How To Make A Hot Dog In The Microwave: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make a Hot Dog in the Microwave PDF download Download Article Reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs

Last Updated: November 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Cooking the Hot Dog
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  • Suggestions for Toppings and Buns
    • |
  • Video
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  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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This article was reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 775,024 times.

If you're looking for a fast way to cook a hot dog, your best bet is popping it in the microwave. With a microwave, it's possible to have a hot dog ready to eat in under a minute. Cooking multiple hot dogs at once only takes a little longer. Best of all, since hot dogs are pre-cooked, you don't need to worry about under-cooking them — you just need to get them warm enough to eat.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Cooking the Hot Dog

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  1. Step 1 Place the hot dog(s) on a paper towel-lined plate. 1 Place the hot dog(s) on a paper towel-lined plate. Paper towels make cleanup a cinch by absorbing grease and moisture that leaks out of the hot dog as it cooks. If you're cooking multiple hot dogs, line them up in a row on the towel, leaving a little space between each. This allows them to cook evenly.
    • Be sure to use a microwave-safe plate. Plates made from glass or ceramic are safe bets. Plastic and metal plates should be avoided. Click here for a detailed guide to which containers are microwave-safe.[1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Hot Dog in the Microwave 2 Optionally, pierce the hot dog(s) a few times. Traditional microwave wisdom dictates that hot dogs should be pricked or sliced a few times with a sharp utensil before cooking. This allows steam from inside the hot dog to escape rather than building up and causing it to explode. However, some sources (like Oscar Mayer) claim that there is no danger of explosion and that piercing the hot dogs will let the juices run out while they cook, leaving you with a dry frank.
    • The choice here is yours — if you're only microwaving one or two hot dogs, they'll be in the microwave for such little time that you're unlikely to run into problems either way.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Hot Dog in the Microwave 3 Cover with another towel (or roll the first towel up). Covering the hot dogs with a second layer of paper towel holds moisture next to them as they cook, ensuring a plump, juicy hot dog.
    • If you roll up your hot dog, tuck the ends under so that the towel doesn't unroll during cooking.
  4. Step 4 Heat on HIGH. 4 Heat on HIGH. Different microwaves have different wattages, so cooking times can vary slightly. The cooking times below assume a middle-of-the-road microwave rated for about 800-1,000 watts. If your microwave has a higher wattage, use shorter cooking times (and vice versa for lower wattage units). If you're unsure of your microwave's wattage, click here.
    • 1 hot dog: About 40 seconds
    • 2 hot dogs: About 1 minute to 1 minute 15 seconds
    • 3-4 hot dogs: About 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes 30 seconds
    • 5-6 hot dogs: About 3 minutes to 3 minutes 30 seconds
    • 7-8 hot dogs: About 4 to 5 minutes
    • 9-10 hot dogs: About 6 minutes
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Hot Dog in the Microwave 5 Check on your hot dog(s) halfway through cooking. Since microwaves can vary in their cooking power, it's wise to see how your hotdogs are doing when they're half-finished. If they're still cold or just barely lukewarm, let them finish cooking. If they're warm or hot to the touch, consider shortening the cooking time or simply taking them out of the microwave immediately.[2]
    • Remove the paper towel carefully — steam trapped underneath may be released. Use oven mitts if concerned about burns.
  6. Step 6 Serve hot. 6 Serve hot. When your hot dogs are as hot as you'd like them to be, they're ready to eat. They're pre-cooked, so there's no "right" temperature to cook them to. Carefully remove the hot plate from the microwave, discard the paper towel, and serve the franks between buns or on their own. Enjoy!
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Suggestions for Toppings and Buns

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  1. Step 1 Consider warming the buns in the microwave. 1 Consider warming the buns in the microwave. Traditionally, hot dogs are served in a white bun. Though you can use buns straight out of the bag and have no problems, many prefer the sensation of a warm bun when they eat a hot dog. Warming a bun in the microwave is quick and easy — see below:
    • Open the bun and place it face-down on a paper towel. A plate is OK but is not necessary.
    • Wrap the bun in the paper towel or place a second on top.[3]
    • Microwave on high for 10-15 seconds. Check for a warm, soft texture. If it's not quite warm yet, go an additional 10 seconds.
    • Don't microwave the bun with the hot dog in it. The steam from the hot dog will make the bun soggy.
  2. Step 2 Alternatively, toast the buns. 2 Alternatively, toast the buns. Toasted buns have the warmth of microwaved buns with the added benefit of a crisp, toasty texture. If you have a toaster, toasting hot dog buns is easy — just put them in at the setting you'd normally use for white bread. There are other ways to toast buns as well:[4]
    • Heat the open bun under a broiler until well-browned. Most modern ovens will have a "broil" setting that also works.
    • Rub the inside of the bun with a little oil and lay it face-down in a hot pan or griddle. Turn occasionally to prevent burning.
  3. Step 3 Top hot dogs with your preferred condiments. 3 Top hot dogs with your preferred condiments. Hot dogs are great plain, but adding toppings allows you to express your culinary creativity and add flavor to this classic dish. Typically, you'll want to add these condiments after microwaving the hot dog, as cooking can often affect these toppings' taste and consistency. Just a few topping ideas include:[5]
    • Ketchup
    • Mustard
    • Mayonnaise
    • Hot pepper sauce (Sriracha, etc.)
    • Cream cheese
    • Chopped onions
    • Pickle relish
    • Bacon
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Hot Dog in the Microwave 4 Consider an "all-in-one" microwave recipe for your hot dog. While most hot dog condiments are meant to be added cold after the hot dog is finished, a few recipes allow you to cook the hot dog along with its toppings in the microwave. A few are described below:
    • Cheese dogs: Slit each hotdog lengthwise and place a strip of your preferred cheese inside. Microwave as normal and serve.
    • Chili dogs: Place hot dogs in a microwave-safe tray and cover with chili. Microwave as normal, allowing a little extra cooking time for the chili. Serve separate from the buns — guests can pick a bun, then add a hot dog and chili from the other dish.
    • Sauerkraut dogs: Put an uncooked hot dog in a bun and top with sauerkraut. Wrap the entire hot dog in a paper towel and fold the leftover towel underneath. Microwave as normal, allowing an extra 5-10 seconds per frank. The bun will be somewhat soggy, but this texture pairs well with the sauerkraut.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Can I cook the hot dogs in their package? Community Answer Community Answer No; the plastic packaging will melt. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 17
  • Question Is it safe take it out a little early? Stephen Stephen Top Answerer Yes. Most hotdogs are bought precooked and can be eaten 100% right out of the package. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 23
  • Question Do I cook frozen hot dogs the same way? Community Answer Community Answer No. They may not cook all the way through, and uncooked meat is not safe. Thaw them out first. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 59 Helpful 17
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Tips

  • Note that, while hot dogs are almost always pre-cooked, sausages are not. Eating uncooked sausages can cause serious illness, so, when in doubt, check the packaging for information about whether your product is pre-cooked or not. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • There are many, many different kinds of hot dog. If you've tried normal pork hot dogs, try looking for hot dogs made from meats like chicken, turkey, beef, etc. at your local grocery store. You may even be able to find special varieties like Polish dogs, kielbasas, and more. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/2019/02/what-to-know-about-using-plastic-in-the-microwave
  2. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens
  3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/tip-how-to-warm-bread-in-the-m-48209
  4. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/toasted-burger-buns-recipe-2103929
  5. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/hot-dog-toppings

About This Article

Marrow Private Chefs Reviewed by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts This article was reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. This article has been viewed 775,024 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 19 Updated: November 30, 2025 Views: 775,024 Categories: Hot Dogs In other languages Spanish Italian Russian German French Dutch Arabic Chinese Japanese
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Reader Success Stories

  • Payton Bagshaw

    Payton Bagshaw

    Sep 9, 2021

    "Oxford languages defines hot dog as "a frankfurter, especially one served hot in a long, soft roll and topped..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Marrow Private Chefs Reviewed by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts Co-authors: 19 Updated: November 30, 2025 Views: 775,024 100% of voters found this recipe helpful. 2 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote 100% of people told us that this article helped them. Payton Bagshaw

Payton Bagshaw

Sep 9, 2021

"Oxford languages defines hot dog as "a frankfurter, especially one served hot in a long, soft roll and topped..." more Rated this article: Emma Carpenter

Emma Carpenter

Jun 16, 2016

"That was really helpful. I cooked my hot dogs for a minute, and I wasn't sure if that was enough. I looked ..." more Mike Lopez

Mike Lopez

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"It came out good, and I'm bad at cooking. This made it easier for me to eat something in my fridge." Jack Wainaina

Jack Wainaina

Aug 19, 2016

"I'd never thought of bacon as a hotdog condiment. Tried it out and loved it!" Anonymous

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Aug 1, 2016

"It confirmed that what I'd been doing was a little too long in the oven." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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