The Ultimate Guide to Steaming Hot Dog Buns

Very few people know how to steam hot dog buns correctly. Some even argue that it is not necessary to steam the buns, but I beg to differ.

Steaming is an excellent cooking technique to give your buns a pillowy yet chewy texture. Plus, they will keep your sausages hot longer, especially after adding cold condiments.

Overall, if you want your hot dogs to be perfect, steaming is the way to go. So without further ado, let’s get cooking!

How To Choose The Right Buns

When it comes to bread and buns, whole-grain products are the best option for you. They contain carbohydrates that make you feel fuller faster, preventing you from overeating and assisting you in maintaining a healthy weight⁽¹⁾.

It is also a great idea to stay away from buns that contain too much sugar. Check the ingredient list to see if there is added sugar. Sure, most people prefer white hot dog buns. But in the end, taking care of your health should be your priority.

Also, heavy and dense breads are more suitable. If the bread is too soft, it will become mushy and soggy after being steamed.

8 Foolproof Methods To Steam Hot Dog Buns

Steaming hot dog buns are not tricky at all. However, steaming the buns for too long can make them mushy or sticky. So it is crucial to be mindful of the cooking time in each method.

1. With A Bun Steamer

If you happen to have a bun steamer, then wow, I envy you. You will get to enjoy high-quality hot dogs buns like the ones at the stadium or amusement park every day at home.

If you don’t have a bun steamer, it might be a good idea to invest in one. Using a steamer is the easiest, quickest, and most effective way to get soft, chewy buns. Plus, it will be the star of the show when you host a cookout or BBQ party.

Step 1: Place The Buns In

Put a bit of water in and place the fresh buns in the upper rack of the steamer. Make sure that the water doesn’t touch the buns since water will make them soggy. Then turn the machine on.

Step 2: Follow The Manufacturer’s Instructions

Every bun steamer comes with its own instructions. So make sure to read them and control the water level or regulate the heat accordingly. Add water if needed to maintain steam.

Step 3: Take Them Out

Once the buns are nice and warm, remove them from the steamer with a pair of user-friendly kitchen tongs. Only take out the ones you need, keep the rest in the steamer to keep them warm.

Remember to unplug the machine and empty any remaining water after using it. Give the steamer a thorough wipe to keep it clean.

2. With A Steaming Basket

Not having a bun steamer doesn’t mean you can’t have warm, soft buns. You can do just that with a steaming basket! A first-rate bamboo steamer can do the job just fine. So if you already have one in your kitchen, grab it to steam your beloved hot dogs.

Step 1: Place The Basket In

Pour about 3 inches of water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Place the steaming basket a few inches above the boiling water. Make sure that the water can’t touch the bottom of the basket.

Step 2: Put The Buns In

Slice the buns open and place them face down in the steaming basket. You can put more than 1 bun each time, depending on how big your pot is. The steam from the water will slowly heat your buns.

If the pot and steaming basket are big enough, you can make use of the steam to heat up your hot dogs! In fact, this is one of the best methods to thaw or defrost frozen hot dog.

Step 3: Take Them Out

After about 2 minutes, use a pair of tongs to get the buns out of the pot. Don’t use your hand since the hot steam might burn you!

Note: If you don’t have a steaming basket, you can utilize other kitchen utensils to steam hot dog buns using the same way:

• Colander: Place the colander inside the pot, be sure the water level isn’t high enough to seep through the holes. Put the buns inside and steam them for a few minutes. Remember not to close the lid since water can drip down onto the bread.
• Oven-safe bowl: Put the bowl upside down in the pot. Then put a plate on top, make sure that it doesn’t touch the water. Place 1-2 buns on the plate and steam them. Do not close the lid to avoid soggy buns.
• Tongs: Hold the buns over the steam with a pair of tongs until they are heated. To keep your hands safe from the steam, use oven mitts.
• Chopsticks: Place a pair of long chopsticks over the pot and balance the buns on top. Again, be sure that the water level is low enough that it won’t touch the buns.

If you plan on steaming the buns with chopsticks, this can help you out!

3. With The Oven

Your trusty oven can also do an excellent job at steaming hot dog buns. But you can’t simply throw them in the oven and hope for the best. Follow the instruction below to see how:

Step 1: Prepare The Buns

Preheat the oven to 350°F (or 180°C). Place the buns on a baking tray and lightly spray them with water. Then wrap the buns in aluminum foil.

Step 2: Bake Them

Cook the buns in the oven for 10 minutes. This may take longer, depending on the size of your oven. Check them frequently to make sure that they don’t burn.

Step 3: Take Them Out

Put on a pair of oven mitts and take the tray out from the oven. Remove the aluminum foil and get the buns out.

Besides hot dog buns, you can also cook hot dogs in the toaster oven or conventional oven.

Remember, if you want to cook the sausages as well, do that before steaming the buns to prevent the buns from cooling off.

4. With A Microwave

This is another easy and effective way to steam your hot dog buns. Again, you can’t just throw it directly in the microwave. You need to prepare a thing or 2 first:

Step 1: Make Steam

In a microwave-safe bowl, heat 3 tablespoons of water for 1 minute. This will create steam which helps soften the hot dog buns. Keep the bowl in the microwave.

Step 2: Put The Buns In

Option 1 (for 1 – 2 buns): Lightly spray a paper towel with water. Remember to dampen it, not soak it. Alternatively, you can gently wet your hand and flick water on the paper with fingers. Then wrap the buns in the damp paper towel and place it on a microwave-safe plate.

Option 2 (for more than 2 buns): Place 2 paper towels on a plate. The paper towels can absorb the water from the microwave, preventing the bottom of the bun from becoming soggy. Place the buns on the paper-covered plate, make sure that they aren’t touching.

Then spray water on another piece of paper towel to dampen it and use it to cover the buns. This will keep the buns fluffy and soft.

Step 3: Microwave The Buns

Put the plate of buns in the microwave (don’t remove the hot water bowl yet). Microwave the buns for 10 seconds using the low power setting.

Afterward, remove the damp paper towel on top and turn the buns over. Put a new damp paper towel on the buns and cook them for another 10 seconds on the other side.

Fun fact: This method can also help you cook hot dogs. Though, it is hard to be specific about the exact cooking time for microwaving hot dogs.

Step 4: Take Them Out

Use oven mitts to get the plate of buns and the water bowl out of the microwave. Be careful not to scald yourself.

For more instructions on steaming buns with a microwave, check this out!

5. With A Grill

Usually, when people grill hot dogs, they toast the buns next to the meat at the same time. This works great since the smoke and the heat will add texture and flavor to the buns.

However, some people, including me, can’t multitask like that. I will easily get distracted and burn the buns since I’m focusing on grilling the sausages. I might even mistake the time needed to smoke hot dogs for the time to grill the buns and end up with a bunch of inedible buns.

So if you are also bad at multitasking or prefer the chewy texture of steamed buns, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Prepare The Buns

Put water in a spray bottle and thoroughly spray the outsides of the buns, don’t make them soggy, though. Gently spray the inside as well if they are not fresh. Then wrap the bread in aluminum foil.

You can replace water with chicken or beef stock to add extra flavor to your buns.

Step 2: Steam The Buns

While the hot dogs are cooking, place them on the sides or the upper rack of the grill. Cook each side for a few minutes. Remove them from the grill and serve right away.

Note: If you want to grill the buns instead, be careful since they can burn in 30 seconds! However, you can scrape off the char with a knife and eat them like usual.

6. With A Rice Cooker

If you love Asian food, the rice cooker should be a mainstay in your kitchen. Rice cookers are super versatile. Besides rice, they can also make porridge, chili, oatmeal, and even cake⁽²⁾! And now, you can use it to make your hot dog buns soft and steamy.

Step 1: Prepare The Rice Cooker

Fill the rice cooker with water. Close the lid and press on. Then wait for the water to boil.

Meanwhile, place the buns in a steaming basket. Don’t overcrowd the basket, make sure to keep space between the buns.

Step 2: Steam The Buns

Once the water is boiled, place the basket in the rice cooker, close the lid and wait for a few minutes. When you’re happy with the result, remove the buns from the rice cooker and serve them.

7. With A Crockpot

This is one of the most efficient methods to steam the hot dog buns and keep them warm for a long time. Plus, the crockpot can help you cook hot dogs AND steam the buns at the same time. So it is almost as effective as a professional bun steamer.

Also, a crockpot is perfect for when you need to prepare hot dogs in a large quantity. If you have a crockpot large enough, you may even have some hot dogs left to make new dishes. Trust me; dishes that start with leftover hot dogs can taste just as amazing as dishes with new ones.

Step 1: Prepare The Crockpot

Plug in the crockpot, close the lid, and turn it on high. Then wait a while until steam is formed.

Meanwhile, if you like, you can put the hot dogs in the crockpot to boil them. The recommended time to boil hot dogs may vary, depending on the techniques and cooking appliance you use.

Step 2: Add The Buns

When it gets hot (or when the sausages are cooked), set the crockpot to warm and place the buns inside. Don’t add more water because the steam from the hot dogs will cook the buns just fine.

After 30 to 60 seconds, you will have yourself some warm buns and well-cooked hot dogs waiting to be assembled.

8. With An Instant Pot

Another product that you can use to heat up your hot dog buns is the instant pot. However, don’t think that just because instant pots and rice cookers look the same, the method to prepare hot dogs in these two appliances are interchangeable.

With the differentiating points between instant pots and rice cookers taken into consideration, I’ve come up with the best way to make hot dogs buns in instant pots. Check it out!

Step 1: Prepare The Instant Pot

Fill the instant pot with a cup of water. Place your buns in a steam basket and make sure that it is slightly over the water.

Step 2: Steam The Buns

Seal the pot and then set the timer for 30 seconds to a minute on high pressure. After that, open the lid to release the pressure. Then just like that, your buns are warm and ready to be served.

How To Make Hot Dog Buns Stay Warm

If you want to bring your hot dogs to a picnic, keep in mind these few tips to make sure that they stay nice and warm by the time you eat them.

Step 1: Assemble Your Hot Dogs

Cook the sausages and steam the buns using the methods above. Put the sausages in the buns, but do not put any condiments on them.

Step 2: Wrap Them

Wrap the hot dogs separately in foil and put them in a cooler or insulated boxes for packing lunches. Alternatively, you may keep them warm with a hot travel pack. Your buns will stay warm for longer if you keep the bag closed at all times.

If you are wondering whether hot dogs spoil, it is difficult to tell when you are using an insulated bag.

However, I am certain that even though the cooler or insulated bag can keep them fresh longer, your hot dogs will eventually spoil after a while.

FAQs

Still have some concerns? Check out these frequently asked questions and see if you can get the answers you need.

Got Everything You Need?

In this post, I have listed 8 step-by-step tutorials to get the perfect steamed buns. All of them are simple and effective. So based on the kitchen appliance or utensils you have at home, pick the most suitable one for you!

With all of the advice I’ve given you in this post, I’m confident you’ll be able to make the most delicious hot dogs in your life.

If you find these tips helpful, leave a like and share it with your friends. Do you know any other methods to steam hot dog buns? I would love to hear them in the comment section.

Reference

1. Healthline, 2019. 9 Health Benefits of Eating Whole Grains.
2. Business Insider, 2020. 12 things you probably didn’t know you could make in a rice cooker.