A perfect hot dog should have smooth, sealed ends.
Perfectly cooked hot dogs are sleek and smooth, and fit perfectly in a bun. However, if you don't microwave your hot dogs properly, you may end up with a less-than-ideal finished product. One common result is a hot dog with exploded ends. This is not only somewhat unsightly, but also typically means the dog is overcooked at the ends. While this may seem an inevitable result of microwaving your hot dogs, you can, in fact, avoid it. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Pierce each end of your hot dog with a sharp knife, then do the same in its center. You do not need to actually slice the hot dog open. Instead, simply pierce the skin. This allows the steam -- which causes the ends to explode -- to escape more easily.
2. Place a paper towel on a microwave-safe dish. Lie your hot dog on the paper towel with the pierced side facing up. Cover the hot dog with another paper towel.
3. Microwave your hot dog for approximately 20 seconds. This may seem low, but in fact is typically enough to heat your hot dog through. Because hot dogs are already fully-cooked, you do not need to cook them; the goal is simply to heat them up. Overheating the hot dog makes it more likely to explode.
4. Squeeze your hot dog gently in the center. If it does not feel hot enough, microwave it for another 10 to 15 seconds.
Tags: paper towel, your dogs