You can make the water boil faster by covering the pot with a lid. Fans of the steamed hot dog fondly call them “steamers” or “steamies. ”
Trying to cook too many hot dogs at once will make them cook unevenly because the steam won’t be able to get around the sides. If you don’t have a steaming basket, you could use a colander instead. Just make sure that whatever you use is wide enough to rest over the water without falling into the pot.
Be careful not to touch the sides of the pot while getting the lid in place. You could burn yourself!
If you want to do a temperature check, aim to get your hot dogs between 140–165 °F (60–74 °C) for the best consistency. Use a meat thermometer stuck in the middle of a dog to check the temp. [5] X Research source
If you want that classic hot-dog browning on the sides, pop the dogs under the broiler for 1-2 minutes. You’ll enjoy a steamed dog’s juiciness with a little char from the broiler’s high heat. [7] X Research source Remember to turn off the burner! Don’t grab the hot dogs with your bare hands. They’ll be extremely hot and will burn you.
If the hot dogs smell off, have discolored spots, or get slimy, it’s best to throw them out.
You could also place the hot dogs directly into the microwave. Just remember to wipe down the interior afterward to clean it up.
If you want to make a single hot dog, wrap it in a paper towel and save the plate.
The hot dogs are already cooked through and safe to heat. Using the microwave to steam them is more about making them juicer and more enjoyable to eat.
Be careful when testing the hot dogs! The plate may be scorching, as well as the dogs themselves. If you’re cooking multiple hot dogs, the outside ones may get hot all the way through before the ones in the center. Remove the ones on the edges once they’re hot and continue cooking the other ones until they’re done.
You may want to give the hot dogs 1-2 minutes to rest before biting into them. They can be very hot coming out of the microwave; you don’t want to burn your mouth.
