How to Make Hot Dogs in a Crock-Pot
Making hot dogs for a large group or buffet can be challenging: Whether hot dogs are grilled, broiled, boiled or microwaved, it's tough to keep them warm long enough for everyone to be served without a lot of effort from the cook. One solution is to use a slow cooker.
Making hot dogs for a large group or buffet can be challenging: Whether hot dogs are grilled, broiled, boiled or microwaved, it's tough to keep them warm long enough for everyone to be served without a lot of effort from the cook. One solution is to use a slow cooker. Hot dogs prepared in a slow cooker require minimal effort and will stay warm for hours. According to Stephanie O'Dea, the author of "365 Slow Cooker Suppers," you can prepare as many as 60 hot dogs at one time if you have a 6-quart slow cooker.
Remove the hot dogs from their packaging. Place them in the slow cooker, stacking them on top of one another, if needed, or standing them on end for large numbers of hot dogs.
Put the slow cooker's lid securely in place. Allow the hot dogs to cook on the highest setting for approximately two hours or on the low setting for four hours.
Check if the hot dogs are thoroughly heated by using tongs to remove several from different parts of the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to the warm or buffet setting, if available, to keep the hot dogs hot for several hours.
Tip
For chili dogs, place the hot dogs in the slow cooker and cover them with homemade or canned chili before cooking on the high or low setting.
You can make old-fashioned franks and beans in the slow cooker by heating sliced hot dogs with canned baked beans and barbecue sauce, says the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
warning
Do not add water to the slow cooker. According to O'Dea, the hot dogs will split if they remain in heated water for too long.
Avoid using a fork to remove the hot dogs since holes in the casing will let the accumulated juices leak out.