- After grilling and boiling hot dogs my whole life, I tried cooking them in an air fryer.
- The end result was juicy and delicious with a toasted bun. You can even make them with puff pastry.
- There’s zero preparation involved and almost no cleanup, so I’m never cooking them any other way.
After using an air fryer to make a hot dog for the first time, I’m never going back to boiling or grilling them ever again.
The food blogger behind Little Sunny Kitchen claimed these air-fryer hot dogs would be the “best” I would ever make. She was right.
Read on to learn more about this cooking method and why you need to try it.
I’m never dealing with gross hot-dog water again
It sounds silly, but not having to see or smell the unsightly water after boiling hot dogs is one of the best reasons to cook them in an air fryer.
Plus the air fryer takes just five to six minutes.
You can play around with bun toppings
Chelsea Davis
Toasting buns is never easy. They usually break or cook unevenly in a toaster or oven.
But with the air fryer’s convection, it makes a crunchy, toasty bun in two minutes.
Want cheesy buns? Pop them back in the air fryer with some cheddar.
Want more flavorful buns? Slather a little butter on each side before toasting.
Pigs-in-a-blanket are always a crowd-pleaser
Chelsea Davis
Though working with puff pastry can sometimes be difficult, the air fryer cooks the dough evenly, giving it a fluffy texture.
To make pigs-in-a-blanket, you can take a regular-sized hot dog and cut it in half. Then roll the two halves in the pastry and brush them with an egg wash.
Cook them at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for about eight minutes until the puff pastry is golden, and they’re ready to eat.
There’s hardly any preparation involved, and minimal cleanup too
If you hate planning and tidying up, this is your go-to meal.
You won’t have to deal with cleaning the grill or messy pans and griddles.
Cooking with the air fryer is as simple as sticking hot dogs inside the machine and setting the timer and heat settings.
It doesn’t matter whether the hot dogs are frozen or thawed
Chelsea Davis
Cooking time varies, but you don’t need to preheat the air fryer to cook the hot dogs.
You also can make them frozen, just add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.
Air-fried hot dogs come out perfectly cooked and juicy
Unlike a grill, you don’t have to worry about char or uneven cooking.
They’re evenly cooked and swell up with moisture and juiciness.
The hot dog looks perfect after coming out of the air fryer
Chelsea Davis
Making a few cuts into the hot dog prevents it from getting shriveled or wrinkled. It also makes it crispy.
This allows the hot dog to better hold toppings. It also makes it look fancier.