Beginner

How to Use Hot Dog Steamer: Setup & Cooking

Set up a hot dog steamer step by step: fill the water, load franks and buns, set the dial, and clean the unit once the party is over.

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A hot dog steamer looks like the easiest appliance in the kitchen until the buns come out soggy and the franks split. Most of those problems start before the unit is switched on, and they are simple to avoid once you know where the water and the dial belong.

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Five steps to set up and load the steamer

Most problems with a hot dog steamer trace back to setup. Get the water level and the loading right before the dial goes on, and the rest of the batch mostly takes care of itself.

Check the hot dog steamers picks for models with separate baskets for franks and buns, since the loading steps below assume that layout.

Work through the steps in order.

  1. Remove the hot dog basket and drip tray, then add water until it sits just above the heating unit.
  2. Put the tray and partitions back, and check that the unit matches your local voltage.
  3. Load franks into the smaller section and set the buns on the large section's wire shelf, leaving gaps so steam can move through.
  4. Switch the unit on and set the dial to high until steam appears, then move it to a middle setting for holding.
  5. Keep the lid closed, and add water as needed to keep the level above the heating unit.

Buns turn soggy or dry depending on how much steam builds

The holding setting does most of the work after the first batch. Too much moisture leaves buns soggy, while too little steam leaves them dry, so the dial is the lever to adjust rather than the clock. If the franks look as though their casings are about to split, lower the thermostat setting to cut back the steam.

Condensation is the other common problem. When cool air meets the warm surfaces of the unit, moisture builds up on them, so keep cold air out of the device and keep the lid closed between servings.

How long a batch takes is its own question, and the hot dog cooking time in steamers is covered separately.

Four steps to clean the steamer after service

Cleaning goes fastest when the water leaves the unit before anything else comes off. Some models, including ones with a bun section that detaches, let you pull parts out for washing, but the routine below works for the basic unit.

  1. Unplug the unit and remove the power cord from the socket.
  2. Throw away leftover franks and buns.
  3. Open the drain and let the remaining water run out.
  4. Take out the removable parts, dry the interior and the parts with a towel, then reinstall them.

Frequently asked

Can the steamer hold foods other than hot dogs?

Listings for several models name breakfast sausages, brats, vegetables and fish as foods they can steam. Load them in the baskets the same way as franks, keep the food spread so steam can reach it, and follow the maker's manual for the dial setting.

Can beer or another liquid go in the water?

The maker of one listed model says you can add beer or another beverage to the water for extra flavor, as long as the level stays within the window marked on the unit. Other models do not mention this, so the owner's manual decides what goes in the reservoir.