Are you thinking about firing up the grill and preparing some hot dogs? Easy to do right? Well, if you have hot dogs that have been sitting in the freezer, you are going to have to defrost them.
So, what is the best and quickest way to defrost hot dogs? Not to worry, as we highlight the 3 best options to get the job done.
Microwave: Quickest Way to Thaw Hot Dogs
If you need to defrost hot dogs quickly, the microwave is by far the fastest option available.
Depending on how many hotdogs you need thawed out, the whole process can take just a couple of minutes.
Steps
- Place the frozen hot dogs in a microwave-safe container. (Optionally, you could cover with a paper towel, to absorb the excess moisture as the hotdogs defrost.)
- Use the microwaves defrost setting or use 30% power and zap it for 1 minute.
- Check to see if they have been thawed out or if they need to be in the microwave a bit longer.
- Keep doing this until they are fully defrosted. (Check to ensure that you are not cooking the hotdogs, only defrosting them)
- Once thawed out, immediately use.
Note. Please be aware that microwaves will have different power ratings. The time it takes to defrost could be shorter or longer, depending on your appliance.
Also note that the microwave might start to cook your hot dogs, this is why it is important to start cooking with them, once they have been fully thawed out.
Cold Water Can Defrost Hot Dogs Quickly
If you are short on time, another quick method to thaw out hotdogs, is submerging/running them in cold water. While this is not as quick as a microwave, you can get them thawed out in a couple of minutes.
Steps (Submerging in Cold Water)
- Take frozen hot dogs and if they are not in their sealed packaging, you can place them in a leak-proof bag. This will help to prevent the air from touching the hot dogs as they defrost.
- Turn on the tap and place the bag or packaging under the cold water, turning every so often to ensure that it is defrosted evenly.
- After couple of minutes on little running water, the hotdog should be thought out and ready to be used.
Steps (Running Under Cold Water)
- Take frozen hot dogs and if they are not in their sealed packaging, you can place them in a leak-proof bag. This will help to prevent the air from touching the hot dogs as they defrost.
- Place and submerge in a bowl or container of cold water.
- Let the frozen hot dogs sit for a couple of minutes, checking to see if they are defrosted.
- If they are still a bit frozen, you can change the water and let sit for a couple more minutes till they are fully thawed out.
- Depending on how many hot dogs you have, the whole process should take anywhere from 10-30 minutes.
Defrost Hot Dogs Overnight in the Fridge
While defrosting hotdogs in the fridge is not the quickest method, it is also another option to consider, especially if you have plans to cook the hotdogs the next day.
The process is quite simple; as all you would need to do is place the hotdogs on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Food safety is the reason for placing the meat on the bottom shelf. You do not want the juices from the packaging to leak out and contaminate the other food in the refrigerator.
In 24 hours, everything should be fully thawed out and ready to be used.
