How to Boil a Hot Dog Using a Microwave or Stove

You don’t need a grill to cook a delicious hot dog. Boiling hot dogs is a quick, easy way to make a tasty dog, and will ensure that your hot dogs are evenly cooked. You'll learn how to boil a hot dog on the stove (6 minutes = perfection!) as well as in the microwave. Plus, we've included ideas for taking your hot dog to the next level with flavorful spices and condiments. If your mouth is watering, keep reading!

Things You Should Know

Add your hot dog to a pot of boiling water on the stove. After 6 minutes, remove it with tongs, or use a colander to strain out the water.
If you're using a microwave, cut a lengthwise slit on your hot dog. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl that's half-full of water and nuke it for 75 seconds.
Increase the flavor of your hot dog by seasoning the boiling water with spices such as cayenne pepper or garlic powder.
Top your Frankfurt with tasty condiments like chili, cheese, onions, and/or pickle relish.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Boiling on the Stove

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Choose a pot that's large enough to fit all the hot dogs you want to boil. Leave a few inches of room at the top of the pot so it won't boil over when you add the dogs.
Carefully slip them into the pot one by one. Don't toss them in all at once, or the boiling water could splash you.^{[1]
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Boil the hot dogs for 6 minutes. Cooking your Frankfurt for 6 minutes is long enough to get them piping hot but short enough to keep them from splitting down the middle. Avoid letting the hot dogs split, since they'll lose a lot of flavor if they do.
- If you're boiling a large pack of hot dogs, they may need extra cooking time. Test a dog by making a small center slit to see whether it steams. If not, continue cooking for another minute or two.^{[2]
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- If you're boiling just a dog or two, they may be ready before six minutes are up. Test a dog at five minutes by making a small slit to see whether it steams. If not, put it back in the water.^{[3]
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Remove the hot dogs from heat and drain them. Pour the entire pot of dogs through a colander to drain the water. Or, you can remove them one at a time with tongs, shaking off the water as you go.^{[4]
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- If you made enough hot dogs for people to come back for seconds, leave the extra dogs in the pot of warm water. Put a lid on the pot and move it to a cool burner; the extra dogs are still likely to be hot when you're ready to eat them.
- If you've set up a hot dog bar and you're serving a big crowd, you can keep the dogs warm by turning the burner to the lowest heat setting.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Boiling in the Microwave

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Make sure the bowl is large enough to hold the number of hot dogs you want to cook. A glass or plastic microwave-safe bowl works fine.^{[5]
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Use a knife to make a shallow slit from one end of the hot dog to the other; this keeps the dogs from bursting in the microwave. Add the frankfurters to the bowl of water.
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Cook the hot dogs on high for 75 seconds or until they're steaming hot. After 75 seconds, cut the tip off a hot dog to see whether it steams. If it doesn't, continue cooking, pausing the microwave every 30 seconds to check them again.^{[6]
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- You can also check to see if it needs more time by looking at the texture of the hot dog; if the skin looks wrinkled and darker in color, it's probably done.
- If you're cooking more than a few hot dogs, they will need an extra minute or two to fully heat.
- Hot dogs can be contaminated with Listeria after they’ve been cooked at the plant. To avoid getting sick, heat hot dogs thoroughly before eating.^{[7]
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Use a fork to remove them from the hot water and drain the dogs on a paper towel before serving them.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Adding Extra Flavor

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1
Season the water before you boil the hot dogs. Plain-boiled hot dogs taste great, but you might want to give yours a kick by adding some spices. Try adding 1/2 teaspoon (1.44 g) of salt if you like your hot dogs salty. In addition, pour in one or more of the following spices before you turn up the heat:
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.44 g) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.44 g) Italian spice mix
- 1/4 teaspoon (.72 g) cayenne pepper
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Pour a beer into the water. Beer imparts a delicious, mellow flavor to the hot dogs while making them a tender texture It's the perfect way to add flavor if you're cooking up a batch of dogs to eat while watching sports or serving a roomful of adults who like the flavor of beer. Replace 1 1/2 cups (360 g) of water with a can of beer. Bring it to a boil and cook the dogs as normal.^{[8]
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- If you're up for an experiment, try different types of beer. For example, a pale ale will impart a very different taste than a darker beer.
- This method works for hot dogs of any kind, but tastes especially good with all-beef dogs.
Tossing in a garlic clove or two while the water comes to a boil is a great way to add earthy flavor to your hot dogs. You don't even have to peel the garlic; just throw in a clove or two.
To sauté your hot dogs, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a dash of olive oil. Use a knife to split your dogs in half lengthwise. When the oil is hot, sauté the dogs split-side down until they're brown and crispy.
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Dress the dogs with your favorite condiments. Place your dogs in their buns and add tasty toppings. No matter how you cook your dogs, the best flavor comes afterward in the form of great condiments. Here are a few ideas to get creative with your hot dogs:
- Chili
- Shredded cheese
- Ketchup and mustard
- Chopped onions, raw or sauteed
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Pickle relish

Community Q&A

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Question

How will I know when to put hot dogs inside the pot?

Community Answer

Wait until the water is at a rolling boil. You will see lots of bubbles, some of which are very large.

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What if the hot dogs are frozen?

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You can boil frozen hot dogs. They may just need a little longer to cook.

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I know this may be a stupid question, but what if I'm having a party and some children are going to be there? Could I still do method 3?

Community Answer

Not stupid at all! When food is cooked with beer/wine, the alcohol is more or less cooked away. You don't really have to worry about getting the kids drunk or anything. Of course, if you want to be extra cautious and avoid the potential for judgmental comments from parents, just skip the beer.

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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.

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Note that grilling or pan grilling will usually bring out the real hot dog taste, but it's an issue of personal preference.

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Consider pre-boiling hot dogs in water seasoned with garlic, spices, or beer, letting them cool, then using them to homemade corn dogs.

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Warnings

Be sure not to fill the pan too high with water, otherwise it may overflow when it boils.

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Be careful when removing the hot dogs from the boiling water. If the hot dog falls back into the boiling water it may splash and possibly cause burns.

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Cook hot dogs until they're steaming to prevent food-borne illnesses.

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