or you can simply blister the skin. We love to fry hot dogs on cast iron for the best results. As a bonus, you can toss a pat of butter in at the end and quickly toast the buns as well. 

Microwaving is one of the first ways that amateur home chefs learn to cook hot dogs, and the method certainly has staying power. Nothing is quicker, and we'd argue that very little is easier. You just need to know the wattage of your microwave, and you're good to zap your franks for less than a minute. You can even nuke the buns immediately afterwards. A microwave hot dog isn't half bad, even if you have more advanced and admittedly flavorful methods at your disposal. For the best results, remember to season your hot dogs before cooking. 

There's something so basic, and yet so enjoyable, about a boiled hot dog. One big bonus here is that you don't have to defrost frozen hot dogs before cooking — just toss 'em in the pot. It need not be just water, either ... there are several water alternatives for boiling hot dogs that can amp up the flavor. Beer is a logical one, just like you'd do with brats, but don't discount stock, either! The key is to avoid boiling the hot dogs for too long, which will make them tough — you just want to plump them up and heat them through.

There's a great hack for transporting cooked hot dogs to a picnic, but when it comes to serving dogs at a party, we like the slow cooker's usefulness. If you stand up the hot dogs vertically, you can fit a ton of franks in the pot at once, but there's the added bonus of the crockpot keeping the hot dogs warm (and adhering to food safety measures!) over a long period of time. Simply put the hot dogs on low a few hours before you need to serve them, and presto! Warm hot dogs on demand. 

Steaming hot dogs can be a little divisive because this method doesn't produce a crisp exterior. Instead, the transformative power of water vapor makes the hot dogs tender. A proper steamed hot dog is also served on a pillowy steamed bun and is the perfect vehicle for adorning with toppings, perhaps sourced from the long list of regional hot dogs. A steaming setup may require a little extra work, but we'd argue that these sublimely soft hot dogs are a welcome respite from the usual parade of charred glizzies and, handled right, could be a special treat indeed. 

Is there any way to cook hot dogs that's as fun as threading them on a skewer and cooking them over an open fire? We'd argue that the answer is a resounding "no." Reminiscent of campfires and s'mores eaten under moonlight, there's something delightfully uninhibited about roasting franks. The learning curve is gentle, and it's enjoyable for eaters of all ages and persuasions — even if your "hot dog" is a Chicago-style vegetarian carrot hot dog (though skewering that one may be tricky). Fire is the great equalizer, welcoming all comers. 

Let's just get a couple of things out of the way: yes, deep-frying can get messy. And yes, it's objectively not healthy to enjoy on the regular. Once you address those arguments, deep-frying hot dogs has a lot to recommend it. For instance, you can coat the hot dog in batter, in the way of an elevated corn dog, or you can wrap it in bacon. You can deep-fry your toppings at the same time, too, like french-fried onions. The texture is also amazing — remember that you can butterfly hot dogs for extra-crispy results. 

The hot dog brands with the highest-quality ingredients are accessible to everyone, even those who don't have a grill ... or an oven, for that matter! Broiling hot dogs can usually be done with a mere toaster oven, which is sometimes used by those with the smallest kitchens. If you turn the hot dogs a time or two during the cooking process, you get to enjoy the crisp skin you'd get with grilling, minus the inconvenience of having to fire up the grill. Just be careful not to burn your hot dogs, and you'll have it made!