Hot dogs are a staple of summertime in America. Warm, juicy hot dogs bring back memories of campfires, family barbeques, swim parties, fireworks, ball games, and long, lazy days in the sun. But what is the best way to cook hot dogs?
The chances are that your mother cooked hot dogs by boiling them, or your dad just threw them on the grill behind the burgers. Today, however, there are hot dog cooker options that make this classic treat even easier to cook and enjoy.
Which one is right for you and your family? We’ve done the work of scouring Amazon for you, and these are the hot dog cookers that came out on top.
Before choosing a hot dog cooker, it is important to ask yourself some questions. First, does your family like hot dogs steamed or grilled? Both are delicious, but if you and your loved ones have a preference, it will affect which cooker is best for your home.
Another consideration when selecting a hot dog cooker is how many hungry mouths you will be feeding. Some of the cookers we found are perfect for a small family, while others could easily feed a small crowd.
Now that you have a better idea of what you are looking for in a cooker go over some of the best one found online.
Hot Doglicious Microwave Hot Dog Cooker
Starting small and simple, the first hot dog maker on our list is perfect for the solitary eater. The Hot Doglicious Microwave Hot Dog Cooker cooks your hot dog and bun simultaneously in the microwave and even offers an adorable red basket to hold your finished product.
If you are only feeding one or two people and you enjoy your hot dogs soft and steamed, this is the one for you. It takes up no counter space, is dishwasher-safe, and gives you a delicious hot dog, complete with a steamed bun, in a minute or less. And at less than $20, this hot dog cooker is an amazing value.
Nostalgia Large Coca-Cola Diner-Style Steamer
The Nostalgia Diner-Style Steamer is another hot dog cooker that will give you classic steamed hot dogs and buns – but this time, for a crowd. This one can steam up to 24 hot dogs and 12 buns, making it perfect for family reunions and backyard potlucks alike.
Our favorite part of this hot dog cooker is undoubtedly the cool retro design. Dress up like a ’50s housewife, and your guests may start wondering what decade it is!
If you prefer your hot dog cooker to be a bit less steamy and a bit more toasty, keep reading: we have more recommendations coming up.
The Candery Hot Dog Roller
While some hot dog cookers will give you nice, juicy, diner-style hot dogs, The Candery Hot Dog Roller is sure to transport you to summer days at the County Fair. This roller will heat your hot dogs perfectly and then keep them warm, without burning, as long as you need it to.
Don’t need to feed a crowd? No worries! Unlike some roller hot dog cookers, this handy appliance only cooks six hot dogs at a time and takes up that much less counter space. And the non-stick rollers and removable drip tray make it a breeze to clean up.
But what if you want grilled hot dogs and warm buns? The next hot dog toaster own is for you.
Elite Gourmet Hot Dog Toaster Oven
The Elite Gourmet Hot Dog Toaster Oven is a serious appliance for serious hot dog cookers. With rollers above and a bun-sized toaster oven beneath, this one just gets the job done.
Grill and warm four wieners and buns to perfection with this compact, sturdy hot dog cooker. It could feed four people, but can you stop at just one (or two, or three) of these toasty, grilled hot dogs? There’s only one way to find out!
Plus, you can safely let this hot dog cooker do its thing while you watch the ball game, with a 30-minute time and an auto-off feature that will keep those precious hot dogs from burning.
Nostalgia Pop-Up 4 Hot Dog and Bun Toaster
Last but a very long way from least, the Nostalgia Pop-Up 4 Hot Dog and Bun Toaster may be our favorite hot dog cooker of all. Is it the most efficient use of space? No. Does it keep the hot dogs warm? Also no.
No, what sends this hot dog maker to the top of the list is that it is too hot dog cookers what hot dogs are to American cuisine – not the most efficient, not the most refined, not the most nutritious – but definitely the most fun. Drop your four hot dogs and buns (even nice fat juicy dogs will fit!) into this hot dog cooker and then, toaster-style, push down on the lever and wait for the magic to happen.
It wasn’t an easy task to pick even five top hot dog cookers, with all the options Amazon has to offer. But we can promise that whether you like your hot dogs cooked diner-style or ball-park-style, whether you need to feed the swim team or just yourself, there is a hot dog maker out there that will meet your needs and cook you up delicious, all-American hot dogs.
What do you look for in a hot dog cooker? Are you most interested in how quickly the hot dog cooker actually cooks the hot dogs? Do you need to cook a lot of hot dogs at once? Is it important that your hot dog buns are warm, and if so do you like them steamed or toasted? As you answer these questions, it will become clear which maker is the best hot dog cooker for your family.
