I'm getting ready to open my own stand in April and the biggest questions I had were just answered. I'll be working concert venues where people are waiting 40 minutes to get an overpriced sandwich while I'll be selling cheap dogs on volume fast and need to know how to steam a lot of hot dogs quickly.
I'd have some extra table top burners and steam pans. Bring water to a boil and then add in dogs, Turn off heat after about 4 minutes and let soak. Pre season water. Check us out here doing it.... ua-cam.com/video/carA_him5LI/v-deo.html Also check out learnhotdogs.com/what-you-have-to-know-about-events/ for some tips and warnings before doing an event.
Hi Big Ben! But how long can you keep those steamed buns in there before they get hard? How do you prevent buns from hardening? I use the perforated steam pan under my dome. But the buns, even between sheets of foil, still get hard.
Hey Big Ben. Almost DONE with all my paper work!!! If you are working the cart by yourself is it scalable to both boil your dogs and brown butter split them too? Those Hoffman dogs are amazing but once you butter and brown them in a pan so they split. What a difference the taste makes. Any ideas? I'm off third base and eying home plate!
@@BensCarts After you boil the dogs you put them in a frying pan with pat of butter to get some color in them (browning) but then that Hoffman dog splits open and it's full of more delicious flavor than you ever got from just only boiling them. I'm wondering if I can use butter on my cart? Also is it scalable? Boil & brown?
No, not at all. In my free training, I teach to steam in the bag with the sun. It's what I did for years. Some don't even steam and just make sure they aren't cold and stiff.
No. I have a warm *cooler (Hot water in the bottom of a cooler and sit bagged buns in with false bottom. Keeps them warm and still in bag. Cooler fits about 8 - 16 bun bags. Add bags as you sell. I work small events and sell about 200 to 300.
Im actually in the process of starting up my own cart. One thing that has puzzled me is what buns to use. Ive noticed alot of times when you try to lay the dog into the bun it will split/break at the bottom. What is a suggestion to prevent this so your customer gets a nice product with out it dripping through the bottom. thanks
Hi Jimmy! Great question. You'll find I cover that at Learnhotdogs.com but the short answer: fresh buns. Second is steaming buns. No split buns then. :)
this was a big help. Now do u have link were I can buy the pans with the flase bottom the resturant supply shop by me does not have them. I all ready check the company that build my cart .they do not have them . thank u
Hey Big Ben! Just paid for my insurance. How long does it take for a frozen dog to rapid steam? Do I have to replenish that water when rapid steaming? Thanks!
Yo, what do you do when you have to collect money, give change and give a dog? Do you wash your hands after each time you touch money, or do you just use a lot of latex gloves?
Alexander Olson yeah I've been trying to find an answer for this question a lot as well. There seems to not be many videos on actually working the hot dog stand as to get a product out to customers in a timely and sanitary manner. I did see a video of a guy only using 1 glove. The gloved hand handled the hot dog and buns. The non gloved used tongs to open the buns and then handled the foil, condiments, and money by hand. Both hands of course were used to wrap the dogs in the foil but the gloved hand only touched the food or foil. He was wearing an apron and made change with only one hand and didn't change gloves after each customer. Don't know if that helps but its the most I've seen regarding that topic.
I agree Jared, the one glove method works good. The ungloved hand never touches any food. A second person taking orders/accepting payment on busy days is really the most ideal way. You can really get the food out quickly this way.
@@BensCarts Hello, If quick steam works in 90 to 180 seconds with pre cooked dogs, why do you boil them beforehand? Could you not just put 15 dogs to steam and avoid the boiling step? Is it because they come out of the fridge and it is much faster to boil them? thanx for your tips.
We were planning a hot dog restaurant after we sold our home and had a huge amount of cash sitting in the bank. Came up with what we thought was 50+ great topping ideas and names for all the hot dogs. We first got derailed with the hot dog supplier for Pinks hot dogs in Hollywood refused to even return emails or calls about providing hot dogs (not the same exact recipe as Pinks) for us, then overcame and found another supplier that wanted to work with us and formulate our perfect hot dog. But the nail in the coffin was finding a location, we found an old gas station and thought it was perfect for a 50's vibe restaurant until they told us the monthly rent on it (could not be turned back into a gas station so had to be anything else) and we crunched the numbers and realized that it's location was not going to bring in enough customers to cover the rent and everything else that comes with having a hot dog restaurant that is literally 1 block off the main street that has all the foot traffic. Found out later that the owner of the property also owned about 80% of the main boulevard and would rather keep properties empty for the tax write off rather than rent or sell them.
Thanks for the tip on steaming the buns...Me and my wife will get our brand new hot dog stand in this week :) Eager and Excited to start selling
You're most welcome Shane! Email me a picture or post it up on our page at facebook.com/benshotdogcarts
11 months later, how has the stand held up? Are you satisfied with your profits and are you still selling dogs?
its been 11 months how did the hot dog business go ?
It’s been 7 years how did it go?
My focus group prefered steamed over boiled 18-3. I seasoned the water with bullion, onion and garlic.
Fantastic... if you use the rapid steam method, you'll never have any loss too. That's great.
I was clueless to what to do. Thanks man!
You're very welcome.
I'm getting ready to open my own stand in April and the biggest questions I had were just answered. I'll be working concert venues where people are waiting 40 minutes to get an overpriced sandwich while I'll be selling cheap dogs on volume fast and need to know how to steam a lot of hot dogs quickly.
I'd have some extra table top burners and steam pans. Bring water to a boil and then add in dogs, Turn off heat after about 4 minutes and let soak. Pre season water. Check us out here doing it.... ua-cam.com/video/carA_him5LI/v-deo.html Also check out learnhotdogs.com/what-you-have-to-know-about-events/ for some tips and warnings before doing an event.
Hi Big Ben! But how long can you keep those steamed buns in there before they get hard? How do you prevent buns from hardening? I use the perforated steam pan under my dome. But the buns, even between sheets of foil, still get hard.
Thank you
You're welcome
Looking to buy pan top, if I want to rapid steam dogs should I get the slotted pan top or the solid top? Thanks for video
Hey Big Ben. Almost DONE with all my paper work!!! If you are working the cart by yourself is it scalable to both boil your dogs and brown butter split them too? Those Hoffman dogs are amazing but once you butter and brown them in a pan so they split. What a difference the taste makes. Any ideas? I'm off third base and eying home plate!
Congrats Ian! I'm not sure what you mean by brown butter split them.
@@BensCarts After you boil the dogs you put them in a frying pan with pat of butter to get some color in them (browning) but then that Hoffman dog splits open and it's full of more delicious flavor than you ever got from just only boiling them. I'm wondering if I can use butter on my cart? Also is it scalable? Boil & brown?
@@BensCarts ❤💕💕👌🏻🌭🍻
Does every vendor steam buns, and is it ok too sell hotdogs without steaming the buns? Thanks Ben.
No, not at all. In my free training, I teach to steam in the bag with the sun. It's what I did for years. Some don't even steam and just make sure they aren't cold and stiff.
No. I have a warm *cooler (Hot water in the bottom of a cooler and sit bagged buns in with false bottom. Keeps them warm and still in bag. Cooler fits about 8 - 16 bun bags. Add bags as you sell. I work small events and sell about 200 to 300.
My state doesn’t allow grills. What’s the best way to keep dogs that were grilled at the “commissary” fresh on cart?
He didn't mention do you need to put water under the pan too?
Yes, just below the false bottom.
Mr Ben kindly help me I want to start this in my country but I don't have enough resources thank you
Cold you boil the dogs then move to the steam just to keep them warm?
Hot dogs are king!!
Im actually in the process of starting up my own cart. One thing that has puzzled me is what buns to use. Ive noticed alot of times when you try to lay the dog into the bun it will split/break at the bottom. What is a suggestion to prevent this so your customer gets a nice product with out it dripping through the bottom. thanks
Hi Jimmy! Great question. You'll find I cover that at Learnhotdogs.com but the short answer: fresh buns. Second is steaming buns. No split buns then. :)
its been a year how did the hot dog business go ?
Hey ben I should be contacting you soon about a cart purchase, my name is nigel living in the Caribbean islands a
Ben, BEN...! Rapid steam vs boiling the dogs in dirty water... Which do you start the day with ????
Look: learnhotdogs.com/to-grill-or-not-to-grill-or-steam-or-boil/
this was a big help. Now do u have link were I can buy the pans with the flase bottom
the resturant supply shop by me does not have them. I all ready check the company that build my cart .they do not have them . thank u
Howdy! No problem. You don't need pans, just the perforated false bottoms. Here's where I get mine: goo.gl/3dmDft
Wow!!!! Cool!!! Thanks!!! 👍😎
why you stack the bun?
What type of cooking equipment is that can I purchase this steamer or Is it a custom build
That's a Big Dog® cart. You can make your own steamer easily. Look, learnhotdogs.com/cant-afford-a-hot-dog-cart/
Can you add a bunch of dogs at once?
Hey Big Ben! Just paid for my insurance. How long does it take for a frozen dog to rapid steam? Do I have to replenish that water when rapid steaming? Thanks!
From completely frozen, I'd say 7 minutes and that too depends on ambient temps and frozen temp. Sub zero can take longer.
Yo, what do you do when you have to collect money, give change and give a dog? Do you wash your hands after each time you touch money, or do you just use a lot of latex gloves?
Alexander Olson yeah I've been trying to find an answer for this question a lot as well. There seems to not be many videos on actually working the hot dog stand as to get a product out to customers in a timely and sanitary manner. I did see a video of a guy only using 1 glove. The gloved hand handled the hot dog and buns. The non gloved used tongs to open the buns and then handled the foil, condiments, and money by hand. Both hands of course were used to wrap the dogs in the foil but the gloved hand only touched the food or foil. He was wearing an apron and made change with only one hand and didn't change gloves after each customer. Don't know if that helps but its the most I've seen regarding that topic.
Jman Thanks, Mate
I agree Jared, the one glove method works good. The ungloved hand never touches any food. A second person taking orders/accepting payment on busy days is really the most ideal way. You can really get the food out quickly this way.
Can ypu multi layer the dogs in there?
Yes you can. When real busy, I'll move over 30 dogs I've boiled to the steam all stacked and start another batch boiling.
@@BensCarts Hello, If quick steam works in 90 to 180 seconds with pre cooked dogs, why do you boil them beforehand? Could you not just put 15 dogs to steam and avoid the boiling step? Is it because they come out of the fridge and it is much faster to boil them? thanx for your tips.
@@alainmis Look at this: learnhotdogs.com/boiled-grilled-or-steamed-video/ and this learnhotdogs.com/to-grill-or-not-to-grill-or-steam-or-boil/
How do I know if the dogs are cooked ?
99% of all hot dogs sold are pre-cooked.
Internal temp should be 140 degrees or higher before serving.
Steaming buns gets them soggy , I have to put them on the grill
You don’t know what you doing than
Proper name of pans ???
Steam pans is the name of pans. Some call hotel pans or restaurant pans.
Need to get my hands on them jokers .thank you sir ..
Why didnt you show the results
probably because he broke the buns
That didnt show the steam buns?
Yummm
I use rice cooker to steam my buns and boil my sausages
Love that!
I wanna make a hot dog stand
We were planning a hot dog restaurant after we sold our home and had a huge amount of cash sitting in the bank. Came up with what we thought was 50+ great topping ideas and names for all the hot dogs. We first got derailed with the hot dog supplier for Pinks hot dogs in Hollywood refused to even return emails or calls about providing hot dogs (not the same exact recipe as Pinks) for us, then overcame and found another supplier that wanted to work with us and formulate our perfect hot dog. But the nail in the coffin was finding a location, we found an old gas station and thought it was perfect for a 50's vibe restaurant until they told us the monthly rent on it (could not be turned back into a gas station so had to be anything else) and we crunched the numbers and realized that it's location was not going to bring in enough customers to cover the rent and everything else that comes with having a hot dog restaurant that is literally 1 block off the main street that has all the foot traffic.
Found out later that the owner of the property also owned about 80% of the main boulevard and would rather keep properties empty for the tax write off rather than rent or sell them.
Did you?
I had all these mishaps and all these other things pop up out of nowhere and schooling I couldn't do it
I Like to use my vegetable steamer 😏
Don't Yeah just hate Frozen Bunz... Lol
Toast the bun and grill the frankfurter. That's how I roll.
Make sure you don’t break your buns in half people do not like getting a hot dog with two separate buns that’s what you did with the first one.
N .G .they have to cook up to 165 Degrees🧐🧐🧐
It won't let me give you a thumbs up at this point in time go figure
It doesn’t take much more time to say hotdog instead of just dog
The only hot dog I would eat is from eithera gas or charcoal grill.
Then you'd be missing out.
Doesnt mean you wont make money with steamed and boiled dogs
Nice video tutorial but.. use good hot dogs and buns and how about actually doing it 🤔
LOL Todd, there are tons of videos of me actually doing it. That is an old video.
rotating dogs so to speak ..tchitching !
Now do hamburgers