Spiral Hot Dog

A Spiral Hot Dog maximizes the crispy bits you get when you grill hot dogs making them the ultimate char-grilled hot dogs. The charred spirals are the best at holding onto all the mustard, ketchup, relish, and onions that a good hot dog deserves, too.

While spiral cutting a hot dog may seem a little fussy, it’s not so bad when you get everything lined up and ready to go. Before you know it, you’ll be pulling those springy coils of char-grilled umami deliciousness from your grill!

Spiral Cut Hot Dog

What kind of hot dog should you choose for your spiral cut hot dog? In short, whichever ones you like best!

I’ve used everything from mass market “skinless” hot dogs to higher-end “snappy” hot dogs like my beloved Zweigle’s, Sahlen’s, and Wardynski’s. You can choose whichever hot dogs you prefer.

I have not tried it with non-meat hot dogs, though. If you decide to make a spiral cut veggie dog, please let me know how it works out.

I promise it isn’t difficult to make a spiral hot dog, it’s just a matter of getting set up right. All you’ll need are as many round skewers as you have hot dogs, a hot grill or broiler, and a sharp paring knife.

I like to use bamboo skewers because they’re generally round, easy to find in stores, and they’re very inexpensive. You can also order bamboo skewers online.

Spiral Hot Dog

To begin with, skewer each hot dog lengthwise keeping the skewer as close to the center as possible. Repeat this with all of your hot dogs.

Hold the skewer at the base of the hot dog and press the edge of your knife toward the skewer on the hot dog at an angle between 10 and 45 degrees (see notes) . Use your thumb and forefinger to rotate the skewer counterclockwise while cutting.

As you do this, the knife will spiral around the skewer, making a spiral hot dog. Once you have a scored the entire thing, gently slide the hot dog from the skewer.

If you’re a visual learner, check out this video to see how the process works.

Ease your hot dogs onto the hot grill or broil on a pan under a high broiler. Turn the hot dogs occasionally until they reach your desired doneness and have an internal temperature of 165ºF. Use tongs to transfer the cooked hot dogs to a plate.

Looking for more great grilling recipes or things to serve with them? Try these!

Spiral Hot Dog

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Rebecca Lindamood

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

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A Spiral Hot Dog maximizes the crispy bits you get when you grill hot dogs making them the ultimate char-grilled hot dogs. The charred spirals are the best at holding onto all the mustard, ketchup, relish, and onions that a good hot dog deserves, too.

Equipment

• grill
• or Broiler with pan

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound package hot dogs Usually 10 hot dogs to a pound

Instructions

 

• Heat your grill or broiler to HIGH heat or prepare a bed of hot coals.
• Skewer each hot dog lengthwise keeping the skewer as close to the center as possible. Repeat this with all of your hot dogs.
• Hold the skewer at the base of the hot dog and press the edge of your knife toward the skewer on the hot dog at an angle between 10 and 45 degrees. Use your thumb and forefinger to rotate the skewer counterclockwise while cutting.
• As you do this, the knife will spiral around the skewer, making a spiral hot dog. Once you have a spiral cut hot dog, gently slide the hot dog from the skewer.
• Ease your hot dogs onto the hot grill or broil on a pan under a high broiler. Turn the hot dogs occasionally until they reach your desired doneness and have an internal temperature of 165ºF. Use tongs to transfer the spiral hot dogs to a plate.

Notes

Notes: If you hold the knife close to 10º, you’ll have a more springy hot dog with more brown-and-crisp spiral surface. If you hold it closer to 45º, you’ll have fewer spirals but a sturdier hot dog. The choice is yours!

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 10gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 621mgPotassium: 132mgVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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