Nathan’s “Popping” Trick For The Best Hot Dogs In Town

The wide and wonderful world of hot dogs sure is a tasty realm to exist in. No backyard BBQ is complete without a platter of freshly charred weenies eagerly awaiting their buns and sauces. And with so many topping options available, there’s no end to the mixing and matching of flavors to completely personalize your meaty logs. You can dress your dog up Chicago-style with a slew of veggies and that special celery salt finish or opt for a New York-style Coney Dog ladled with hearty chili. There’s no wrong way to turn your wiener into a winner.

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Now, regardless of which brand you always turn to, the name Nathan’s always springs to mind when talkin’ dogs. Nathan’s might not be your go-to option, but no one can deny that they are to hot dogs what Hershey is to chocolate. Why do people love Nathan’s hot dogs so much? Well, it likely comes down to one special cooking trick the chain’s cooks employee before sending the dogs off to hungry customers.

The Special “Popping” Trick Nathan’s Uses For Next-Level Hot Dogs

Nathan’s doesn’t fuss around when it comes to making hot dogs on the griddle and there’s a very particular step workers never skip. Lucky for you, the company doesn’t exactly keep this a well-guarded secret, so this tip for the perfect dogs can be spread far and wide. Basically, as the hot dogs are almost done cooking, grab a pair of tongs (or a fork) and gently rock the dogs back and forth while pressing them gently. Let’s call this move “massaging” the hot dogs (stay with me here). What this technique does is put pressure on the crispy outer casing until it bursts open, releasing savory juices and allowing the casing flaps to crisp up even further. This gives every bite that crunchy texture that’s a trademark of an expertly cooked hot dog and the release of juices means run-down-your-chin flavor in every bite. 

The best part about this trick is that you can (and should) steal this tip for yourself to give your homemade dogs that extra little oomph Nathan’s is so famous for. You don’t need to cook them on a griddle, either. If you’re using a grate grill, simply massage the dogs directly on the grates until the casing pops open. Easy peasy.

Other Hot Dog Tips Courtesy Of Nathan’s 

Nathan’s website has a whole bunch of great hot dog tips, so check it out if you’re trying to up your skills. Want tastier buns for pan-fried dogs? Place them face-down in all the umami-packed juices pooling up in the bottom of the pan―just 45 seconds later, you’ll have a toasted bun infused with flavorful juices. If you’re making dogs in the oven, pop on that broiler for an extra-crispy finish. The point is: Nathan’s knows its way around a hot dog, so the next time you scoop up a pack of dogs, prepare to get popping. Nathan (whoever he is) would be so proud.