Who doesn’t love a good hot dog in the summer? We sure do. There’s nothing like an Old Fashioned Frank or a Seattle Mariners Dog on the grill, but we’ve got some ideas on how to make them even better.
With just a few slices of the knife, you can take your dogs from drab to fab. Here’s how to impress your guests – even if you’re just serving basic hot dogs!
Score Your Hot Dogs
Take a knife and score your hot dog dogs every inch or so across opposite sides of your frank. You’ll find that your grilling time with be shorter since the heat will penetrate the meat more quickly, and that your hot dog will likely stay more plump when you remove it from the heat, keeping it from shriveling.
Spiralize Your Hot Dogs
Run a sharp knife in a spiral pattern around your hot dog, from top to bottom. Put in on a skewer and place it on the grill. You could also place it on the skewer first, then cut in a spiral pattern. Remove from the skewer for serving; this is a visual presentation your guests will love!
Make Circular Hot Dogs
Along one side of your dog, make a cut about three-quarters of the way through the meat every inch or so. When you grill it, it will curl up into a circle. This is a fun way to present your frank if you plan to serve it bunless. You could also mix it up and serve it on a hamburger bun!
Hot dogs are the perfect summer food, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make them unique. Just a few well-placed cuts will transform their visual appeal, and some creative toppings can make them really stand out.
Which of these techniques will you try first?
