Spiral-cut? Boiled in beer? Microwaved? Columnist Ella Quittner sets out to find the ultimate hot dog.
In Absolute Best Tests, writer Ella Quittner destroys the sanctity of her home kitchen in the name of truth. Shes mashed dozens of potatoes, seared more porterhouse steaks than she cares to recall, and tasted enough types of bacon to concern a cardiologist. Today, she tackles hot dogs.
One Sunday in February 2014, at Seattle’s Fremont Market, six customers spent $169 apiece on a hot dog unlike any other.
The bunned-up sausage, proffered by the now-defunct Seattle food truck Tokyo Dog, holds the Guinness title for World’s Most Expensive Hot Dog to this day. According to records, the Juuni Ban was a Bavarian sausage “infused with cheddar” and served on buttered, toasted brioche, topped with seared maitakes, foie gras, Wagyu beef, black truffles, onions, and caviar. (Tokyo Dog’s signature offering—the same dog with a more humble garnish—was a paltry $8, by comparison.)
I stumbled upon the hulking Juuni Ban seven years later while researching the best way to cook a hot dog for Absolute Best Tests. While I wasn’t able to reach Tokyo Dog’s owners, Eugene Woo and Samson Kwong, to talk cook methods, I was able to unearth a 28-minute video from August 2014, in which cheerful host Asha Leo visits the truck for a full procedural run-through.
In the video, the dog-slinging duo notes that they spent three months developing the Juuni Ban, which sometimes spurts melted cheese at its handler. Their cook method was simple but effective: They first warmed the cheddar-suffused specimen in metal containers of hot water—likely to decrease the risk of a cheese explosion—before transferring it to a hot grill, where they rotated it over an open flame until it reached an internal temperature of 160°F. From Our Shop
Though I had no plans to offload my own wares for hundreds of dollars, I took solace in the Tokyo Dog method because it affirmed a hunch: When cooking a hot dog, simplicity is key. No special equipment was employed, no TikTok hacks called in, and still, a dog of great global import was produced. Given that my own trials would be cheddar-free, I figured I could skip the water-warming step, though I did add a dramatic double-underline to “Grill” on my list of methods.
Toward the end of that Tokyo Dog segment, the host lifts the infant-sized frank to her mouth, declaring gleefully, “Oh, the memes that are going to come from this!” After a few moments’ consideration, she takes a small bite while the dog’s creators chant “chew, chew, chew.” Several tense seconds pass as she masticates, before she declares the World’s Most Expensive Hot Dog both “incredible” and “amazing.”
With that as my benchmark—and after confirming that there was absolutely no one in the vicinity to chant “chew, chew, chew”—I set out to test nine methods of hot dog cookery.
I used all-beef hot dogs for every trial. For the sanctity of results, I did initial tasting rounds sans condiments, but I would like the record to show that my preferred toppings are ketchup, yellow mustard, and raw diced onion, and that if you’re going to serve me a hot dog on anything but an untoasted Martin’s potato bun, you may as well not invite me.
directionsPreheat oven to 400 degrees.With a knife make a slice about half way through the hot dog.Place on baking sheet.Cook for 15 minutes until hot dog is starting to curl and browned.If a browner hot dog is desired turn on broiler and brown to liking.
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
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With a knife make a slice about half way through the hot dog.
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Place on baking sheet.
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Cook for 15 minutes until hot dog is starting to curl and browned.
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If a browner hot dog is desired turn on broiler and brown to liking.
Round One: To Slice or Not to Slice?
For the juiciest hot dog, do not slice it. This does invite risk, as hot dogs with no vent for steam may explode in specific conditions—but I think it’s a risk worth taking. (Especially if, like me, you are cooking hot dogs that contain no molten cheese.)
The No Cut hot dogs produced by my Round One trials were noticeably juicier (and larger, having retained more liquid) than the Spiral-Cut and Slashed hot dogs, with the Slashed hot dogs in second place.
If juiciness is less of a priority than aesthetic appeal, you may consider embracing the Spiral-Cut, which elicited a not-immaterial amount of glee. And if toppings are your greatest priority, turn to the Slashed, which provides a moat for ketchup and mustard to act as glue for tiny chopped toppings like onion, herbs, pickled radish, or crushed potato chips.
- Place a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Once the butter has foamed and the foam has subsided, add 1 hot dog to the skillet.
- Sear, shifting every minute or so, until plumped and beginning to brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Place a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Meanwhile, slice one side of a hot dog lengthwise, about 1/3-inch deep.
- Once the butter has foamed and the foam has subsided, add 1 hot dog to the skillet. Sear, shifting every minute or so, until plumped and beginning to brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Place a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Meanwhile, slice a hot dog crosswise in a spiral pattern, about 1/3-inch deep.
- Once the butter has foamed and the foam has subsided, add 1 hot dog to the skillet. Sear, shifting every minute or so, until plumped and beginning to brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes.
Round Two: How to Cook a Hot Dog
For a well-browned hot dog with notes of campfire, consider the Roast Over Flame or Grill methods. Both produced tender specimens with well-seared casings that carried extra scorchy flavors, beyond the standard salty, meaty ones. (For a well-browned dog with notes only of browned butter, simply Stovetop Sear.)
For the juiciest, most flavorful dog, Boil in Beer, and you’ll end up with a plump contender that tastes more like a hot dog than any other hot dog. For an exceptionally juicy dog with muted flavor—for when you’d like condiments to really shine—Boil in Water. Despite the stigma, both methods resulted in plump hot dogs with especially plush interiors, closer in texture to a great Weisswurst than to the rubbery dogs of childhood cafeterias.
For a hot dog that best impersonates one you’d get at a ballpark or from those mesmerizing rotating racks at a convenience store, consider using your Slow Cooker, if you’ve got 4 hours to spare. (Note: This is apparently similar to the method employed by Nathan’s, the morning of their annual hot-dog-eating contest.)
You can skip the Microwave, which yielded an unusually tough casing and caused the hot dog to burst, as well as the Stovetop Steam & Sear, which resulted in less browning on the outside, and an interior that was no juicier than the Stovetop Sear.
- Place a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Once the butter has foamed and the foam has subsided, add 1 hot dog to the skillet.
- Sear, shifting every minute or so, until plumped and beginning to brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes.
Zeigler Red Hots mmmmm Delicious HD 1
FAQ
What’s the best way to cook Red Hots?
Are red hot dogs already cooked?
How long do red hot dogs take to cook?
How do you cook red hot dogs?
There are several methods you can use to cook red hot dogs. One common way is to grill them over medium heat until they are heated through and have nice grill marks. You can also boil them in water for about 5 minutes or until they are fully cooked. Another option is to pan-fry them in a little oil until they are browned on all sides.
How to cook hot dogs in a pan?
Start by covering the surface of the pan with a layer of water. You just need to cover the surface. You can skip this step, but it really helps to prep the pan for the cooking process. Turn your heat to medium-high and let the pan heat until the water starts to boil off in the pan. Add the hot dogs gently so as not to splash the hot water up.
How do you cook a 4 liter hot dog?
Fill a large saucepan with enough water to cover hot dogs easily. For 4 hot dogs, 4 cups (about 1 liter) of water should be more than enough. Be sure to use a pan large enough so that the water falls at least a few inches below the rim. Bring the water to boil. Place the pan on a burner and turn the heat to high.
How do you cook hot dogs in a crock pot?
Start by filling a pan or a pot with water. Be sure it is deep enough to submerge your hot dogs. The best way to do this is to place your hot dogs in the pan and then cover them with water. Turn the burner heat to high under your pan and bring water to a boil. Once it reaches boiling, lower your heat to let the hots dogs simmer in the hot water.