A smoked hotdog is a traditional way to smoke a hot dog on a grill, but it’s not the only way. An offset smoker can also be used to smoke hot dogs, and it works just as well.
The most popular offset smokers are manufactured by Char-Broil, but there are other brands out there. There are also several types of smokers available: electric smokers, gas smokers, and pellet smokers.
The choice of smoker type will depend on what you prefer in terms of convenience and the type of food you want to cook. You’ll need an offset smoker for smoking hot dogs because they need lots of smoke flavor to keep them juicy while they cook.
Step By Step Method To Smoking Hot Dog In Offset Smoker
Gather your ingredients:
charcoal briquettes (or lump hardwood), steel skewers (or wooden ones), aluminum foil to smoke a hot dog you need to start with a great cut of meat. For this recipe, we used the best cuts of the beef shank from our local butcher shop.
To slice the meat, remove the bone and cut it into 1/4 inch thick strips. You will also need to trim any fat or gristle from the meat. A sharp knife is important for this step.
In order to get the best flavor and texture, we recommend using a good quality smoked sausage. We chose an Italian smoked sausage called Fegatello Di Ferdinando which has a mild spicy flavor and a nice texture when cooked on the grill or smoker over low heat with indirect heat.
A great way to ensure that your sausage tastes amazing is to mix it up with some extra ingredients like coarsely ground black pepper, chili flakes, and garlic powder before adding it to your smoker or grill for smoking hotdogs.
Start by seasoning your smoker with about one tablespoon of coarse ground black pepper and one teaspoon of chili flakes.
Next, add the wood chips, wood chunks, or wood pellets.
Prepare The Hotdog
For Smoked Hotdog Cut each hot dog in half and place it on a skewer. Wrap your hot dog with aluminum foil so that it will not lose moisture during cooking.
Set Up Your Offset Smoker
Place three charcoal briquettes in the bottom of your offset smoker, and set the temperature to 200°F (93°C). Depending on what type of smoker you have, you may need to adjust the temperature as well as how many briquettes you use for smoking a hot dog. The charcoal should be lit before placing the meat on top of it. When adding more fuel to your smoker, wait until all the smoke has disappeared from previous layers before adding more fuel. This will prevent the burning of your food or smoke flavor from being lost during cooking time.
Cook for about 2 hours
During this time you will need to add more briquettes to maintain the temperature at 200°F (93°C). This should be done every 30 minutes. Smoked Hotdog depending on the type of smoker you have and how much fuel you are using, you may need to add more fuel to keep the temperature consistent. The goal is to maintain a steady temperature in your smoker for cooking your hot dogs.
Remove From Heat
After 2 hours, remove your hot dogs from the smoker and rest them for about 5 minutes before serving.
Best Kind Of HotDogs For Smoking – Offset Smoker
The only frank with a veggie casing, and the closest to a real hot dog
- Beef Hot Dogs: Popular because of their distinctive taste, and excellent texture
- Pork Hot Dogs: Popular because of their texture and taste
- Bratwurst: A flavorful sausage that is often made from pork or beef, but sometimes made with turkey or chicken
- Chicken Hot Dogs: Popular for their tender texture, as well as their flavor
- Ham Hot Dogs: Meaty and flavorful
- Lamb Hot Dogs: A popular sausage that is often made from lamb meat
- Smoked Sausage (aka. Salami): A popular and flavorful sausage that is often made from pork or beef, but sometimes made with turkey or chicken
- Sloppy Joe: A sloppy joe is a hot dog that has been topped with chili, cheese, and a spicy sauce.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between a hot dog and a brat?
A: A brat is a German sausage, while a hot dog is a sausage that is often associated with the United States.
Q: Is it possible to grill a hot dog?
A: Yes, but it is not recommended. Hot dogs can be grilled in a skillet, but they are not healthy because of their fat content.