Hot Dog Basics

Lately my OCD has turned towards cooking the perfect hotdog.  I personally like Beef Ball Park franks but am anxious to re-try other brands (Nathans, etc.). Anywho...this is by boiling (Midwestern favorite) but would work grilling providing you cook on low heat up to the desired temperature.

Drum roll please while I reveal one of life's most perplexing issues...

Only cook to an internal temp from 160 to 180 degrees...don't boil or allow your water temperature to exceed the 180 degrees or you could get uneven cooking through the dog (sous vide style).! I prefer 180 degrees internal temperature.   

Very tasty when not over cooked and like to use re-hydrated dehydrated onions for topping with mustard and ketchup.

You will thank me!  

Good to know, I'm sure I've over cooked them in the past. Over cooking seem to be a mistake a lot of people make. Especial with pork.

Made my first batch of cabbage rolls this wk end. YUM!

Freedom Forever wrote:Good to know, I'm sure I've over cooked them in the past.  Over cooking seem to be a mistake a lot of people make. Especial with pork.

Made my first batch of cabbage rolls this wk end.  YUM!  

Cabbage today...Dutch Oven tonight.  Make sure you pull the covers over your head good and tight.  

Darth Cheney wrote:Lately my OCD has turned towards cooking the perfect hotdog.  I personally like Beef Ball Park franks but am anxious to re-try other brands (Nathans, etc.). Anywho...this is by boiling (Midwestern favorite) but would work grilling providing you cook on low heat up to the desired temperature.

Drum roll please while I reveal one of life's most perplexing issues...

Only cook to an internal temp from 160 to 180 degrees...don't boil or allow your water temperature to exceed the 180 degrees or you could get uneven cooking through the dog (sous vide style).! I prefer 180 degrees internal temperature.   

Very tasty when not over cooked and like to use re-hydrated dehydrated onions for topping with mustard and ketchup.

You will thank me!  

I tend to favor Hebrew Narional or Ballpark. The sole condement I favor is cole slaw. Sorry, but ketchup, mustard and vinegar never enter my abode.

Darth Cheney wrote:Lately my OCD has turned towards cooking the perfect hotdog.  I personally like Beef Ball Park franks but am anxious to re-try other brands (Nathans, etc.). Anywho...this is by boiling (Midwestern favorite) but would work grilling providing you cook on low heat up to the desired temperature.

Drum roll please while I reveal one of life's most perplexing issues...

Only cook to an internal temp from 160 to 180 degrees...don't boil or allow your water temperature to exceed the 180 degrees or you could get uneven cooking through the dog (sous vide style).! I prefer 180 degrees internal temperature.   

Very tasty when not over cooked and like to use re-hydrated dehydrated onions for topping with mustard and ketchup.

You will thank me!  

No catsup/ketchup. Never ever. Bad Darth, Bad. Best dog I ever ate were the ones bought from the carts by the Quads at UC in Chicago. Steamed in beer with mustard, pickles, a dash of celery salt and sport peppers if you wanted heat. Catsup/ketchup wasn't even offered.   

Do you recommend to have an immersion circulator ?

Should the dogs be sealed in a bag ?

I'm more partial to the tuna hot dog, or to sushi, but your method gets me thinking.

Shortie's Lover wrote:Do you recommend to have an immersion circulator ?

Should the dogs be sealed in a bag ?

I'm more partial to the tuna hot dog, or to sushi, but your method gets me thinking.

I just heat the water up to 180 degrees and let the dogs swim for 10 minutes or so then reheat water again to 180 and allow 5 more minutes of swim time.  Internal temp of dogs will be close to 180 at that point. I do have an excellent thermometer (Thermapen) I use for cooking everything.

Darth Cheney wrote:

Freedom Forever wrote:Good to know, I'm sure I've over cooked them in the past.  Over cooking seem to be a mistake a lot of people make. Especial with pork.

Made my first batch of cabbage rolls this wk end.  YUM!  

Cabbage today...Dutch Oven tonight.  Make sure you pull the covers over your head good and tight.  

Poor Mrs Cheney.   

Shortie's Lover wrote:Do you recommend to have an immersion circulator ?

Should the dogs be sealed in a bag ?

I'm more partial to the tuna hot dog, or to sushi, but your method gets me thinking.

Tuna? Hotdogs? what's going on here?   

I like the chipotle venison brats I made this year.

Added some pepper jack cheese to the mix before stuffing them....