Marketed as a labor-saving device, a hot-dog toaster is a household appliance built to cook hot dogs and their buns without having to use a stove or microwave oven. About the same size as a traditional toaster, a hot-dog toaster usually has slots to cook two hot dogs and two hot-dog buns at a time. The cooking element itself is an infra-red heater, and the device operates on a timer, shutting off the cooking elements once the cooking time ends. Some models allow for adjustable cooking times. Hot-dog toasters are relatively easy to clean, with a removable tray below the cooking area to catch fats, juices and crumbs.
It’s a fairly commonplace error to lump all hot-dog cookers together, but the hot-dog toaster shouldn’t be confused with other devices such as hot-dog steamers. These devices are also electrically operated, but require the addition of water for proper operation. They generally can steam more than two hot dogs at a time, but they take longer than a hot-dog toaster and often cannot steam or toast the hot-dog buns.
A hot-dog toaster is a useful device for a single person who generally eats no more than two hot dogs at a time. For a larger crowd, however, limiting the production of cooked hot dogs to two at a time may be an inconvenience they’re not willing to put up with; such crowds may require additional hot-dog toasters or a different method of preparation. This is why it’s generally not a good idea to use a hot-dog toaster in a commercial operation. Other than in a home, the most likely places one might find hot-dog toasters in regular operation are college dorm rooms or break rooms in offices or production facilities.
Consumers are well advised to read the fine print before purchasing a hot-dog toaster. Many owners’ manuals caution users to only toast standard-sized hot dogs. Jumbo hot dogs and “plumping” hot dogs, especially, may expand during the toasting process and get stuck in the toaster. Hot-dog-sized sausages also may not cook properly in a hot-dog toaster.
As with many consumer goods, there are many competing brands offering products of varying quality. Some earn consistently positive reviews from consumers; others, though, earn mostly negative reviews. Consumers should read through some of these reviews to get an idea of the quality of the brand they’re considering purchasing. Some hot-dog toasters, for instance, are poorly reviewed because they cook the hot dogs and buns unevenly, burning some parts and undercooking others.