The Easiest Method To Steam Hot Dog Buns Is So Quick You'll Never Do It Another Way

One of the secrets to the best hot dog isn't the wiener, the toppings, or even the type of bread — it's simply steaming the bun. If you've ever gotten a hot dog from a street vendor, you've probably seen them place the buns in a covered steam tray. When it's ready, the bun is warm, soft, and perfectly chewy all the way through. There's really no comparison to a dry bun straight out of the bag. You can reproduce this effect at home without boiling water or even using the microwave. All you need to do is put your hot dogs back in the original plastic bag the buns came in.

Once you assemble the hot dogs (without toppings), place the filled buns back in the bag and close it. Do this right after you take the wiener off the grill for the best results. The heat from the links will warm the buns immediately, while the plastic bag seals in the moisture for easy steaming. Since you're not using an actual steamer or pot of boiling water, there's far less risk of making them too soggy by accident.

There are many different ways to cook hot dogs. If you're grilling them, some people prefer to toast their buns on the grill. But toasting risks burning them, and a warm, steamed bun is much closer to the mouthfeel of freshly baked bread. This bag-steaming hack makes it easy to get that perfect bun with no extra time or effort. The method is also portable, so you can easily bring the hot dogs wherever they're being served, ready to top and eat.

Another advantage of this method is that it gives you just the right amount of space for the hot dogs you've made. If you've ever struggled to stack assembled hot dogs on a plate or lost one while carrying them, this method solves that easily. However many buns you've used, that's how much space is left in the bag.

The bag method also works as a great storage trick at a backyard barbecue. You don't have to worry about the hot dogs sitting out and getting cold, or bugs getting to them. Keep the bag sealed and let people grab a hot dog whenever they want while they're socializing, playing games, or enjoying the party. Sure, there may be other ways to steam your buns, but once you discover this simple hack to upgrade your hot dogs, you'll never go back.