Its immutable hot-doggy-ness is the wieners greatest strength and most terrible weakness.
But the best preparation method is grilling.
Use tongs, though.
Long ones, so you dont burn yourself.
It was around 350F when we put the dogs on.
How long it takes to grill a dog depends, slightly.
Let them heat for 5 to 7 minutes or so, turning them as frequently as you remember to.
If youre using jumbo dogs, give them another two minutes or so.
(This is the idea, anyway.
We werent able to achieve any picturesque grill marks, try as we might.)
Marks or no, you want a slightly crackly, bubbly skin on your frank.
I assume my Michelin star is in the mail.
Some people like to toast the buns up a little, but not me.
I like a mushy, spongy style hotdog bunthats why you shouldsteam your buns.
(Heh, steam your buns.)
What kind of hot dog is best for grilling?
We didnt try soy dogs or other meatless dogs because thats a whole different thing.
All our dogs were OK-but-nothing-special, in keeping with the soul of the hot dog itself.
We split evenly on jumbo vs. regulation size dogsit depends on your bun-to-meat preference, ultimately.
To spiral cut or not to spiral cut?
They get a little more grilly flavor, and the condiments drop in the cracks as a bonus.
Whether its worth the trouble depends on the kind of person you are.
Im more like, Its just a hot dog, man; dont knock yourself out.
Heres how to spiral cut them, if you choose to:
Slide a skewer through the dog.
Hold a sharp knife at an angle to your dog and roll it.
Give the knife to someone with manual dexterity and have them do it.
you might make a second spiral inside the first for a barber-pole effect if you want to get extra-extra.
Grill them the same as uncircumcised hot dogs.
What topping should you put on your hot dogs?
I will make one suggestion, though: grilled onions.
The excitement did not last long.
The final consensus was: Hot dogs are really gross if you eat more than one of them.
