Win the family cookout with perfectly cooked hot dogs

Win the family cookout with perfectly cooked hot dogs addresses how to cook hot dogs for a cookout, using guidance from Chef Kenji López-Alt. The article says the process starts at the supermarket, recommending hot dogs with natural casings made from lamb skins, which create a snap when cooked. López-Alt contrasts natural casings, which retain a curve, with uncased hot dogs that pack flat. For timing, he argues “low and slow” tends to bring out the best flavor in sausages, while microwave cooking was found lacking in testing. The piece reports that microwaving a hot dog in a paper towel for 45 seconds produced a split skin, shriveled ends, and a limp texture, even though López-Alt says it can work when speed is essential. An air fryer cooked hot dogs quickly with a crisper skin and better flavor, though it left them slightly misshapen. For longer preparation, the article describes slow-cooker hot dogs kept for hours without water, noting their deep, meaty flavor despite an off-color appearance.