Depending on how strong your microwave is, you can microwave hot dogs for anywhere between 45 and 1 minute on high.

An American classic, hot dogs can be topped with your preferred condiments and toppings. Both children and adults adore them, and they’re great for a quick lunch or dinner. If you’re short on time, you can cook hot dogs using only your microwave.

How to Cook Hot Dogs in Microwave

Anyone who has prepared toothsome microwave desserts probably knows that microwaving food is no easy task. You can’t just throw the food in the microwave and hope for the best. They might come out undercooked or, worse, explode in your face!

Read More: How Does A Microwave Oven Work – Complete Guide to Use It in 2023

Step 1: Prepare Your Hot Dogs

The hot dogs should be pierced several times with a fork. By doing this, the steam inside the hot dogs will not build up and burst.

In contrast, some hot dog manufacturers assert that piercing will cause their products to lose moisture, leaving them dry and flavorless. So if you are using hot dogs from those brands, feel free to skip this step.

Step 2: Place the Hot Dogs on the Plate

Prepare a plate with a microwave-safe mark if you don’t know whether you can microwave any regular plate. After that, lay a paper towel on top to mop up the hot dog grease and moisture. To prevent paper towel fibers from landing on your hot dog, use a high-quality paper towel.

Remember not to stack them. Just place them 1 or 2 inches away from each other so they can be cooked evenly.

Step 3: Cover Them Up

Before you put the hot dogs in the microwave, cover them with a second piece of paper towel. You can also dampen their paper towers to add moisture for the hot dogs.

Alternatively, roll them up in the first paper towel if you only want to microwave a few hot dogs. Make sure that it doesn’t unroll while spinning by tucking the ends. To make sure it is juiciest and most voluminous, dampen the paper towel first.

Step 4: Microwave Them

If the wattage of your microwave is roughly 800-1,000 watts, the estimated cooking time for 1 hot dog on high heat is 40 seconds. For more information, look at the graph I provided above.

Since hot dogs might explode in the microwave if you microwave them for longer than 30 seconds at a time, you should never do so. Additionally, keep in mind to occasionally flip them so they cook evenly.

Step 5: Check on Them

Check the temperature of your hot dogs after every 30 seconds by pausing the microwave. If they are still cold, let them sit until the timer runs out. Reduce the cooking time if they are already hot or remove them.

Step 6: Take Them Out and Enjoy!

Take the plate of hot dogs out with oven mitts. The steam may be trapped underneath the paper towel, so take care when removing it.

To ensure that they are safe, take a guaranteed premium-quality wireless meat thermometer and check their internal temperature. You’re good to go if the temperature is greater than 160°F!

Now that you’ve successfully prepared hot dogs in the microwaves, don’t forget to serve these tasty foods with potato salad. Potato salad’s rich, creamy flavors are a wonderful complement to the savory notes of hot dogs, which are laced with undertones of sweetness and fat.

How Long to Microwave a Hot Dog?

Depending on your microwave’s strength, this will change. As a general rule, microwave your hot dog for 30 seconds before checking on it. Do this in 10- to 20-second intervals if more time is required to reach the desired temperature.

How Long to Microwave Multiple Hot Dogs?

If you’ll be cooking multiple hot dogs, just multiply the time by the number of hot dogs. For instance, two hot dogs would consume about a minute, while three to four hot dogs would consume about 90 seconds.

Tips for the Perfect Microwave Hot Dog

• Start with a Quality Hot Dog: Using premium meat is the best way to create a tasty hot dog. Choose hot dogs with few artificial flavors or fillings. Choices worth considering include Hillshire Farm’s Beef Hot Links and Oscar Meyer’s uncured hotdogs.
• Wrap in Paper Towel: Drying out of your hot dog is the absolute last thing you want. Before microwaving the dogs, wrap them in a paper towel to keep the meat juicy and moist.
• Cook In Intervals: Always microwave hotdogs in 30-second increments. Check on the hot dogs frequently. This reduces the chance of overheating and explosion.
• Adjust Based on the Microwave: Use more time with tabletop models that are less powerful and less time with those that are more powerful.
• Adjust Based on Size: Jumbo hot dogs take more time than standard sizes.
• Prepare Buns Separately: Prepare your buns in advance so you can serve the hot dogs straight from the microwave. Use the microwave to preheat them or an oven, grill, or skillet to toast them.

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