how to cook a hot dog in the microwave

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

Is your hot dog alway burnt or dried out after cooking? Improperly microwaving hotdogs can result explosion, drying out, or burning due to unsuitable power and cooking time.

It is very quick and easy to microwave hot dogs. For best results, always defrost frozen hot dogs before cooking them otherwise it can result in uneven heat that will inevitably lengthen the meal prep time.

To keep hot dogs moist and juicy while microwaving, adding water is a simple trick to resolve the common issue. Microwaving hotdogs in water is a quick and easy way to heat the meat without sacrificing on the taste or texture.

How do you microwave hot dogs in water? Along the length of hot dog, slice with a knife deep enough that it goes a quarter way through the the hot dog to avoid from splitting while cooking.

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water, submerge the hot dogs just enough, but ensure to leave space at the top so the boiling water does not spill over. Microwave on high for a 2 minutes for 1 hot dog.

For additional hot dogs, add 20 to 30 seconds intervals to heat thoroughly. Check with an instant thermometer that the internal temperature of the hot dog reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius for it to be safe to consume.

Once they are completely cooked, drain the water from the bowl and place the hot dogs on a paper towel to drain. Serve with warm hotdog buns and garnish with your favorite toppings to enjoy.

If you have only been cooking hot dogs wrapped in a wet paper towel and questioning about if it is ok to boil water in the microwave, you are not the only one. In fact, it is quite easy to avoid superheated water in the microwave with proper steps.

In this article, we will discuss microwave tips to successfully heat hotdogs in water. Answered below are frequently asked questions about microwaving hot dogs in water so that remain juicy and tasty.

Can you microwave hot dogs in water?

Yes, you can microwave hot dogs in water. In fact, the boiling water helps to keep the moisture and evenly heat the hotdogs quicker than the regular microwaving process.

Understand that hotdogs are typically fully cooked and all you need to do is reheat to an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit so they are ready to serve.

Also, hot dogs that are boiling in water are slightly healthier since it leaches out some of the fat, salt and preservatives into the cooking liquid. But on the other hand, it may leave the hot dog soggy and dilute some of the flavor when overcooked too long or submerged in too much water.

Is it better to microwave or boil hot dogs?

Hotdogs boiled in water will be juicy and tender, while regular microwaved hot dogs will be a bit more flavorful. In the end, choice is based on your personal preference.

In this case, boiling hot dogs in the microwave is best option. In addition, it is safe to microwave hot dogs in water as long as you take precautions to avoid the risk of water becoming superheated in microwave during the process.

No matter what, it is recommended to defrost hot dogs before cooking them to get the best results.

How long to microwave hot dogs in water?

In general, using water to boil a hotdog in the microwave tends to take slightly longer. To cook 1 hot dog in water takes about 2 minute whereas without water may take 45 seconds.

The microwaving time to cook a hotdog in water will vary depend on the wattage of microwave, amount of water in the dish and the number of hot dogs being cooked at one time.

If cooking more than 1 hotdog, ensure the amount of hot dogs fit in the container that is filled with water but does not spill over. For every additional hot dog, increase the cooking time by 30 to 60 seconds per hot dog based on the wattage of your appliance.

Tips to microwave hot dogs in water

When hot dogs are microwaved using boiling water, it can last 3 to 5 days in the fridge and remain moist and delicious. Microwaving is a safe and effective way to boil water to cook hot dogs quickly, however it must be done right.

Use these helpful microwave tips to cook hot dogs in water to make them taste great:

Use a fork or knife to poke or draw a line about quarter of the way from the end at an angle so the heat allow to travel internally to cook more evenly.
Fill the microwave-safe bowl with cold water. The cold water can match the temperature of the hot dog so it doesn't boil too early and leave the hotdog uncooked.
Use a fork to take out cooked hot dog from the hot water bowl. Careful since it is very hot and contains boiling water.
The hotdog will float in the water, so use a microwavable weight to hold it down. Otherwise, cover the top of the container with a lid or damp paper towel to trap the steam so that the top of the sausage gets heated as well.
Always drain the hotdog carefully, then place on a dry paper towel before serving so that it doesn't make the bun soggy.

The best way to microwave hotdogs in water

When it comes to microwaving hotdogs in water, we are actually referring to reheating them because hot dogs are precooked and do not require cooking. When submerged in boiling water, hotdogs receive the benefit to reduce sodium, preservatives and fat amounts while heating more evenly.

Without caution, microwaving hot dogs in water tend to become soggy, loose flavor and easily overcook.

The best way to microwave hot dog in water is run a knife down along the length of hot dog to prevent from splitting while heating.

Fill the microwaveable bowl with water to submerge the hot dog. Ensure there is enough space on top so it does not spill over once the water starts boiling.

Start microwaving on high heat for a 2 minutes, however the reheating time depends on the number of hot dogs. For 1 hot dogs the time is 2 minutes, and add an additional 30 seconds per piece for extra.

Once the water starts boiling, reduce the intervals to 15 seconds to prevent superheating the water.

Constantly check the hotdog with a meat temperature. Once the internal temperature reaches 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit, carefully remove the dish from microwave.

Use tongs to take out the hot dogs and place them on a dry paper towel to drain any excess water.

Let it sit for couple of seconds, then assemble the hot dog with the bun and toppings of your choice.

Microwaving Hotdogs in Water: Conclusion

There are two ways to microwave hot dogs, plain or boiling in water. The ultimate goal is to reheat the hot dog to a temperature that is safe for consuming, and both methods are fast and safe.

The method you select is really based on personal preference. Regular cooked hotdogs are more flavorful, but boiled hot dogs are softer, juicier and more tender.

If the hot dog has been stored too long in the fridge or freezer, it can start to loose moisture and dry up. In this case, boiling method can revive the juicy and moist texture in the hot dog.

Simply run a knife half way down to length of sausage or poke with fork so it does not split while heating.

Use a microwave-safe container and fill with cold water to submerge the hotdogs. Make sure there is space at the top to prevent boiling water from spilling over.

Run the microwave on high for 2 minutes to reach the safe temperature to consume. Repeat 20 to 30 seconds intervals until the internal temperature of the hotdogs reach 74℃ or 165℉.

Drain the water from hot dog by placing them on a dry paper towel. Serve with your preference of toppings or condiments and enjoy.

Microwaving hot dogs in water is quick and easy. In just a couple minutes the sausages are fully reheated and ready to serve.