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Hot dogs – a true American pastime. If you’re an aficionado of these American classics, you’ll likely know that the best hot dog cookers will provide far better results than a stovetop, microwave, or other appliance.
Since even the best hot dog cookers are still very affordable, there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t have one of these great machines in their home. Whether you want the cheapest option, or the the most deluxe appliance out there – we’ve got you covered.
We did the legwork, aggregated millions of actual buyer reviews, and tested the top models. So no matter how much you’re looking to spend – we can tell you all about the best hot dog cookers on the market today.
Our Top Pick
Nostalgia Extra Large Diner-Style Hot Dog Cooker
With thousands of stellar customer reviews, an affordable price point, and a 24 hot dog capacity, this is our pick for the best hot dog cooker on the market. While you can spend more (or less) – this should be in the sweet spot for most buyers. Highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
Nordic Ware Hot Dog Steamer
Want a great budget pick? This hot dog steamer costs less than a meal at any of your favorite restaurants, but will help you cook hot dogs for a lifetime. If you want a little more control and features beyond just the bare bones necessities, you will want to opt for a more deluxe model. Otherwise, this is a perfect pick for most consumers.
Olde Midway Electric Hot Dog Roller Grill
If you love to cook a lot of hot dogs, this commercial-grade hot dog roller will be a perfect fit. With tons of great customer reviews, an unbelievably low price point for all the features it comes with, and top of the line performance – it’s an unbeatable selection. A top choice.
Nostalgia Pop-Up Hot Dog And Bun Toaster
Love a retro look in your kitchen? Then you’ll want to snag this classic-looking hot dog toaster. You can also toast hot dog buns using the outside slots, so it packs in double the value, for the same low price. A great throwback gift.
Elite Gourmet EHD-051B Hot Dog Toaster Oven
This gourmet hot dog toaster oven also works for other foods, so for the budget price – it’s a spectacular value. Of course, it’s made specifically for hot dog, so it will easily accommodate your favorite summertime treats. Highly recommended.
The Candery Hot Dog Roller
This cool looking hot dog roller performed great in our tests, and it’s also highly portable. With commercial-grade rollers, and tons of great customer reviews, it’s hard to beat the value here. Another excellent pick.
Maverick HC-01 Hero Electric Hot Dog Cooker
Want a hot dog cooker that literally looks like a dog? If so, this is the machine for you.
This model is so popular, that it frequently sells out, so you may need to wait a while to snag your own. A great choice (that also yields great cooked hot dogs).
Nostalgia Coca-Cola Diner-Style Hot Dog Steamer
The only thing missing from this ultimate nostalgia pick, is a drive-in. With Coca-Cola branding, and a place for both hot dogs and hot dog buns – it’s a fantastic value for the price. A definite thumbs up.
Rapid Hot Dog Cooker
This ultra-budget pick is a great choice for college kids stuck in a dorm – or just for lazy adults. You simply put your hot dogs in the sleeve, and them put them in the microwave for two minutes. A very innovative pick.
Elite Gourmet Retro Pop-Up Hot Dog Cooker
Another great retro pick, this cool colored hot dog cooker from Elite Gourmet is a great value. Despite the low price point, the customer reviews are glowing, and we loved it in all of our own testing. A perfect recommendation for anyone on a budget.
What Is A Hot Dog Cooker?
Simply put, a hot dog cooker acts much like a tiny oven, in that it warms up anything that you put into it. Of course, these machines are specifically designed for hot dogs, so they often have grooves and slots to fit the dogs perfectly (and often hot dog buns, as well).
Some items on are list are technically hot dog steamers, as they won’t be cooking appliances in the traditional sense. Additionally, hot dog cookers tend to cook hot dogs much more evenly than traditional home methods.
While there are certainly commercial hot dog cookers, these typically cost thousands of dollars, and are meant for large scale places (like baseball stadiums). Since hot dog cookers are so cheap for consumers, if you have even a passing interest in eating hot dogs, it makes sense to pick one up – as it will save you a large amount of money, over time.
Size Of A Hot Dog Cooker
One of the most important considerations to factor in before buying a hot dog cooker – is the size of the machine. Do you need to have a portable option for camping, or do you want a commercial-grade home model?
There are a huge variety of sizes when it comes to this type of appliance, so the first thing you should consider, is just how many hot dogs you will want to cook at one time.
How Long Does It Take To Cook A Hot Dog On A Roller Machine?
It’s impossible to give an exact time, as each model varies slightly when it comes to cooking time. However, most rolling machines will fully cook a hot dog in about 15-20 minutes.
Do I Need A Drip Tray?
We highly recommend having a drip tray (if one is needed for your model), as you don’t want the runoff of cooking hot dogs to go onto your counter. Some machines won’t require a drip tray at all, but for those that do – you’ll have a much worse experience without one.
Of course, almost every good hot dog cooker comes with a drip tray if it’s require, but make sure it’s also removable, and dishwasher-friendly. Trust us when we tell you – you do not want to have to deal with the old remnants of cooked hot dogs – even our pets wouldn’t eat the stuff.
One of the nice things about buying a hot dog cooker, is that you won’t have to worry about setting the temperature. However, if you want to go the old-school route and boil a hot dog (or put it in the oven) – a minimum temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended.
What Is The Most Popular Hot Dog Brand?
It’s hard to go wrong with hot dogs – they generally taste pretty great, no matter which brand you go with. However, in the United States, the top three best-selling hot dog brands are Ball Park, Oscar Mayer, and Hebrew National.
We are personally partial to Hebrew National, as there is a slight flavor difference compared to the other two top-selling brands. However, your own mileage may vary.
Make Sure Your Machine Is Kid-Friendly
Since kids often love the process of cooking their own hot dogs (don’t ask us) – it’s crucial that you make sure your chosen model is kid-friendly. Sometimes hot dog cookers have very warm parts on the outside of the machine, and you don’t want your child burning their hand.
The commercial-grade models are more likely to have issues with warm parts that are touchable, so if you’re opting for a budget pick you likely have less to worry about. No matter what you spend, just be 100% sure that your child is not going to be able to harm themselves accidentally.
Opt For A Model That Can Cook Other Things
If you’re going to spend the money to get a hot dog cooker, you can maximize your return on invest by choosing a model that can also cook other foods. This could mean hot dog buns, or it could mean entirely different food groups altogether.
Hot dogs do pretty well in toaster ovens, but if you’ve checked out this review – we’re betting you’re a pretty big fan of hot dogs, so choose a high-performance model. Unless you get the absolute lowest price model, most hot dog cookers will also cook a huge variety of other foods as well.
What Brand Of Hot Dogs Does Costco Use?
Costco is very well-known for their famously affordable hot dogs. They cook Kirkland signature hot dogs, so if you want to replicate the Costco food court experience at home, those are the brand to choose.
Are Hot Dogs Bad For You?
Well, hot dogs are not really loaded with nutrition. Some studies have mentioned that hot dogs aren’t great for you, but as long as you don’t eat them every day, you should be fine.
Of course, it’s important to make sure your diet is loaded with lots of vegetables, healthy fats, and good sources of protein. A hot dog once in a while should be a treat – not a staple of your diet.
How Do You Cook The Perfect Hot Dog?
If you want to make a truly great hot dog, there are a number of different ways you can go. Often though, the taste of a hot dog comes down to how you dress it (i.e. with ketchup, relish, etc.) – and not how you cook it.
That being said, some people love to char their hot dogs, while others like them less cooked. Ultimately, the choice comes down to you, but below are a few different ways to prepare a perfect hot dog.
If you want an old-school experience, you can grill a hot dog. However, grilling comes with some drawbacks – it takes a while, it’s a little messy, and it also isn’t exactly easy.
If you’re looking for a faster (and cleaner) option, opt for the college standard of boiling your hot dog. It will taste different than a grilled hot dog, but it’s a lot easier to pull off.
If you want to really go deep, you can bake your hot dog in the oven. We recommend 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for at least 10 minutes (possibly longer, if you like charred dogs).
Of course, there is always steaming. This can be done using one of the models on our list, or it can be done with a small pan of water.
Simmering is yet another way to cook a hot dog, made most famous by street vendors. In this method, of course, you want to keep the hot dog semi-submerged in simmering water, for a long period of time (usually about 30 minutes).
Lastly, besides using a hot dog cooker, you could always try deep frying your hot dog. This is a little strange, but it will impart a different flavor on your dog, and if you really want to get nuts – you can try deep frying your own corn dog, just like at an amusement park or fair.
Make Sure Your Cooker Is Easy To Use
There’s no point in choosing a machine that’s difficult to operate. You’ll want to pick the simplest to use model available in your price range.
This is doubly true if you’re going to be cooking with your children. Some of the more commercial-grade models can be a little tricky at first, but hang with them, and you’ll likely soon get the hang of it.
The Best Hot Dog Cookers
There you have it – our picks for the best hot dog cookers on the market. Whether you want a retro model, or a commercial-grade cooker that can cook 20 hot dogs at once – we’ve got you covered.
One must-have with hot dogs, of course – condiments. Whether you want ketchup, onions, mustard, relish, or all of the above – be sure not to leave these necessities out of your next barbecue.
There is nothing that says summer like a nice hot dog on a warm day – so join the army of Americans who love to cook their own. If you want to cover all your bases, opt for a model that will also toast hot dog buns at the same time.