I’ve found the best way to make hot dogs this summer and it doesn’t involve the grill
While perusing Reddit for summer cooking tips, hot dogs from the airfryer comes out as one of the most hotly debated topics, and people certainly have opinions. It’s hot dog season, no doubt, and the air fryer is the most talked about kitchen appliance of the past decade, so it’s to be followed.
Which begs the question: can you cook a hot dog in an air fryer? Are hot dogs in an air fryer better than boiling sausages or throwing them in an air fryer? microwave or on a hot grill? I didn’t want to just take Reddit’s word for it (and besides, there’s no taste test involved), so I threw a few kosher hot dogs into my trusty air fryer to find out.
The result was an instant summer extravaganza, and the cooking time is faster than in a microwave. I tried it a few times and tested temperatures to find the absolute best way to cook a hot dog in an air fryer.
Why are air-fried hot dogs so incredibly delicious?
Here’s everything you need for a quick summer meal.
The hot convection heat of the air fryer crisps up salty, greasy hot dogs in minutes. It’s nearly impossible to overcook a hot dog, so you don’t have to worry about that. Using your air fryer to make hot dogs saves you on propane and eliminates the need Clean the grill. Air fryers also don’t need to heat up like grills. And cooking hot dogs takes time. I personally don’t like the soggy cooked hot dogs with very little bite.
In addition, you can toast your hotdog bun in the airfryer with the dog. The same does not apply to the microwave or cooking method.
So throw away your grilling apron and grab the air fryer basket. Making hot dogs in the air fryer takes about 4 minutes and requires almost no effort or cleanup, and you can cook a whole pack at once.
You can prepare a whole package of hot dogs, as long as you don’t overfill the basket.
How to make a perfect hot dog in an air fryer
Spoiler alert: Air fryer hot dogs are really easy. This is truly one-step cooking. I used this $45 Dash Air Fryer but almost any model is suitable.
- Step 1: Score the hot dogs with a knife (optional).
- Step 2: Fry the hot dogs for 4 to 6 minutes on high heat (200 degrees Celsius).
- Step 3: Place the hot dog buns in the air fryer about 1 minute before the hot dogs are done.
- Step 4: Add spices or sliced onions to taste and serve.
Should you stock up on hot dogs before cooking them in the air fryer?
You can cut your hot dog for extra crispy bits.
I tried both scored and unscored hot dogs. There was no major difference and the unscored hot dogs showed no signs of bubbling or bursting. Shaving your hot dogs prevents them from exploding occasionally and gives you a bit more crispy edges if you’re into that sort of thing.
What else can you make in the airfryer?
Airfryer roasted chicken is also one of my favorite summer dishes.
The better question might be what can’t you make in an air fryer. I’ve found the air fryer to be excellent for salmon fillets and a whole roasted chicken. You can make bacon in under 10 minutes and even make a perfect medium rare cheeseburger in the air fryer without cleaning.
Be here six things i only cook in the airfryer from now on, and seven things i will never make in the kitchen sink again.
