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Irecently moved to Idaho. I was stoked about the decision overall, but one thing that bummed me out about leaving our home in Maryland was that I wouldn't get to go to Camden Yards to catch an Orioles game this summer. I'm not a huge baseball guy, but boy, do I love a ballpark hot dog. Unfortunately, our new Western digs are pretty short on baseball stadiums. It may be grill season, but when you're missing those ball game flavors, only a hot dog steamer can really do the trick.
Broilers are great if you want your franks charred. Tall pots make good hot dog cookers if you like boiled weenies. But none of these cooking methods do it like commercial hot dog machines. At least I thought that was true until I found this countertop steamer from retro cookware company, Nostalgia.
Best Hot Dog Steamer
Nostalgia HDS248COKE Large Coca-Cola Diner-Style Electric Hot Dog Steamer & Bun Warmer, 24 Hot Dog Capacity and 12 Hot Dog Bun Capacity, Perfect For Breakfast Sausages, Brats, Vegetables, Fish, Red
- $35 Amazon's Choice
- 4,100 reviews with 4.6 stars
- Spin dial with temperature control
- 1-year limited warranty
I love the old-school Coca-Cola decals on this tabletop steamer. Nostalgia makes all sorts of kitchen gadgets, from popcorn machines to miniature beer kegs. But it's this hot dog warmer that fits my personal taste. An easy-to-use thermostat knob controls how I want to cook my dogs. Who knew it was this easy? The reviewers did, apparently:
The Nostalgia food steamer is made from stainless steel, but there's a cool-to-touch handle on the top that keeps your hands from burning when the franks are finished. Speaking of dogs, the cooking compartment of this steamer can fit two dozen of them. That's a home run if you ask me.
Some folks prefer their frankfurters to come sizzling off of a hot dog roller grill. You'll get no judgment from me about how others like their weenies. However, I will enjoy how much easier it is to clean up this Nostalgia steamer than it would be to scrub out a hot dog toaster oven or griddle.
Nostalgia HDS248COKE Large Coca-Cola Diner-Style Electric Hot Dog Steamer & Bun Warmer, 24 Hot Dog Capacity and 12 Hot Dog Bun Capacity, Perfect For Breakfast Sausages, Brats, Vegetables, Fish, Red
This hot dog steamer is great for other things too, including veggies, eggs, and other types of sausages. As review Johnathan Goff mentions, the Coca-Cola hot dog cooker works its magic on a lot of foods:
Seems like as long as you keep an eye on the water level of the bun steamer, then your pop-up concession stand is in business. Nostalgia even recommends cooking with other liquids to add flavor. Beer brats, anyone? Maybe I should consider a french fryer to go along with it, then I could really make my own baseball stadium food.
I can't wait to feed the masses at my next BBQ. All I need is a pair of mini-tongs, and I'll be slinging Nathan's dogs like I'm on Coney Island. No more merchandisers charging $8 for a single ballpark frank.
Take yourself out to the ballgame with this retro hot dog steamer from Nostalgia. It doesn't get more authentic than this!
