11 mistakes that can ruin your hot dogs, according to chefs and grilling pros

Sophia MitrokostasJul 22, 2020, 20:07 IST

A few small errors can ruin your dogs.iStock

Hot dogs can be a simple and tasty meal perfect for summertime grilling, so Insider spoke with chefs and grilling experts to identify the top mistakes people make while cooking them.
Avoid boiling hot dogs and make sure that you don't grill them over direct heat.
Don't split or poke the hot dogs before grilling them, and make an effort to prep the buns so they aren't served cold.
Condiments can make or break a great hot dog, but don't be afraid to experiment with different flavor combinations.

Hot dogs are the ultimate easy, summer meal. Unfortunately, a few common errors have the potential to take your hot dogs from delectable to detestable.

Insider spoke with chefs and grilling experts to identify the top mistakes people make while cooking hot dogs, and the best practices to follow instead.

Here are a few common mistakes that may be ruining your hot dogs.

Whenever possible, spend a little extra on all-beef hot dogs.

It's sometimes worth it to splurge a little on name-brand hot dogs. Evannovostro/Shutterstock

Avoid boiling your hot dogs.

You can poach them lightly, but boiling hot dogs isn't usually necessary. Tech Insider

Don’t cook your hot dogs over direct heat.

Pick the perfect spot on the grill that's away from the flames. Shutterstock

Avoid poking or splitting your dogs.

Splitting hot dogs releases all the tasty juices and can dry them out. Shutterstock

It's smart to adjust your grilling temperature to the fat content of the hot dogs.

Adapt your cooking process to your hot dogs. Michael Nagle/GettyImages

Make sure the grill is hot enough before adding your hot dogs to it.

Give the grill time to heat up. Shutterstock

Don’t forget to prep the buns.

There is nothing like a toasty hot-dog bun. Shutterstock

Consider "bathing" your hot dogs before grilling.

It will give them a great flavor. Shutterstock

Adding sugar-based sauces while the hot dogs are on the grill can take them up a notch.

You can add condiments right on the grill for added flavor. Claudia Totir/Getty Images

If you want a better flavor, avoid skinless hot dogs.

The skin is what gives hot dogs a punchy bite. Shutterstock

Don’t stick to just one type of condiment.

Try some new flavor combinations on your next hot dog. Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images

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