Some like it hot -- hot dogs, that is. Imagine a device that would enable you to heat your franks and toast your buns at the same time. It's no joke. There's actually such a thing and we've put this crafty kitchen aid to the test.
Hot dog connoisseurs rejoice: the invention of the century has finally arrived! Here is a device that lets you pop in your hot dogs and buns together, press down, and make preparing hot dogs as easy as toast. The question remains as to how well it works, and whether it's worth the price (a popular model set at around $50.00).
If it's half as good as it sounds, then it's a must-have for every college dorm, movie night, or home sporting event.
The real advantage of the hot dog toaster is efficiency, and the attraction of having the shiny new gadget on the block. You don't have to get out a pan, or fire up the grill just to make a couple of hot dogs while watching the game. Just put two hot dogs and two buns in their receptacles, and leave them to brown to golden goodness.
Unfortunately, when you try using the device, you'll soon discover some issues the manufacturers overlooked. The first impedance is the removal of the hot dogs themselves. When you're ready to pull out the juicy morsels, as your mouth waters in anticipation, you'll find that they're firmly wedged in the device's iron jaws. Although the instructions state you can use small, or standard size buns and dogs, these still expand enough to make removal a surgical challenge.Also, speed suffers when you have to wait for your hot dogs and buns to reach room temperature before toasting. That is unless you're a fan of meat-flavored Popsicles. Still, when done correctly, users report that the taste of the hot dogs is just as scrumptious as you could desire. If you just need to cook up couple dogs there probably isn't a much quicker (or at least more creative) way to do it.
Probably the most bothersome characteristic of the hot dog toaster is its tendency to burn the edges of your buns, while leaving the centers cold. I assume that not all of the models are like this, as some seem to have more design flaws than others.
The real question here is whether the quality justifies the price. The generally high price is probably due to a recent surge of popularity for the product, as the generally thin and flimsy materials don't make it worth it. This surge also means that most on-line suppliers are sold out, which makes finding one of these little devices a challenge.But if you wait, the price will probably take the usual dive as popularity wanes. By then the hot dog toaster could well be worth buying, if just for the novelty of it; and I'm sure more companies will enter the market with their own versions of the idea.
At this point, however, the hot dog toaster just can't compete with a home grill. With the grill you aren't limited by the size or shape of your foods, and you also have the option for more vegetarian-friendly meals (although I suppose you could try toasting tofu dogs). Nothing beats the grill for a large family gathering, and the art of grilling remains a steadfast tradition. But for a fun gadget that might just save you some time, the hot dog toaster deserves a spot on your wish list.