Hot dogs are one of the most delicious yet cheapest dinners you will ever make. Simply fire up your natural gas grill and cook the hot dogs for 7-10 minutes.
Hot dogs are especially handy on busy days when it’s hard to get dinner on the table.
Since hotdogs are so customizable, you can set out all the toppings and let everyone make their own sandwich by choosing their preferred fixings.
In theory, all of this sounds like the easiest dinner on the planet to make.
However, what happens when you forget to take the hotdogs out of the freezer? Can you grill frozen hotdogs?
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Can You Grill Frozen Hot Dogs?
Technically speaking, it is possible to grill frozen hot dogs. However, grilling frozen hotdogs comes with a list of detrimental issues.
First, you can only grill pre-cooked frozen hot dogs. Trying to grill raw hot dogs will end in disaster because the outside of the hot dog will be burned while the inside of the hot dog will be hard as ice.
Therefore, cooking raw frozen hot dogs on a portable pellet grill is out of the question.
Raw hot dogs should always be thawed before they are grilled.
Even if you are grilling pre-cooked frozen hot dogs, a similar problem will still occur.
When the heat finally reaches the center of the hot dog, the outside of the hotdog will still be overcooked.
In addition to this, grilling frozen hot dogs will take longer than cooking thawed hot dogs.
The general rule for cooking foods from frozen is that it will take 50% longer to cook.
Typically, it takes about 7-10 minutes to grill thawed hot dogs, so it would take 14-20 minutes to grill frozen hotdogs.
Nevertheless, you can still grill frozen hot dogs.
How to Thaw Hot Dogs
When it comes to grilling hot dogs, thawing hot dogs are best. You can thaw hot dogs in the fridge, in the microwave, or in cold water.
Defrosted hot dogs will cook evenly, and they will have more flavorful.
Refrigerator
The refrigerator takes 24 hours to defrost. It is the best defrosting method on the planet.
Plus, all you have to do is take the hot dogs out of the freezer and place the hot dogs in the fridge overnight.
Cold Water
You can also thaw hot dogs in cold water. Simply place the hot dogs into a bowl of cold water and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
If the hot dogs are opened, put them into a ziplock bag before adding them to a bowl of water.
If the hot dogs are not thawed after 20 minutes, change the water, and let them sit for another 15-20 minutes until they are defrosted.
Microwave
You can easily thaw hot dogs in the microwave. Simply place the hot dogs onto a microwave-safe bowl and heat them for 30 seconds until the ice melts away.
Watch the hot dogs carefully as the microwave can easily overcook them.
Tips for Cooking Hot Dogs
Grilling hot dogs is not as easy as placing them on a charcoal grill. It’s never that easy to grill any food, so follow these tips to ensure you make the nest hot dogs.
Whether you are grilling hot dogs on your kamado grill or in the oven, always preheat your cooker.
If you do not preheat the cooker, the hot dogs will be less likely to cook evenly.
Furthermore, you should always place your hotdogs onto a clean grill. If the grill is dirty, the hot dogs will be more likely to stick to the grates.
Hot dogs must always be cooked for the right amount of time. If you do not cook the hot dogs long enough, they will be underdone.
In contrast, they will overcook if you cook the hot dogs too long.
Hot dogs are finished cooking when they have a minimum internal temperature of 140°F.
So have your instant-read thermometer on hand so you can monitor your hot dogs and remove them from the heat at the right time.
Although hot dogs are no Tomahawk steak, they still need to rest. Resting the hot dogs for 3-5 minutes not only improves their flavor but also makes the hot dogs more tender.
If you cut the hot dogs too early, all of their juices will be released, leaving you with a dry, hot dog.
Oil is usually added to the grill’s grates to prevent the food from sticking to it. However, too much oil on the grill is not a good thing.
If you apply too much oil to the grill, the hot dogs will be greasy. Grease the grill’s grates lightly.
What’s the Best Way To Prepare Hot Dogs
To cook the best hot dogs, you must choose a quality hot dog.
Some hot dogs are made with additives, so choose organic hot dogs that have few ingredients and are loaded with flavorful spices.
You can also make your own hot dogs at home, which will give you control over the ingredients.
Since we are cooking frozen hot dogs, it’s best to cook them on the stove first.
However, the hot dogs will be finished on the grill. Set up your grill and heat it to 375°F to 450°F or medium-high heat.
Place the hot dogs into a pan with a small amount of water and over them.
Heat the hot dogs over medium-low heat until they are just about cooked.
Remove the hot dogs from the stove, dry them off, and place them on a hot grill for a few minutes until they are slightly charred and crisp.
Alternatively, you could also thaw the hot dogs in the microwave.
Next, place the hot dogs on the grill and cook them for 7-10 minutes, turning them every 2 minutes.
Remember, hot dogs have a temperature of 140°F when they are finished cooking, so do not remove them until they achieve this temperature.
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can grill hot dogs frozen. However, grilling raw frozen hot dogs is out of the question.
So, the next time you forget to take the hot dogs out of the freezer, partially cook them on the stove, then transfer them to the grill to finish them off.
You might also be interested in the following:
- Can You Grill Frozen Shrimp
- Can You Grill Frozen Burgers
- Can You Grill Frozen Corn
- Can You Grill Frozen Steak
- Can You Grill Frozen Chicken
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.