Kitchen TimerHot dog timer: how long to boil hot dogs and brats
Boil hot dogs for 4 to 6 minutes, until they are hot all the way through and plump. Raw brats need longer: simmer them 15 to 20 minutes, until they reach 160°F (71°C) inside.
Hot dogs
Hot dogs are already cooked, so you are only heating them through. USDA advises heating them until steaming hot (165°F / 74°C).
| Method | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Boiled: drop into boiling water | 4-6 minutes | Start 5 min |
| Grilled over medium heat, turning | 5-7 minutes | Start 6 min, buzzes to turn |
Take them out once they are hot and starting to split. Frozen hot dogs need a couple of extra minutes.
Brats
Fresh bratwurst is raw pork sausage. Cook it to 160°F (71°C) in the middle, the USDA safe temperature for ground pork. Check with an instant-read thermometer pushed in from the end. (Pre-cooked brats only need heating through, like hot dogs.)
| Method | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Simmered in water or beer | 15-20 minutes | Start 15 min |
| Simmered, then grilled to brown | 10 min + 8-10 min | Start 18 min, buzzes to move to the grill |
| Grilled raw over medium heat, turning | 15-20 minutes | Start 16 min, buzzes to turn |
The brat timers are set to the short end of the range. When one rings, check the middle: if it is not at 160°F (71°C) yet, keep cooking and check again every few minutes.
Keep the water at a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil; hard boiling splits the casings and dries the brats out. On the grill, use medium heat so the outside doesn't burn before the middle reaches 160°F.
Cooking for a crowd?
Hot dogs and brats take very different times. Start the brats first, then add the hot dogs to the grill when the brats have about 6 minutes left. Each gets its own named timer on one screen.
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Questions
How long do you boil hot dogs?
4 to 6 minutes in boiling water, until they are hot all the way through.
How long to boil brats?
15 to 20 minutes at a gentle simmer, until the middle reaches 160°F (71°C).
Do you have to boil brats before grilling?
No. Simmering first shortens the grill time and keeps them juicy, but raw brats grill fine in 15-20 minutes over medium heat. Either way, check for 160°F.
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