How Long to Boil Hot Dogs

How long to boil hot dogs is here. Boiled on the stove or in an Instant Pot we will compare both cooking methods. They come out perfect every time. We’ll share how to cook frozen hot dogs with you too!

Boiled Hot Dogs in Beer

It shouldn’t be any question as to where to start but you’ll need to fill a pot of water (or beer adds more flavor) and turn your burner on to medium/high heat. If you want to know how to boil hot dogs in beer you would do it the same way, except with that liquid instead. You’ll need quite a bit to submerge these babies but go for it.

We have shared directions for air fryer hot dogs as well as frozen hot dogs in air fryer recently. That is probably our favorite method because the outside gets nicely crisp. What if you don’t have one of those devices though? We are here to help, every house has a burner so that can be your go to.

How to Boil Hot Dogs in a Pan

If your “stove” is at the campsite it would work the same way except your heat source may not be as consistent. Just make sure you place your large pot near the open flame so it can begin to reach a rolling boil like this. The next is personal preference but I highly suggest that you add some salt too.

Some brands are higher in sodium than others and if you are cutting down on that then by all means skip that. Note that while hot dogs boil some of that will leach out though so keep that in mind.

How long to boil beef hot dogs is the same as if you were to choose low fat, turkey, chicken or pork. Hebrew National is our personal favorite for sure as far as flavor and texture goes. If you are making our Hot Dog Casserole you would only need a minute since it bakes longer in the oven.

Why do you boil hot dogs before frying?

This is ideal so the inside gets warmed before you brown the outer casing or it may burn otherwise. As far as timing is concerned you want to the liquid to bring to a boil where it doesn’t stop. You can use broth, beer or water. Adjust the heat so it is consistent but not wanting to bubble and overflow on to your burners, that is too much. Once you’ve reached that point you’re ready to cook boiled weiners.

Then you want to carefully drop the number you want into your pot and just wait a couple of minutes. Don’t walk away because it doesn’t take long! A minute too long and the outer texture won’t be ideal to your liking. For larger links, peek at How Long to Boil Brats.

Boiling Hot Dogs in Instant Pot

It only takes 1 minute to boil hot dogs in Instant Pot if you want to use that method. We have done this with larger pieces and other liquids too, you can read all about that in our Instant Pot brats with beer post.

How Long to Boil Frozen Hot Dogs

Believe it or not you only need to add about 1 minute longer if you’re doing it this way in a large chunk. If yours looks like this and all stuck together you can unwrap and dunk the whole thing right in. After about 1 minute they will defrost and you can use a spoon to break them apart.

Then your 2 minute timing would start until they are done. If they are already separated I would add just 30 seconds more vs. fresh. Of course if you buy a brand that is larger than the average dog you may need to increase timing just slightly, but overall just remember that a few minutes is all that is needed.

How do you know if a hot dog is cooked?

When cooked this way they will almost double in size and puff up, “plump” is the word people use. If grilled or cooked in a pan they will be golden brown all over and will begin to shrivel up with an almost wrinkled look to them.

If you want to make something incredible once they are tender, or start right out of the package, make our burnt end hot dogs! With a caramelized brown sugar and mustard coating crisped in the oven or air fryer they are the bomb.

How Long Does it Take to Boil Hot Dogs?

Remember that these are already fully cooked, you are just warming them up. Unlike boiled whole chicken you could just leave in a very short time to warm. Or leave longer to get hot hot hot. You only need a few minutes to get this done so stay close.

How do you make boiled hot dogs taste better?

You will need to add some flavor. If you really want some crisp on the outside casing you can heat butter in a pan (or bacon fat is better) and quickly sear on the stove. You just need 1 minute or so to do this. Beyond that it is all about the toppings. Ketchup, hot dog mustard is to die for, even a quick sauerkraut for others.

After you’re done cooking hot dogs perfectly it is time for all the toppings we love! A slice of pickle or relish is a must for us. Pair with your favorite side dishes like red cabbage coleslaw and enjoy.

Boiling Hot Dogs in Microwave

You don’t really need water for this at all. You are not going to boil but just heat, this is how long to cook hot dogs in microwave. Much faster than on the stove as described above. If you’re in a hurry this would be the way to go.

What is the Best Way to Cook Hot Dogs?

That is subjective. We have shared it all but in a pot of hot water is the basic way. You’ll first add water to a pot, about halfway full. Add a bit of salt, get to a rolling boil over medium/high heat. This should take 8-10 minutes depending on whether you have a gas or electric stovetop.

• Once you have boiling water or liquid of your choice bubbling consistently, add the hot dogs into the liquid carefully.
• For defrosted they will be heated thru in 1.5-2 minutes cooking time. Frozen will take 2-3 minutes depending on whether they are stuck together or separated
• Remove the hot dogs and dab on paper towels to remove the moisture from the outside before adding into a bun and spooning on your toppings.