Hot Dogs In Beer

Cooking hot dogs in beer is one of those old-school tricks that sounds almost too simple to work, but the result speaks for itself. The franks absorb that malty, slightly bitter flavor from the beer as they heat through, giving them a depth you just don’t get from plain boiling or grilling.

This version uses the microwave, so the whole thing comes together in under 10 minutes. Don’t let that fool you. The beer bath still infuses the franks with plenty of character, especially if you use a lager or amber ale with some backbone.

Pile them onto warm buns with a generous heap of sauerkraut and you’ve got something that tastes like it took way more effort than it did.

Kitchen Tips

• Use a beer you’d actually drink. Bitter IPAs can overpower the franks, so stick with a malty lager, pilsner, or amber ale.
• Don’t skip warming the sauerkraut. Cold kraut on a hot dog kills the whole vibe.
• Let the franks sit in the beer for a minute after microwaving. That extra soak time boosts the flavor.
• Score the hot dogs with shallow diagonal cuts before cooking so the beer flavor penetrates deeper.

Variations

• Brat-style: Swap hot dogs for bratwursts and add sliced onions to the beer bath before microwaving.
• Spicy kick: Add a splash of hot sauce to the beer and top with pickled jalapenos instead of sauerkraut.
• Pub dog: Top with beer cheese sauce and crispy fried onions for a loaded pub-style frank.