Is there anything gained by butterfly cutting a hot dog for grilling?
A friend of mine butterfly cuts (in half lengthwise without separating) his hebrew national hot dogs before grilling them.
I don't notice a difference in flavor and didn't perceive a decrease in required grill time. Is there anything gained by butter flying a hot dog for grilling?
Best Answer
Butterflying a hot dog (or any similar sausage) has two effects. First, as the moisture inside the hot dog expands during cooking, causing the casings to frequently burst due to the pressure that builds up. When you butterfly a hot dog the this is prevented. Such blistering does not 'harm' the hot dog but are somewhat 'unsightly', so I would call this an aesthetic effect. The second effect is that it allows the hot dog to cook through more evenly. Particularly for those who prefer their hot dog well done butterflying can get the insides cook through without charring the outside.
[Edit: found something interesting to add...] If you want to impress your friend with something different, try spiral cutting your hot dog.
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Quick Answer about "Is there anything gained by butterfly cutting a hot dog for grilling?"
Butterflying also exposes a greater area of the surface to the grill's direct heat, leading to browning and smoky flavor. Show activity on this post. Butterflying a hot dog or sausage increases the surface area available for the Maillard reaction (all the awesome taste sensations that come from browning and burning.Why do they put butterflies in hot dogs?
Butterflying is the process of splitting a piece of meat down the middle but not all the way through, then opening it like a book and flattening it into a single layer. With two clear sides, a butterflied cut is much easier to cook, requiring just one flip for even browning rather than a bunch of smaller turns.Should you cut hot dogs before grilling?
badly. Generally, chefs are not fans of cutting up meat before or during the cooking process since it results in juices flowing out. Unless you're really, really concerned with getting lots of char marks on your dog, it's best never to split a dog all the way down the middle.What does scoring a hotdog do?
Giving a hot dog three small, shallow, and perpendicular cuts down the middle is known as scoring . This is to prevent the casing from bursting, as mentioned above, and is usually done when a large of amount of heat is applied to the dog, such as with grilling or pan frying.Why do people cut hotdogs in half?
Cooked on an outdoor grill, indoor grill pan, or even under a broiler on HIGH, split dogs balance juiciness and char like little else, and celebrate the best, meatiest flavors of the season.Angry Grandpa - The Burger King Grilled Hot Dogs!
More answers regarding is there anything gained by butterfly cutting a hot dog for grilling?
Answer 2
Butterflying also exposes a greater area of the surface to the grill's direct heat, leading to browning and smoky flavor.
Answer 3
Butterflying a hot dog or sausage increases the surface area available for the Maillard reaction (all the awesome taste sensations that come from browning and burning. It also decreases cooking time and allows for more even cooking; a thick sausage cooked whole will often be dry on the outside in order to get it fully cooked at the center.
The trick to effective butterflying is to put the open side down on a hot pan (a bit above medium will usually do it) for a minute or two. Do not press down as you’ll lose juices. Flip the sausage or hot dog and lower the heat to a little below medium. You’ll see juices rise to the top like when you cook a burger. Again, do not press down and lose the juices.
Total cooking time should be less than usual. When you take it off, place it flayed side up on a dish and let it sit for 3-5 minutes so any juices soak into the meat and aren’t lost to the plate when cutting. Enjoy the lovely burnt/browned umami!
Answer 4
Some people slice hot dogs lengthwise in an effort to make them a little safer for children. Hot dogs are a choking hazard for kids, so the idea is to make the pieces in each bite smaller and easier to chew. I don't know of any research that demonstrates that slicing lengthwise is effective, but since pediatricians recommend cutting hot dogs into small pieces for little kids, it seems a step in the right direction even for not-quite-so-little kids.
Answer 5
For quicker cooking or to for on tost. Just don't cook to long. You also can put a piece of cheddar down the middle.
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