Why don’t we use roller grills and convenience store style steamers? Russ asked, so here is my opinion. I would love to hear yours in the comments!
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your great information as I move forward in planning a hot dog concession trailer. I constantly refer to your aids in educating myself.
Question: It seems like it is really less expensive and less hassle to purchase a hot dog and bun steamer, like the Advanco HDS-200 for my counter top. Put in the water, products and plug it in with a sufficient generator to power it and start slinging. What do you feel are the advantages and drawbacks to this system?
-Russ
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Hi Russ,
One disadvantage of these types of units is that they are very slow to heat up the product. They are designed for a gas station or convenience store where the clerk can “set it and forget it” all day.
Because it takes so long to heat the meat, you must load a lot of dogs all at once. This brings up problem number two – do you really want to serve hot dogs that have been sitting around for hours. And what happens to the buns after an hour? This unit claims to have a steam level adjustment so that might help.
Another drawback is that you would need to use a generator. Even the quiet (expensive) ones are a bit annoying and you can smell the exhaust at times.
I believe that it’s much better to heat up small batches of hot dogs throughout the day. The water pans on a hot dog cart make this quick and easy.
Cost. By the time you buy the Advanco HDS-200 and a good generator to run it, you will end up spending $700 or more. You can build an entire E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart for another hundred bucks. You will be able to serve fresh product a lot faster, and you won’t be reliant on electricity or gasoline.
The biggest disadvantage (this is HUGE) is the loss of your unique sales proposition. We need to separate ourselves from our competition by doing things differently than they do. The last thing we want to do is make the customer think that our hot dogs are no different than the ones they can get for a dollar at the convenience store. If they see you using the same machine as the gas station up the road, your perceived value just went in the crapper.
Running a fun and exciting cart with superior products and unusual condiments is what allows us to get three or four times as much money per sale. Look around at all the professional hot dog vendors. We all use propane and steam pans because it’s the best way to deliver a top quality meal – and an experience!
-Steve
HDP
P.S. Like I said in the beginning, this is just my opinion. I would love to hear from slingers who have successfully used these self contained units or roller grills in a street or festival situation. I’m open to new ideas. Tell us what you think in the comments below!
Image courtesy of Webstraunt Store
The most profound statement in hot dog history- Running a fun and exciting cart with superior products and unusual condiments is what allows us to get three or four times as much money per sale. There endeth the lesson!
Thanks Steve.
Aye mateys,
It takes all morning for the steamers to get up to temp.
And don’t heat evenly. And Propane is nice and quiet !!
Arrrr !!
1St Mate Jim.
(Retired)
Aye matey!
What Steve said! I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks Jack!
A Hotdog on a roller grill, |is certainly, not in the same game, right down to the serving temperature, are you selling a kids dog, or a premium class, well prepared and presented, gourmet dog, and it’s trimming, worthy to be labeled and prepared as a 5 to 8 $ culinary experience, that is deeply embedded in our history, and a continuing love affair with the All American Hot Dog,
Well said my friend!
Steve I have never tried it and I don’t think that I ever will…lol …
I’m with you on this one.
Steve,
Than you for your timely and thoughtful response. As a novice entering the business comments and answers like yours are very helpful and will help ensure my success in my new venture.
Regards,
Russ Frayre
Our pleasure Russ!
Dear Steve,
I agree with all that you said, here is my comment.
In my area the health department demands that warmed foods can not be more than two hours old.
Warmed foods must be at least 160 degrees to avoid food poisoning.
With stacked dogs you would never know which may be bad or not warm enough.
Customers want an experience that takes them to a new adventure in eating, not an old gas station dog and bun.
Good luck!
Clifford
Good point Clifford. Thanks for your input!
Complete and total heresy directed against the almighty hot dog. SHAME!!!
Don’t hold back Mark. Tell us how you really feel! 😉 (I agree with you buddy!)
Crockpots. I use crock pots to hold my doggy. I heat them up fast in the cart pans then switch them to the crock pots. There are heat settings from low to high to keep them tasty. And they don’t get a dark color from being steamed or boiled for long times. I have 3, one for Frank’s one for Polish and one for speciality chicken sausages or brats. Works great and can cut loss.
Interesting…
Rich,
Enjoyed your comment!
Re: Crock potz…
Do you use propane or electricity?!
Cheerz,
Rexx Hunter – (Surf Dawgz Catering)
Where on yer cart be enough room fer 3 crock pots matey !!
It be the white whale I say !! Must be one whale of a cart.
Arrrr har har har !!
1Sy Mate Jim.
LOL
A roller type like you’re describing brings back a lot of memories. Too bad they’re not good ones! From a customers point of view, when I see roller dogs I run away as fast as I can! I remember the cheap taste of overspiced cheap meat, old in the rollers; tasting like they’d been there All day, followed by indigestion all night. Most people who love hot dogs love hot dog carts if they’ve been to good ones. One man was so happy to come across mine that he was almost in tears over the happy memories he’d had growing up near Coney island.
As Steve always says, “Don’t sell a hot dog, sell an experiance.” I’ll add to that and say make it a good one!
Yes!
I have a Willydogs NSF cart i boil the dogs/sausages then brown them on a roller grill on the top of the cart customers see the finished product i have increased sales 30%…Bob
Interesting. Can you send me a picture of your set up Bob?
I like this idea too. I want to be able to display my products, and would be interested as to how you had it set up?
I have used steamers & roller grills in a concession stand and they are wholly inadequate. By the time your dogs are hot enough to serve your event is over. So unless you want to start cooking dogs at the crack of dawn in hopes that they are ready to serve at lunch time I would stick to what works for hot dog carts. I had the same issue with nacho cheese canisters. Rule of thumb is if it heats with electricity it takes too long IMO.
Yep. Gas rules.
There is NOTHING like a fresh hot dog on a steamed bun from a hot dog cart. Rollers and electric steamers DO NOT make hot (or even warm) Hot Dogs. The quality is always better from a cart.
Paul
Bodez Tube Steaks & Such
Homosassa, Florida
Hi guys I’m a major new wannabe hot dog guy. I really love hot dogs and I’m truly fascinated by them. I’ve been hoping to have a cart of my own for many years but extra funds are hard to come by when I have a good chunk I spend it on my family and kids extra needs and wishes. Good luck came my way last week and I scored a table top hot dog cart. It is a Gold Medal #8081 sterno fuel power. I was lucky to get it for $200 bucks. It has a full steam table 1/2 steam for buns and 1/4 1/4 for hot dogs.
I would like to know if this cart is good enough to vend with. I am starting as a true grass roots set up. I plan on serving Vienna hot dogs but here in Los Angels it is difficult to find them. I’ll have to order them and pay a premium for shipping. Thank you all for your information. I can’t wait to start using my cart???
Hi Jesse,
I love your enthusiasm! That is the #1 requirement for success, so you’re good to go. In California the rules are a bit tougher than the rest of the country (you knew that already). You will need a refrigerator to store your food in. Coolers and ice are not good enough. You will also need a hand washing sink and a three compartment sink. As far as commissaries, permits, locations, inspections, and all the other details required to be successful, I’m going to give it to you straight.
Here’s what I recommend:
If you’ve never done this before, you need to join my Hot Dog Profits Premium membership. You’ll learn more there than you would in a month of expensive and stressful trial and error at the job site. Plus I come with it. There are question and answer forms at the end of every lesson. I go into the members area every day and answer all the questions. You will never be alone in your hot dog journey! It’s really an investment in your success. You can get more info at http://www.HotDogProfitsPremium.com Go ahead and sign up today. I’ll see you inside. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you Jesse!
-Steve
Would love suggestions on adding a propane grill to my cart. Ideas? Thanks!
Here you go Mary…
https://hotdogprofits.com/blog/im-back-lets-add-a-grill-to-your-hot-dog-cart/
Ok to chime in as a customer and a person that has a cotton candy business that sells from home, just trying to get out in to the bigger market but not sure we want fairs, I have to say I have two girls one 23 and one 17 along with a 3 year old granddaughter and they are all different when it comes to hotdogs. My 23 year old will only eat beef hotdogs. There is where the gas station ones kick in, my 17 year old will only eat gas station ones nothing else!! My husband prefers gas station over most. Our granddaughter and I eat about any hotdog,