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The Best Way How to Cook a Hot Dog in the Microwave

Fast and Quickest way to get hot dogs on the table for an easy meal in a hurry! This is the Best Way How to Cook a Hot Dog in the Microwave Oven with Simple Steps and Best Results.

The ends of two hot dogs poking out from the edge of a bun on a blue plate

How to Microwave a Hot Dog

How It’s Done

hand wrapping hot dog with damp paper towel blue plate background
STEP 1. Wrap hot dog in a damp paper towel
Hand punching in 25 seconds on microwave
STEP 2. Microwave on high for 25 secs.
Hand unwrapping hot dog from wet paper towel
STEP 3. Repeat as needed at 15 second intervals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Is it OK to Microwave a Hot Dog?

Yes, it’s the easiest way to a quick lunch.  You’ll want to know the easy way to do so that you have the best bet to avoid a hotdog with exploded tough ends and a cold center! A delicious hot dog cooks to an internal temperature of 140 and requires a short cooking time when you use a microwave cooking process.

How Long to Microwave a Hot Dog?

30 secs and then for 15 second intervals until heated through for this quick snack. 

Can You Eat a Hot Dog Cold?

Yes.

Are Hot Dogs PreCooked? 

Yes, hot dogs are precooked for food safety reasons.

The ideal hot dog will taste better if you cook them first. 

Can I Microwave a frozen Hot Dog? 

Yes, you can. 

  1. Place your frozen regular hot dogs on a microwave safe plate. 
  2. Cover with a wet paper towel
  3. Set the microwave to “thaw” or “defrost setting”
  4. Thaw for 30 secs and then check the hot dog. If it is thawed, proceed to the cooking instructions. If it is still frozen in parts, continue to “thaw” in 30 second intervals until completely thawed.

PRO TIP:  You can put your hot dog in a ziplock bag and run it under hot water from the kitchen sink (or put the water in a bowl with the hot dog in the bag) and it will thaw very quickly. 

How to Microwave a Hot Dog Bun

To microwave a for a warm bun, the fastest way,

  1. Poke a small hole in a quart size zip lock bag.
  2. Sprinkle a few drops of water into the bag and 
  3. Then put the bun in a plastic bag and 
  4. Seal the bag.
  5. Microwave on high for 5 secs.  Check the bun, if not warm enough, repeat until warmed.

How to Microwave in a Wet Paper Towel

Check out the recipe below for how to microwave a hot dog in a paper towel. This works for a whole pack of hot dogs or 1-2 hot dogs.

How to Steam a Hot Dog in the Microwave

This is a great option and is the heating process in the recipe card below.

PRO TIP:  If you simply microwave your hot dog on high for more than 30 seconds, you find that the ends explode, harden and burn. Allowing the hot dog to rest every 15 seconds and rolling it around on the plate helps to spread the heat out a little.

How to Microwave a Hot Dog and Bun? 

We recommend preparing the bun and the hot dog separately.

  1. Wrap the bun and the hot dog in a damp paper towel and 
  2. microwave for 20 secs.
  3. Check and turn the hot dog in the bun, if not completely warm, 
  4. repeat at 10 second intervals until heated through. 

IMPORTANT:  The bun tends to heat more quickly than the hot dog and may develop hardened places if you warm it this way.

How to reheat Hot dogs in a microwave

To reheat hotdogs in the microwave, 

  1. wrap them in a damp paper towel (wet the paper towel and squeeze as much water back out as you can, then gently pull the paper towel apart to flatten) 
  2. Microwave on high for 20 seconds and repeat at 10 second intervals until heated through as you prefer. 
  3. You’ll want to do this on a paper plate or microwave-safe plate because hot dog juices are hot!
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

TIPS & TRICKS for the perfect Microwaved Hot Dog

  • Start with a great hot dog!  All beef hot dogs from the grocery store.
  • It’s important to remember that your microwave cook time will be different than mine. They all have different power ratings for their cooking method and some are very powerful. Use care and start slow until you know the power of your own microwave.
  • It is IMPORTANT to use a good quality paper towel so that little paper towel fibers don’t come off on  your hot dog.
  • You can microwave up to 8 hot dogs (a whole package of hot dogs) at a time this way, but wrap them individually. If you are doing a whole pack, microwave for 1 minute to begin and then do 30 second intervals.  Change their positions around between intervals and keep them in a single layer. 
  • Soaking the paper towels in chicken broth will add a TON of flavor to your hot dogs! 
  • Be sure to steam your buns by removing the twist tie, flicking some water into the hot dog bun bag and then microwaving the entire bag of buns for 25 seconds. 
  • One of our favorite hot dog recipes in a BACON WRAPPED HOT DOG!

PRO TIP:  To revive a stale bun, place it into a plastic bag, flick a few drops of water into the bag and then microwave for 10 seconds. 

Two Hot dogs resting in buns on a blue plate on a cutting board.

Six Inch Plump Frankfurter in a skillet toasted bun. Perfect for camping!

YA’LL HELP ME OUT, OK?

Please leave me a comment and 5 STAR ( 🌟 🌟🌟🌟 🌟 )   review, I ALWAYS love to hear from you and your comments MAKE MY DAY! (Plus, it helps me out by letting everyone know that this is the place to find good recipes!)

The ends of two hot dogs poking out from the edge of a bun on a blue plate

How to Microwave Hot Dogs

Easy, Quick and NO burnt hard ends! Perfect microwave hotdogs
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to microwave hot dogs, microwaving hot dogs
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 284kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbs Water
  • 1 Hot Dog
  • 1 Bun
  • Toppings of choice

Instructions

  • Wet a paper towel with the 4 Tbs of water. Squeeze out any excess water from the paper towel.
  • Wrap the paper towel around the hot dog loosely.
  • Heat on high for 30 seconds.
  • Check if the hot dog is hot enough. Be careful, it might be hot.
  • Repeat in 15 second intervals until hot dog is heated through.
  • Place hot dog in bun
  • Top with your choice of toppings!

Notes

  • You can use this recipe for as many hot dogs as you like, but wrap them individually
  • If you are cooking more hot dogs, increase the time accordingly.
  • Use a good quality paper towel to avoid the fibers coming off on your hot dog.
  • If you don’t have paper towels, use plastic wrap instead.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Microwave Hot Dogs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 284 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 603mg25%
Potassium 66mg2%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 10g20%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 11.7mg65%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

This post was originally shared on Loaves and Dishes on July 11, 2019 and has been completely updated.

A Verse To Share

Often when hard times come around, I’m pretty quick to blame the devil. He’s a tricky old liar afterall. He has evil ways.

Hebrews 12: 11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

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Wendi Spraker

Sunday 4th of August 2019

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