A hot dog is a sausage(which is a meat mixture that can be made of different types of meat like beef, pork, and chicken). The production of hot dogs is similar to bologna, frankfurters, and Vienna sausages. It is cured and stored the same way they are. A quick and easy-to-make meal, a hot dog comes with so many topping options.

There are different ways one can cook hot dogs with different garnishing to your own tastes as well. The toppings can be relish, sauerkraut, or chili; it is entirely up to you. However, how it is prepared can either make you love or dislike it. You can imagine how terrible a mushy and burnt hot dog would taste like when you were expecting to be blown away by it.

Now, the real question is, how can hot dogs be properly cooked? That’s what is discussed in this post. Let’s take a cue from what the experts are saying.

1. Get The Hot Dog Ready

Before you plan to cook any type of meat, you need it to be at room temperature, so it can be cooked evenly. Let them defrost overnight if they’re been frozen already. It would be disgusting if you end up biting a lukewarm frank.

Peradventure, you need to cook in a short while and forgot to get the hot dogs out of the freezer, place them under running cold water or in a bowl of water to thaw it. Cold water increases the meat’s temperature from the outside in and wouldn’t cook the meat while it’s been thawed.

Poke a couple of holes into your franks with a fork or small knife, as it would allow the hot dogs to be cooked without having to explode or split. In the same vein as you would your baked potatoes. We can now proceed to cooking methods.

2. Grilling

This can be done with charcoal or gas. Grilling hot dogs is one of the most popular cooking methods, and it’s not difficult to do. What makes it special is the charred flavor you get from it, no other cooking method can give you that. The challenge you might face is an inconvenience in the grilling process.

For the charcoal grilling, you want to make use of a charcoal chimney, so your coals become red-hot. After that and a good number of the coals have gray ash covering them, evenly distribute them on the bottom of the grate covering the lid on the grill to heat up.

While the grill is being warmed up, your franks would be at room temperature, and they can be placed on the grill. Cook the dogs for roughly 3 minutes, then change it to the other side to be cooked for another 3 minutes. The charred flavor and grill mark that would appear is especially appealing for hot dog lovers and be certain that they’d be cooked thoroughly. Grilling with gas is almost the same process. You just have to set your grill high and reduce it when it’s hot before grilling the hot dogs, the same way as with the charcoal grilling.

3. Oven Cooked Hot dogs

Cooking your franks in the oven is quite simple. It might take some time to finish cooking, but it’s still considerably fast. It’s a convenient option if you’re cooking a large number at the same time.

Heat up the oven to 400 degrees and while it’s getting hot, put the pan into the oven to heat too. When it becomes hot enough, reduce it to 325 degrees, cook the hot dogs on one side for 2 minutes (lesser time than the grill), turn then cook for another 2 minutes. You might not get the same char flavor as with the grilling method but be rest assured your hot dogs would come out with some enticing coloring.

4. Stovetop Hot Dog

If you don’t have a grill or oven, you could equally use a stovetop to cook your hot dog. It is imperative that you get a griddle or quality skillet to use.

Get it hot by turning up the burners, after which you can reduce it and cook your franks. The 3 minutes method applies here too, like when you’re grilling it.

5. Microwave cooked Hot dogs

Even though this method is not recommended to cook hot dogs, microwaving it is still an option. You, however, need to be more careful with it because the franks can become a mess when they’re overcooked. On the upside, it’s very fast and easy to cook.

You’d need to put it on a plate or wrapped in a paper towel before placing it in the microwave. Your hot dog would be ready between 25-30 seconds.

Follow any of these methods if you want some tasty hot dogs. Sometimes, the environment you’re in would dictate how your hot dog can be prepared. In any case, with these methods, you’re sure of eating nice char-flavored franks.