Do you got that dog in you? Well, it’s National Hot Dog Day on July 17, so maybe you should.
Hot dogs are “high culture, they’re low culture, they’re sports food and they’re hangover food,” writes Jamie Loftus in her book “Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs.“
“They’re deeply American for reasons that few people can explain but everyone has been told their entire lives.”
Americans love hot dogs, that’s no secret. We buy 20 billion hot dogs a year, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
“When I think of hot dogs, I think of families coming together around the grill and to me that is an American feeling,” Vanessa Lara, 30, the co-owner of Coney Burger in Miami, previously told USA TODAY.
The versatile food is so beloved that there was even a giant, 65-foot hot dog sculpture in Times Square that shoots confetti from the tip.
People will even get into arguments over whether or not Chicago’s dogs are better than New York’s or Coney Island’s. But regardless, hot dogs are an iconic part of American culture.
Ready to devour one? Here’s everything to know about cooking a hot dog.
How do you cook a hot dog?
There are multiple ways to heat up a hot dog. Some people might even opt to eat them cold, straight out of the package. At that point, it may just be a dog, not really a hot dog.
But the Food and Drug Administration says that choice may not be for everyone.
“Although hot dogs are fully cooked, those at increased risk of foodborne illness should reheat hot dogs and luncheon meat until steaming hot before eating, due to the threat of listeriosis,” states its website.
Now that you have bought your hot dogs, on sale or full price, these are the steps to take to make the “perfect” hot dog you can celebrate the day with, according Nathan’s Famous.
Nathan’s, of course, says to grab a pack of dogs from them, but we will leave the decision of which brand to use up to the chef. Just make sure to double check that brand’s cooking instructions.
Here’s what Nathan’s recommends for various cooking methods.
How to cook a hot dog on the stove
- Pour some water into a frying pan or skillet and cover the surface with half an inch of water.
- Set the stove to medium-high heat and wait for the water to boil.
- Carefully add hot dogs and only cook a few at a time.
- Steam and roll frequently to get the hot dogs brown on all sides.
- Use tongs to remove them from the pan and serve them.
How to cook a hot dog on the grill
- Turn on the grill and make sure one side is hotter than the other.
- Cook the dogs one minute on each side on the cooler side of the grill and wait for them to turn a brownish-red color.
- Then move them to the hot side of the grill if they haven’t developed a rich brown color.
- Serve once it looks to be the right shade.
“Lay the dogs at an angle for that beautiful, diagonal char mark that makes your mouth water,” states Nathan’s website.
How to microwave a hot dog
- Wrap the hot dog in a paper towel and place it in the middle of the microwave or put it on a plate and cover the plate with a paper towel.
- Cook it on high for 40 to 50 seconds, if cooking multiple hot dogs then add an additional 20 seconds for each hot dog.
- Check to see if the dogs are warmed up, if they aren’t then cook them in for an additional 30 seconds.
- Once that’s done, carefully unwrap the hot dog. Be mindful that the steam that is released when you do this can burn you.
However you choose to heat up your dogs today, you should relish the moment. The hot dog holiday only comes once a year.