Hot Dog Steamers & Broilers

Commercial Hot Dog Steamers: What You Need to Know

Steam is used to cook hot dogs quickly and efficiently, leaving the franks juicy and delicious. Hot dog broilers provide a slightly different final product, which customers and operators may prefer to steamed hot dogs. Almost all these units are small, countertop hot dog cookers, so they don't take up massive amounts of valuable kitchen space. They're made to be used wherever you need them, including kiosks, ballparks, food trucks, and anywhere else you find customers hungry for a hot dog.

Some of our hot dog steamers come with the ability to steam hot dog buns alongside the dogs themselves. Most of these units only require a standard 120-volt outlet, so you don't need to rewire your establishment to accommodate them, and generators can output enough power to run one. Whether you prefer a commercial hot dog steamer or broiler, we'll help you get the right equipment and accessories to successfully market and serve your hot dogs.

Common Questions About Hot Dog Steamers

How do hot dog steamers work?

Hot dog steamers cook by using water to transfer heat from an element to the food. Steaming efficiently transfers heat and keeps the hot dog juicy and flavorful. Unlike radiant or direct heat, steaming will not burn the outside of your dog and leave charred spots anywhere, though you can still overcook with steam. Almost all these countertop hot dog steamers have a small water reservoir to generate steam. These reservoirs must be filled manually when they empty, but this process is usually quick and easy if you have water access. Manual-fill reservoirs mean you don't need to plumb your commercial hot dog steamer, which enables you to move them around and install them in more places.

How are commercial hot dog broilers different from steamers?

Hot dog broilers use radiant heat to cook the hot dogs. Hot air transmits heat between the element and food, cooking it while generating a textured exterior. The dry air of a broiling unit typically removes more moisture from the finished product than steaming, but broiling can create that delicious browned or crisped exterior instead. Hot dog broilers do not require water because they don't use steam, so that step is skipped in a broiler. Alternatively, broilers do need a way to rotate the hot dogs so they get cooked on all sides; this type of commercial hot dog cooker is often called a hot dog rotisserie.

The rotation ensures the hot dog is cooked evenly – without it, you'd end up with a dog burned on one side and raw on the other. Hot dog rotisseries can't cook as efficiently as steamers, though, so if you need a high-volume commercial hot dog cooker, steamers are usually better. Hot dog rotisseries do offer more means of merchandising than steamers, because the rotating hot dogs create an enticing display for passing customers. These machines usually have a transparent window to maximize this benefit, as well as internal lighting.