Every mom faces this dilemma at one point in time – the kids want hot dogs for dinner, but the package of hot dogs in the fridge is as solid as a rock – they’re frozen! The defrosting can take forever in cold water or whatever method you choose, and by this time, it’s already dinner time! What do you do?
Can You Microwave Frozen Hot Dogs?
You can defrost frozen hot dogs using a microwave. Defrosting hot dogs in a microwave is an easy, simple task that you can accomplish quickly and easily. And the best part? Your kids will love it – they’re hot, juicy, and steamy in about 2 minutes!
Here’s a short instruction on how to defrost frozen hot dogs in a microwave:
Place your frozen hot dogs on a microwave-safe plate. Arrange the hot dogs in a flat layer, and cover them with a wet paper towel. Set your microwave on the defrost setting and microwave for 30 seconds.
Flip the hot dogs, and microwave for another 30 seconds. Once your hot dogs are fully defrosted, they’re ready to be cooked, and your kids can enjoy them in hot dog buns with ketchup and mustard!
How Long Do You Defrost a Frozen Hotdog in a Microwave?
It can take between 1 minute and 2 minutes for your hot dog to thaw completely in a microwave. Meanwhile, the entire process of defrosting and cooking can take just about 2 to 4 minutes! An entire package of frozen hot dogs might take between 8 and 12 minutes to defrost and be ready to cook.
This is the usual time needed to defrost a frozen hot dog in a microwave. It may be slightly longer or shorter depending on the wattage of your microwave. The most important thing to keep in mind is to microwave in short bursts. If you microwave for too long, your hot dog may end up getting overcooked and burnt!
How to Defrost Frozen Hot Dogs in a Microwave
It can be confusing for those who have never defrosted a frozen hot dog in a microwave to know where to start. Though the process is straightforward and easy, here are some quick steps that will come in handy:
- Take the frozen hot dogs out of the freezer.
- Put them on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover them with a wet paper towel.
- Set the microwave to defrost for 30 seconds.
- Check to see if they’re fully defrosted. If not, cook for another 30 seconds.
1. Remove the Frozen Hot Dogs from the Freezer
Take out your frozen hot dogs from the freezer and remove them from the package. Don’t use the original packaging as it is most likely not microwave-friendly. In addition, the water inside the packaging may carry bacteria that won’t be killed if you only reheat it in on the defrost setting.
If the hot dogs are hard to separate from each other, you can simply run the package under some water to soften them up.
2. Lay Them Out on a Microwave-Safe Plate
Place your hot dogs in a microwave-safe container and arrange them in a single layer. This ensures that they defrost quickly and evenly, as opposed to stacking them on top of each other, which will take more time.
3. Cover Your Hot Dogs with a Wet Paper Towel
Next, cover your hot dogs with a wet paper towel or cloth napkin (not terrycloth). This ensures that they are shielded during the defrosting process. This is an extra step you can take to ensure that your hot dogs don’t get dried out and overcooked while they defrost.
4. Microwave Until Fully Defrosted
Set your microwave to the defrost setting, and start it up. Zap your hot dogs for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, remove the hot dogs from the microwave and check if they have thawed.
If not, continue to microwave in 30-second intervals until the hot dogs are thawed to your liking. Although you’ll likely need to thaw your hot dogs for longer than 30 seconds, especially if you are thawing a large pack of hot dogs, you’ll still need to check them often to ensure that they don’t start cooking.
Flip the hot dogs every 30 seconds to ensure that both sides of the hot dog get a chance to thaw evenly.
5. Cook Right Away
Once your hot dogs are completely thawed, cook them immediately. Don’t wait to use the thawed hot dogs because you’ll run the risk of triggering bacterial growth the longer you wait.
Tip: thawed hot dogs should feel spongy and flexible. They also should feel cool but not cold.
Other Ways To Defrost a Frozen Hot Dog
Microwaves are not the only method of defrosting your hot dog in a hurry! There are several other ways that you can use to melt the ice crystals in your frozen hot dogs so that they are ready for cooking. Here are the other ways you can thaw frozen hot dogs.
Using a Cool Water Bath
The traditional method of defrosting hot dogs using cold water is the easiest way to ensure that your hot dog gets a perfect texture. Here’s how you can do it:
- Take out your frozen hot dogs from the freezer. If your hot dogs are still sealed in their original packaging, leave it as it is. But if they have been opened, you’ll need to put them in a sealed, airtight plastic bag. Double-check to make sure the water won’t get into the bag. If it does, you’ll run the risk of having bacterial contamination.
- Take out a bowl and fill it with enough cool water to cover your hot dogs. Don’t use warm water in hopes of speeding up the defrosting process. Doing so will only cause your hot dogs to spoil.
- Submerge your bag of hot dogs into the bowl for about 30 minutes.
- Check on your hot dogs every 30 minutes, and check the hot dogs through the bag to see if they’re thawed. If not, continue to submerge in the bowl of new water for another 30 minutes.
- Cook the hot dogs immediately after they have thawed. Please note that your hot dogs should be thoroughly defrosted in less than two hours. If they are not, use the refrigerator to thaw them out.
Thawing in the Refrigerator
If you have a lot of hot dogs to defrost, or if you’re not in a hurry to use them, then you can let your hot dogs thaw out in the refrigerator. While thawing your hot dogs in the fridge is slower than using any of the other methods, it is the most hands-off of all defrosting techniques. Here’s how you can do it:
- Place your frozen hot dogs in a shallow baking dish or a bowl. If the hot dogs are still in a sealed bag, you can leave them unopened. If they’re open, arrange them in a single layer.
- Put the dish on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. The reason why your hot dogs need to be put on the bottom shelf is that you don’t want the juices from the packaging to drip onto any other foods you have stored in your refrigerator.
- Leave your hot dogs in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Once thawed, you can safely store them in your refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How Long Are Hot Dogs Good After You Defrost Them?
Frozen hot dogs thawed using a refrigerator can last up to three days in your refrigerator. However, if you thaw your hot dogs using the other two methods, you’ll need to cook them immediately to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.
Conclusion
So can you defrost frozen hot dogs in a microwave? The answer is yes. However, it needs to be done carefully so that you won’t risk cooking your hot dogs.
By following the steps above, you’ll be able to defrost your hot dogs without compromising their quality. So now that you know how to defrost frozen hot dogs in a microwave, try it out and let me know what you think!
