Best Hot Dog Cooker Reviews 2018

The price of a hot dog cooker depends on its capacity and design features. For instance, a hot dog toaster with a capacity of two hot dogs and two buns can cost about $20, while the price of a commercial-grade roller grill with non-stick rollers and a capacity of 30 hot dogs per batch can go up to $160.

You’ll also find cheap hot dog cookers in the market, but you need to be careful as some may not function properly. A good example is the counterfeit cookers whose rollers don’t rotate properly, thus making your hot dogs cook unevenly. The good news is that we haven’t included such products in our review as our focus is on quality, efficiency, and reliability.

When hosting parties in your home or going for group picnics, you need foods that are easy to prepare. Hot dogs are undoubtedly at the top of the chart as they don’t require complex culinary processes. However, you’ll need a reliable hot dog cooker to satisfy the needs of your guests.

Here are the important features to look for in a hot dog cooker:

• Type - Is the cooker a steamer, grill with roller, or a broiler?
• Size - This involves the dimensions and weight of the cooker.
• Capacity - This determines the number of hot dogs and buns the cooker can accommodate per batch.
• Cook time - Refers to how long the cooker takes to cook a batch of hot dogs.
• Power - It’s the cooker’s rate of electricity consumption.
• Construction materials - The materials used to construct the cooker.
• Controls - Built-in controls such as timers and variable cooking temperatures.

These features help you pick the hot dog cooker that best suits your needs and is within your budget.

The design of a hot dog cooker depends on its type. To begin with, frankfurter steamers come in a compact design and are made of lightweight, food-safe plastic. They usually have a water tray with a heating element, hot dog steaming tray, and a warming chamber for buns. Steamers vary in sizes and power ratings, and usually have a short cook time.

Hot dog roller grills, on the other hand, come in a metallic construction. Non-stick stainless steel is used on the rollers, while aluminum is used for the casings. Roller grills feature a warming section that can be used for baking or roasting other foods such as vegetables. The number of rollers varies from one design to another and this determines how many franks can be cooked at a go. Hot dog roller grills may have an open top or come with a sneeze guard. Removable drip and crumb trays are also common with these cookers.

Hot dog broilers are designed to operate like ovens. The franks are fixed on a rotating spike wheel to ensure that they cook evenly. Although they tend to have a small capacity, broilers are fast and can meet the demands of a concession stand. The choice of a hot dog cooker will depend on how you want your franks cooked. If you prefer juicy and plump franks, then go for a steamer. However, if you like your hot dogs brown and crispy, then get a grill roller.

Before you buy a hot dog cooker, think of how you’ll clean and maintain it. Steamers that have dishwasher-safe compartments and grill rollers with drip and bread crumb trays are easy to clean. Moreover, hot dog cookers that come with bun-warming chambers make it easy and convenient for you to serve your guests or customers.

Moreover, if a cooker comes with a timer or a temperature control unit, it will give the flexibility to determine how long you want it to run. This is very important, especially when warming buns or any other food. It’s also wise to go for a model that has well-labeled controls for ease of operation. If you’re shopping for a cooker to use in your food stand, get one that’s strong and durable to make sure that you get value for your money.