How Long Does It Take To Boil A Hot Dog?

It's safe to say that not many foods rival the occasion-versatility of the American hot dog, wiener, frank — and what are now sometimes called glizzies. They're common at almost any function, from baseball games, barbecues, and birthday parties to an economical gas station snack on road trips. Delicately balanced between two fluffy buns, the iconic hot dog sandwich (wait, is it a sandwich?) is usually slathered in various condiment combinations, depending on where you're from. Still, if the meat itself isn't cooked to perfection, the whole thing falls apart.

One of the most common way to prepare a hot dog is to boil it; refrigerated dogs should be boiled for between four to six minutes, and if heating from frozen, you should plan for nine to ten minutes to get the best result. If you undercook your franks, they can cause food poisoning; and if you overcook them they will split and turn to mush. Although boiling a dog may seem simple, there are a few steps you should consider.

You should use about 1 cup of water  to cover and cook a single hot dog. And if you're cooking for a group, you'll want to use about 1 quart per 8 dogs. Throw a generous pinch of salt into the water and bring to a boil. Then, lower each dog in with tongs and reduce to medium heat. Boil for the allotted time — whether you're working with frozen or refrigerated dogs. 

When fully done, your sausages should have an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and you'll probably notice they have plumped up a bit. After removing your wieners with tongs, place them on a paper towel and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

If you want to try something different, boiling your hot dogs in anything but water is a flavor game changer, especially beer. The carbonation and acidity in beer will help tenderize the meat and add a mellow flavor. You can increase the flavor and tenderness by cutting ½ inch deep slits into your uncooked links and marinating them for about 30 minutes. Then pop them into your boiling beer and cook for about five minutes –the alcohol in the boozy brew gives it a lower boiling point than plain water, so it takes slightly less time to heat up.

Boiling a hot dog has multiple benefits compared to other cooking methods. It's one of the only ways to get a truly even temperature on your dog, resulting in a thoroughly cooked protein and reducing the danger of food-borne illness. Cooking in an oven or on a grill can lead to uneven temperatures, which increases the chance of uneven cooking. And burning your dogs on a grill or under a broiler can be a real problem if you don't keep a watchful eye. With boiling, you just plop it in and set the timer. 

If you're prepping for a crowd, boiling is definitely the way to go (there's a reason it's the preferred method for street vendors). You can place multiple dogs in a big pan and boil away. Just be sure to use the right amount of water for the number of links you intend to cook and boil them for the correct amount of time. 

Your wieners are also less likely to burst in a simmering pot. Compared to microwaving, for example, you can keep an eye on your dog in water, whereas it could be silently bursting open behind the tempered glass of a microwave if the heat is too high or you've set the timer for too long. You could avoid this by checking your sausage's progress every 15 seconds, but who has time for that?