To steam or not to steam? That is the question! There are a million different ways to prepare a hot dog on a hot dog cart but there is one thing that divides us slingers into two camps.
Do we steam the buns or not? Some say that steaming the buns is completely unnecessary. Others wouldn’t think of serving a hot dog on a cold bun.
Here are some pros and cons regarding steaming…
Pros of steaming:
- The bun is softer.
- A hot bun helps to keep the whole product hotter, especially when adding a lot of cold condiments.
- Steaming shows the customer that you are giving them something special.
Cons of steaming:
- Steaming adds a step in the preparation process.
- It requires a dedicated pan on your hot dog cart which means you can’t use that pan for something else – and pan space is always at a premium.
- Steaming can slow down your serving time, especially at big events.
Do I steam my hot dog buns? Yes, I do. However I use a special brand of bun, Mary Ann’s by S. Rosen Bakeries. Mary Ann’s are the authentic Chicago Style hot dog bun and they are meant to be steamed. The bread is actually a bit heavier and denser than your standard hot dog bun which allows it to hold up well under steam without getting mushy. They are Dee-licious!
Mary Ann’s come in a cardboard “cake box” which makes them really simple to steam. Just cut some slits in the plastic wrapper and drop it in the steamer. I stack two boxes in my steamer, one on top of the other. The bottom one steams while I serve from the top one. When the top one is empty, I grab another cake box of buns and place it under the now hot and steamy ones. I keep rotating like this all day and it allows me to keep up, even during big rushes.
My Regular Steamer Set Up. This is the set up that I use on my personal E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart for daily street vending. I have a half size pan over one burner on the left which I use for boiling the hot dogs. I have a full size 6″ deep spillage pan over the other burner with two 4″ deep half size perforated pans inside it. I put an inch and a half of water in the spillage pan, just enough so that the water is just below the bottom of the perf pans. I use the left perf pan for hot holding and the right perf pan for bun steaming. A hinged dome lid keeps the steam in.
My Steamer Set Up For Big Events. When I do big events where I know I will have a long line, I set up an auxiliary steamer. I use a two burner camp stove with a 6″ deep full size steam pan. I put about an inch and a half of water in the pan and place a wire rack in the pan which sits just above the water level. I top it off with a hinged dome lid. This set up lets me steam up to 4 boxes of buns at a time if necessary.
I hope these tips help you decide whether you want to steam your hot dog buns or not. For a complete education on making money with mobile food vending please consider joining Hot Dog Profits Premium.
What say you, slinger? Are you a steamer or not? Let us know in the comments and give us any tips that you may have.
Thanks!
-Steve
I didn’t used to, but now I always steam my buns. Most days, it only takes a few seconds to get them hot and soft. However, on windy days, it’s a lot tougher to generate steam and it will take longer. I don’t worry about the extra time so much, I think it’s worth it to give my customers the best product possible.
“The best product possible.” That is what separates slingers from the convenience store dogs. Good job Dave!
At Weiners on Water space is premium.
We like the KISS system. Keep is simple !!
I really don’t need the buns steamed.
As long as you use a fresh quality bun, you will have great dogs.
Many of the older carts had steamer boxes for buns.
They don’t build them like that any more.
I think Steve may soon offer an updated set of plans that include a steam box.
Film @ 11:00. !!!
1St Mate Jim.
You never know what might be added to the Premium membership…
If you have the option to steam why not do it? It adds to the customers experience at a minimum cost to you
That is my philosophy, however I’m sure others will disagree. I can see good reasons for both.
I HATE cold buns! A hot bun with a 160 degree hot dog inside is the way I serve.
I do a bun at a time, with the hot dog. People appreciate the steamed bun. I have two deep steam pans. The left one is for boiling up the dirty water dogs. the left is for holding the boiled dogs. I just lay the bun on top of the dogs in the left and let it steam while I reach for the wrap. Takes 10 seconds. Thanks for the 2 burner camp stove idea.
I like it. This is an awesome tip for those with limited pan space.
A steamed bun is the only way to go. It feels better (think “mouth chew”) and customers love it. Try giving your customers buns that haven’t been steamed, after they are used to steamed buns, and they’ll complain. That alone should tell you how much better a steamed bun is.
Thanks David!
Definately steam. Our clients make positive comments when they see we do it. Customers tell us we have the best hot dogs they’ve ever tasted! When you only have a bun, hot dog and condiments, everything needs to be the best it can be. No skimping on time spent/quality in serving. We use a perforated 1/3 pan for steaming and use a disposible 1/3 aluminum pan for the lid then move them to a regular 1/3 pan (aluminum lid) with bar towel (keeps from drying out when they’re against the hot metal pan) They’ll hold for about 15 minutes. If you put them in the steamer and forget you did it..just take them out and let them sit on a a paper towel for about a minute. That pulls out the excess moisture…no soggy bun. Then put them in the hold pan. We threw out more than a few until I figured this out. Now we have no waste!
Great tip Linda. You are correct, an over steamed bun will dry out to it’s former consistency, however a “cooked” bun will not. If the steam gets too hot it will actually cook the bread, making it hard. Regulate your steam temp with the burner and by cracking the lid open a bit.
I always steam my buns, I believe that it makes for a better product.
I think we’re finding a consensus…
Nope. Simple as that.
Or maybe not…
Thanks Ed!
I do not Steam Buns. My dog’s are dirty water dogs and served at 145 temp. I pick up buns daily, so they are fresh.
Another non-steamer heard from. Any others?
Steam!! I sell a 1/4 in big dog on a steamed bun in Georgia and South Carolina a sneeze guard is required. I mounted a metal bread box inside the sneeze guard which is used to steam the buns without taking up any cooking space. Works great! I have a sign on my cart that says home of the BIG DOG and hot buns. It is also a special bun I get from SAMs club at there hot dog stand they are sliding ment to be streamed.
Hey Jerry, send me a picture of your steamer set up. I’d love to see it.
Hi, Steve
We always serve steamed buns, as that is what our customers have become accustomed to receiving. When we found that it takes a while to steam them in the cooker on very busy days, our bun delivery man gave us a great tip. We place the entire bag of buns (12 count) with the bag open in the microwave oven and microwave them for 5 seconds per bun, no more than 55-60 seconds for the 12 buns. They come out soft and fresh and not at all mushy. We will microwave a single bun for no more than 5 seconds, and it works every time!
Christine at Hot Diggity Dog
Do you have a microwave on your cart?
I warm on grill steaming costs to much money and time
I like the toasty buns too.
Steamed buns. We serve a premium product at a premium price. Not steaming the buns is a huge “No No” as far as I am concerned.
I respect Sam’s opinion for sure!
I always steam. On my Custom Cart I have a 1/3 pan with a false bottom. Underneath the false bottom I put a clean wash cloth folded, I add water to the bottom to steam, and the cloth stays moist. I also spray the sides of the pan in the morning before adding buns with butter flavor cooking spray and the buns don’t stick!
I use vegetable oil but I like the butter spray idea. I’m going to try that! Thanks Arlene.
If you want the best, look for the role model perfect hot dog buns B&k to me has the perfect process of bun steaming, hot sauce, and perfectly melted cheese Each hot dog looks the same ,as far as the process for a perfect looking sauce, cheese,and tasty bun
Again I have been very blessed to know the owner of our local hot dog stand, and he has done it correctly to over 50,000 hot dogs sold, March to October, despite a tornado that blew away the awning, and a late hot dog season start Happy hot dogging to everyone! Gary the hot dog man!
That’s a lotta doggies!
I currently dont have a cart,but I frequent trucks ,carts regularly..I give every stop I make a “grade”. If I come across a truck that doesnt “steam” the buns,its the last time I stop at said truck.The difference in taste, experience is day and night.. There is nothing worse then going too a stand and getting a dog on a cold bun!!!!
Don’t hold back Dennis. Tell us how you really feel about it… 😉
Wow. I never realized that NOT steaming was even an option. Fresh buns daily mean they are always soft, sure, but I’ve almost always done my buns “al vapor”, although occasionally toasted on my attached side grill, depending on what I’m stacking the dog with.
“al vapor”. Classy!
At my regular location I will always steam the bun. They open easier, look more appealing, and make the hot dog experience better. Customers love when I open the steam pan and a puff of hot steam comes out.
If I am running an event where there will be more than 100 folks eating I may chose not to steam if time is of the essence.
Hands down a steamed bun helps create the best hot dog!
We’ll be seeing Dale’s steaming technique soon…
We steam them but for our sausages we do not and we use a differnet bun. Yes in a rush steaming buns is a trick and yes as odd as it may seem they will get hard as a rock if in the steamer too long.
Steamed buns do not fall apart under pressure! Take chili for instance, cook one without steaming the bun and the chili is all over. Now make one with a steamed bun and you will find that they stretch without ripping.easy cheesy
I live in south texas and cant get Mary ann Rosens buns. What is a good steamable bun????
Experiment with what you can get locally. Buy a pack of each and steam them to find out which ones work best.