Hot dogs are an American classic and they are enjoyed throughout the world. No summer barbecue is complete without a round of delicious hot dogs, but so many people struggle to cook them properly.
There’s nothing more disappointing than a bad hot dog and they often end up being a bit lackluster because people don’t give them enough care and attention. If you throw some sausages on the barbecue and stick them in a bun with some mustard, you’ll have an average hot dog, but it could be so much better. This guide will help you make the perfect hot dogs every time, so your barbecue guests always leave happy.
Cooking the Perfect Sausage
The first and most important step is obviously the sausage itself. It’s the star of the show and if you don’t get it right, you can’t just cover your mistakes with toppings. You could go for classic American hot dogs but a German Bratwurst makes for a much better hot dog. You could argue that it’s not technically a hot dog because you’re not using an American sausage, but you won’t have any complaints once people taste it.
People often struggle with bratwurst because they don’t know how to cook it. Knowing how long to grill brats on a gas grill is key, but you need to know how to prepare it first. If you throw them straight on the grill, the juices expand and they burst, so you lose a lot of the flavor. That’s why it’s best to parboil them first. You can do this in water or even in beer for extra flavor.
Once they are boiled, they are mostly cooked, so you just need to sear them on the grill for 4-5 minutes, making sure to get all sides.
Bread and Toppings Pefect the Hot Dogs
Now that you have the perfect sausage, you need to sandwich it in some delicious bread and add your toppings. Most of the time, people pick up hot dog rolls from the store and they’re fine. But the perfect hot dog deserves more than that, so you should consider making your own hot dog rolls. They’re simple to make and they taste so much better than store-bought ones.
When it comes to toppings, everybody has their own preference, so giving people plenty of choices is key. Make sure that you have all of the most popular hot dog toppings to hand, including mustard, ketchup, relish, and even some sauerkraut.
Sides
No hot dog is complete without some delicious sides to complement it. There are a lot of classic options like fries or coleslaw, but baked beans are often the biggest hit with hot dogs. They pair perfectly and they’re simple to make yourself. This is an easy side for a barbecue because you can just make a big pot ahead of time and let everybody dig in, leaving you free to focus on cooking your delicious hot dogs.
Next time you have a barbecue, follow these tips to make the perfect hot dogs and wow all of your guests.
