Serving hot dogs

homecook

New member
Not sure where this should go.

Heather is helping run a concession stand and they only have drinks, chips, and candy. People are wanting hot dogs. There is no electricity. How can she make hot dogs and transport them and keep them warm for a couple hours?? Would making them, putting in a bun and wrapping in foil and putting in a cooler work? Making them and keeping them in hot water and putting in a bun there? Any suggestions on the best way to do this? TIA
 

Maverick2272

Stewed Monkey
Super Site Supporter
We would cook em up and then put em in one of those casserole dishes with the lid and thermal bag, no water. It kept them warm long enough to sell em.
 

chowhound

New member
I've had them soaking in hot water in a thermos and lived.... And this was in winter and they were probably four hours in wait in the freezing temps of Cleveland Municipal Stadium. They were plenty warm.
 

homecook

New member
I've had them soaking in hot water in a thermos and lived.... And this was in winter and they were probably four hours in wait in the freezing temps of Cleveland Municipal Stadium. They were plenty warm.

BTDT!! LOL

That's what I was thinking chow. The problem is she can't find thermoses (sp?) big enough..
 

chowhound

New member
So use a cooler and pour boiling water into it. Same difference if she's going to have that many hot dogs.
Or better yet, can she set up a small BBQ? Just cook and rotate like they do at large picnics.
 

FryBoy

New member
If this is a public event, I suggest that you check with your local health department before she gets ticketed.
 

VeraBlue

Head Mistress
Gold Site Supporter
What about a small charcoal grill (if it's outdoors, that is...) Hot water alone won't be enough heat..
 

homecook

New member
The grill is out only because she is now doing the stand by herself and she wouldn't be able to run the concession and man the grill.

The problem with the cooler is it would be jostling (lol) around in the back of her car to get it there. She's got a way to drive.

They had the hot dogs last year with some one else. She doesn't know who they were to ask how they did it. Maybe they were a regular vendor that had a license. I'll be sure to tell her to check on the safety issue. Thanks FryBoy!
 

homecook

New member
What about just renting a hot dog cart from a party place?

She lives in a very small town and would need it every week and I don't even know if they have such a place where she lives. lol I don't think there is enough money in the budget to justify it. I'll mention it to her though.
 

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
How about a disposable chafing dish? You can fill it with liquid and use those sterno cans under it for heat.
 

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
Or just a couple of bricks on the table, a disposable aluminum tray on top (with liquid and dogs), and some sterno cans underneath for heat. Instant chafing dish with an aluminum foil top.
 

BamsBBQ

Ni pedo
Site Supporter
open hood of someone elses car... take battery....go to second hand store.... buy a old crockpot... fill cooler or something with hot water.... cut end off of plug of crockpot, strip wires...put inline fuse in if desired...put alligator clips on open wires...attach to battery..turn crockpot on... i take no responsibilty for the above actions but i wire my radios and other small stuff at camp(we have no power)....it works...lol

seriously you can go buy a cheap inverter that will hook right into your cigarette lighter...it will power your crockpot to heat up hotdogs as long as you keep car running
 

gadzooks

Member
I have a portable single burner that runs on canned butane. Use it for just such things. It'll run for about 45 minutes wide open, couple of hours on low. Find 'em at WalMart, cheap on eBay, cheaper in thrift stores. Canned butane at Smart & Final, WalMart, etc. Pot of water, or better, beer & kraut, boil then simmer the dogs. First time I saw one of these burners was in a casino in Las Vegas. A guy was using one on a little cart to make omelets at tableside.
 
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BamsBBQ

Ni pedo
Site Supporter
I have a portable single burner that runs on canned butane. Use it for just such things. It'll run for about 45 minutes wide open, couple of hours on low. Find 'em at WalMart, cheap on eBay, cheaper in thrift stores. Canned butane at Smart & Final, WalMart, etc. Pot of water, or better, beer & kraut, boil then simmer the dogs. First time I saw one of these burners was in a casino in Las Vegas. A guy was using one on a little cart to make omelets at tableside.

i dont know if this is what you are talking about but i also have one of these

317SFZF7YML__AA280_.jpg
 

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
i dont know if this is what you are talking about but i also have one of these

317SFZF7YML__AA280_.jpg

They sell those in thrift shops here new for 19.99 with 1 can of butane. A 4 pack of butane is 9.99. I've been so tempted to get one......just because! :lol:
 

BamsBBQ

Ni pedo
Site Supporter
They sell those in thrift shops here new for 19.99 with 1 can of butane. A 4 pack of butane is 9.99. I've been so tempted to get one......just because! :lol:

i use to have 2 of them..one i got at a thrift store for $5 and the other i got at an asian market for 12.99....they are pretty nice to have when camping or when the power goes out...i have cooked lots on them
 

gadzooks

Member
i dont know if this is what you are talking about but i also have one of these

317SFZF7YML__AA280_.jpg

Yup. Different brand, but the same thing. Great when you have to keep something hot on table and don't want a power cord. Or keeping your wieners hot without the magic of electricity. Got mine in a thrift for $5. It's red. Very very. Only thing they don't do well is cook in the cold. Butane gets sluggish in the can when chilled.
 

Mama

Queen of Cornbread
Site Supporter
I haven't seen it before. It would be pretty handy to have though!
 

chowhound

New member
I'm not so hi-tech. I've got Coleman burners. One that's a double burner stove and two single burner units. I used one in the hut when ice fishing. Good ol Coleman fuel. They seem to burn much longer than any gas propelled burners I've seen, though I don't know the BTU ratings. Those BTU ones shown here are much more "kitchen friendly".
 

gadzooks

Member
I've got a Coleman 3 burner for car camping/Burning Man kind of things, and have a second jet for it so I can burn liquid fuel or propane. Even have the Coleman box oven to go with. You're right, I think, Chowhound, the liquid burns longer. My Coleman, however, is more at home in the hunting blind now than in a kitchen. It has seen better days, but still works. Burns hotter'n hell. I've used it to re-tin copper pans.
 

homecook

New member
Thanks for all the help everyone!! Heather is going to read these tonight to see the replies. It should help her out alot!
 

homecook

New member
this is heather using mom's computer!

thanks for all the suggestions. fryboy - i do not have to worry about getting a ticket - we are encouraged and allowed to offer what we want like pizza, hotdogs, etc. good to know tho. i just boiled them all up at home, placed them in a bun and wrapped them in foil. i put them in a foil lined cooler i picked up at super k. it worked. i got there at 5:30pm and now at 9:30, they are still warm.

i am going to look into whether we can get a grill - i am almost positive we cant, but maybe.

vera - i wish we could rent a stand - but i live in boonies and we do not have the money on our soccer budget for it. good idea tho.

thanks again everyone!
 
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