Boiling hot dogs... Gross or not gross?

[ellone]

Prefer grilled (cooked on a griddle is fine too), but no boiling for me.

I only buy the organic grass fed beef ones from applegate. Those are uncured.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I love hot dogs.

Best ways to cook them for me:

• Split fry
• Grill
• Boil (in sauerkraut, beer, water, etc)
• microwave
• deep fry

 

[powellrj]

After reading your update, I would forget the hot dogs and just go with the desserts. Maybe add some kind of a snack food like a chex mix to add a salty to the sweet mix, but I don't think you need the hot dogs at all.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Do the other guests bring food to your parties? That would help reduce your work load/stress right there.

If you really need something other than desserts, could you just buy some extra-long sub sandwiches? Some sub shops sell 4 or 5 foot long subs and you just slice them into whatever serving portions you want.

 

[shortbun]

You don't want to read this but I think hot dogs are 'gross.' I went through a plant once that produced hot dogs. I maybe eat one a year. I have to be really hungry.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Do it all the time. Even microwave. How do you think they do it at a hot dog stand?

They grill them! Here in toronto, hotdog stands use a grill (propane bbq type of grill). They dont boil them like i've seen in NYC. Its soooo much better grilled. Yummy!

I'm going against the crowd, I hate boiled dogs. I prefer a grilled hot dog, especially on the 4th, something about the grill makes them taste better to me. For some reason boiled hot dogs seem gross to me, I hate the smell, the gross water in the pot, the limp texture of the hot dog. But it seems I'm in the minority on this thread!

Im with you on this. I prefer it grilled, even a bit charred. I dont mind it boiled, but grilled is definitely the way to go.

OP, I wouldnt worry about it. Boiling them is just fine.

 

[AustinTink]

Stick 'em in the oven~! That's how I fix mine most of the time. You can cook them about 8-10 min, turning them over once so you get a little char on two sides. If you need to keep them hot, just put them in aluminum foil so they will remain moist and leave them on top of the stove, or you can turn off the oven and put your package in there.

If you really want to get fancy, cut some hot dogs down the middle but not all the way through. Put a small, rectangular piece of cheese in the cut and bake in the oven about 8 minutes. My kids think these are da bomb

Minkydog, I think you win the prize. I'll just stick them in the oven and roll them around every so often. I like the cheese trick too.

On a side note, since we have so many great tips here for hot dogs, I'll share my favorite way to fix them. I like them split down the middle, pan fried, topped with a slice of cheese and served on a hamburger bun with mustard. We call them hot dog burgers in this house.

 

[AustinTink]

You don't want to read this but I think hot dogs are 'gross.' I went through a plant once that produced hot dogs. I maybe eat one a year. I have to be really hungry.

I hear you. We do all beef dogs, thinking that might help a little with the gross factor. My mil thinks I'm poisoning her son and grandson by giving them hot dogs once a month. I can't convince her otherwise.

 

[bookgirl]

I like boiled hotdogs and that's probably how we fix them 90% of the time. Works great.

We've done big partys with crock pots full of hot dogs and just enough water to keep the steam going. Never dries out and stays nice and warm.

However I like them grilled very grilled. Grill marks grilled, also very yummy.

There is a case for open fire though, love them to turn dark brown and for the casing to get all crisp and cracked.

But in a pinch I'll nuke it in the microwave for 60 seconds and those are great for a quick lunch.

I've also been known to just grab one out of the lunchmeat drawer and eat it cold. Great late night snack or running late to work breakfast substitute.

Basically there is not wrong way to "cook" a hot dog.

I love hot dogs.

 

[AustinTink]

This thread has made me crave beanie weenies.

 

[bookgirl]

This thread has made me crave beanie weenies.

I was more of a spaghettios with weenies kind of kid.

 

[minkydog]

This thread has made me crave beanie weenies.

I lived on beanie weenies in college. To this day I love hot dogs and baked beans. Now that DH is on a low sodium diet, I guess I will be giving up my beloved hot dogs unless I raid the local convenience store.

 

[bookgirl]

What about cocktail frankfurts? ..

They are called "Little Smokies" here and at our house we have two methods that totally rock.

In a crock pot with bbq sauce and just served on a plate with cheese and crackers or potato salad and chips, etc or wrapped up in pieces of canned biscuits and baked till brown (we call those pigs in a blanket).

Love them both.

 

[PammyK]

Boiled! Definitely boiled. And they have to be Sabretts.

http://www.sabrett.com/products.cfm

Oh and they are lovingly referred to as Dirty Water Dogs here in NYC! That's how you get them most of the time from the hot dog vendors on the street, although some do grill them.

Nothing beats a good Dirty Water Dog from under the Yellow Umbrella! I remember back in the day (before we were soaking ourselves in hand sanitizer) when the vendor would take your money with his tongs and then use the same tongs to grab your Sabrett hot dog and insert in into the steamed bun he was holding in his other hand.

Good times, good times.

 

[North of Mouse]

We're having a get together for the holiday weekend. It's very low key... Just a few close friends and their kids over to watch our neighborhood fireworks display. I'm making queso and some desserts. I want to make hot dogs for the crowd without firing up the grill. It's too hot and I'm too lazy.

So my question is how to make hot dogs for a crowd without grilling? Is boiling them gross?

For a couple, I have thrown them in the microwave, but for more always use the grill. They taste sooo much better when grilled. Boiling would be for a 'very' last resort!

 

[North of Mouse]

You don't want to read this but I think hot dogs are 'gross.' I went through a plant once that produced hot dogs. I maybe eat one a year. I have to be really hungry.

That goes for 'any' processed meat. That's why I'd rather not think about it, because sometimes I just have a good hankering for a hotdog/sausage and nothing much is going to stop me!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Nothing beats a good Dirty Water Dog from under the Yellow Umbrella! I remember back in the day (before we were soaking ourselves in hand sanitizer) when the vendor would take your money with his tongs and then use the same tongs to grab your Sabrett hot dog and insert in into the steamed bun he was holding in his other hand.

Good times, good times.

 

[stargazer2892]

I personally like them grilled or even pan fried boiled just seems to... soggy to me. I would do half boiled half grilled (in a pan if its easier). Of course I microwaved my DS hot dogs today and had no problem sneaking a bite or two. Really, it depends on the brand of hot dogs. Oscar Meyer I really could care less since they pretty much taste the same. but a decent hot dog tI think really does taste better grilled.

 

[travelbug]

I'm going against the crowd, I hate boiled dogs. I prefer a grilled hot dog, especially on the 4th, something about the grill makes them taste better to me. For some reason boiled hot dogs seem gross to me, I hate the smell, the gross water in the pot, the limp texture of the hot dog. But it seems I'm in the minority on this thread!

I'll join you in the minority. I feel exactly the same way.

 

[JVL1018]

Around here, both ways are equally represented, I think. Boiled hotdogs are the norm for street carts in NYC, and we have a hot dog truck parked in one of our municipal lots Tues-Sat, and he does very very well serving up his boiled sabretts(vinegar in the water, btw).
Summer time at BBQs everyone grills them. My kids prefer boiled and I boil them at home for them.
Working in the snack stand at Little League, we throw them in the fryer and deep fry them in oil.