I made a hot dog in 4 different appliances, and I'll never use the microwave again

This prep took a total of one minute, including slicing the ends of my hot dogs to help me tell when they were done cooking. That's a nifty trick my mom taught me, but it also helped me distinguish the different hot dogs at the end. 

All I had to do was plop three franks into the pot and wait five minutes for the water to boil.

Right on the dot, the hot dogs were ready to eat. I just had to wait a couple of minutes for them to cool off.

Although this was an easy process, I think boiling the hot dogs drained the flavor out a little bit. They were bland, which was disappointing. 

As predicted, the hot dogs lacked a crispy outer layer and were instead rubbery, which downgraded the meal for me. 

I've never used an air fryer before. I was nervous but excited to test out the beloved appliance. 

I sliced three lines down the center of each hot dog and placed three into the air-fryer tray.

Once it preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, I let the hot dogs cook for three minutes.

There was a stark difference from the boiled hot dogs.

The slightly fried outer layer added a nice texture, and the inside was tender and tasty. I wish I'd made more. 

This process was incredibly easy and required no cleaning. The only downside is that I can only cook a handful at a time because of the size of my air fryer — not ideal for a barbecue or party.

I've also never used my grill before.

I was hesitant, but curious, to see just how crispy the hot dogs would get compared to the other cooking methods. 

My Dyna-Glo grill has minimal settings, so all I had to do was crank up the fire. 

I shut the hood of my grill for a few minutes. I couldn't resist looking in though, and I used this opportunity to flip the hot dogs and let them char further.

The smell wafting from the grill was incredible, unlike any of the other cooking methods.

The franks were succulent. They were bursting with flavor and had a crispy, smoky outer layer unlike any of my other attempts.

I was so glad I ended up making a few extras on the grill.

Though I assumed this would be the easiest method, it quickly proved me wrong.

I slashed each hot dog before individually wrapping them in a paper towel and placing them on a microwave-safe plate.

I also had to cook them in one-minute increments, unwrapping and checking each one to make sure it was cooked. I did this four times to ensure the meat was properly warmed up.

Although the microwaved hot dogs were tastier than the boiled ones, I don't think the time I spent wrapping and heating the franks was worth it. 

They lacked the crispy exterior of the air-fried and grilled hot dogs. 

Grilling was my favorite cooking method by far.

Though boiling and microwaving the hot dogs took minimal time, nothing could beat the flavor, smell, and experience of grilling.

I would definitely use an air fryer again, too, but only if I were cooking for myself. And next time, I'll try air-frying the buns, too.

This story was originally published on July 2, 2023, and most recently updated on May 24, 2024.

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