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AIBU?

To ask how to not poison a birthday party?

63 replies

Partybrain · 28/07/2017 14:36

I'm trying to do a fairly big party on a very small budget and had the bright idea of value buns and hotdogs

But now I've started trying to figure out the logistics of catering 40+ hotdogs without poisoning anyone... I'm not sure how long you can safely cook them prior or how I'd keep them warm without any catering equipment

Was going to do a few quorn dogs in case of veggies but same thing

I really don't want to end up making anyone ill... I'd have stuck with sandwiches and made the night before but realised my fridge will be full with birthday cake and drinks as it is

On the morning il be blowing up balloons and decorating so whatever I do I need super fast and super cheap! Any suggestions or tips on safely feeding an army of 5 year olds?

OP posts:
IdoHaveAName · 28/07/2017 14:38

Get the hotdogs in jars - they microwave. Never tried one so can't comment. Utter stodge I suspect, but they'll probably do the job.

MyheartbelongstoG · 28/07/2017 14:40

I just get the packet ones with 10 or so and nuke them.

fuckwitery · 28/07/2017 14:40

agreed. nuke them!

FlaviaAlbia · 28/07/2017 14:42

Cook then in the oven in a big dish so you can just stick them before you need them rather than pre cooking? Then get a food thermometer and check the internal temperature before you serve them. They're available pretty cheaply.

iklboo · 28/07/2017 14:43

We did hot dogs for DS's birthday & kept them warm in a slow cooker.

OhBuggerandArse · 28/07/2017 14:43

If you don't want to use a microwave, if you've got or can borrow a picnic cooler it can work as a thermos as well as a chiller. If you boil the hotdogs in advance, and then keep them warm (in the packets) in hot water in the cooler, they'll be fine, and you can just take them out and use them as needed.

Toast3 · 28/07/2017 14:44

I put them all in the slo - cooker fomkepe thme warm. Worked really well - good luck 👍

Toast3 · 28/07/2017 14:45

Not sure what happened there - fat fingers but you get the gyst lol

gamerchick · 28/07/2017 14:46

Yep slow cooker.

HipsterHunter · 28/07/2017 14:47

Its way easie than this - most value hot dogs (the kind that come in tins) say "Empty Hot Dogs into a saucepan of hot (not boiling) water & heat gently for about 5 minutes."

So basically just have a big pan of hot water and tip the hot dogs into that for 5 mins.

They are already cooked you aren't going to kill anyone.

Partybrain · 28/07/2017 14:54

The hall doesn't have reliable cooking facilities... and I don't want to be boiling hot dogs for 20 mins during the party (no saucepan big enough for 40)

No slow cooker

No microwave there... mines diddly and cooks uneven as it is so never used but a neighbor would probably allow me to nuke them in advance

Thermos and cooler is sounding good so far

If I put them out at 3 and they're not eaten till 5 for example... nobody is going to get sick? I'm paranoid about this stuff Blush

OP posts:
VodkaRevelation · 28/07/2017 14:55

I agree, just boil them up before they need serving in one large or a couple of saucepans.

MyheartbelongstoG · 28/07/2017 14:56

Make something else?

Can you ask a neighbour/friend to fridge them overnight

MyheartbelongstoG · 28/07/2017 14:56

Personally, I wouldn't leave them out for two hours.

Partybrain · 28/07/2017 15:04

Can they be cooked and fridged overnight? I'm guessing cold hot dogs are okay?

What other cheap fast options could I do?

It's 5 year olds... would I get away with fake hotdogs using cocktail sausages or is that even more naff?

I thought it would be fun to have a pretend hot dog stall... damn Pinterest giving me grand ideas

OP posts:
Schroedingerscatagain · 28/07/2017 15:08

We regularly cook quorn hotdogs put in a thermos flask and take out for the day, never had a problem

As for mass cooking standard dogs, as a former guide leader we cooked 40+ regularly from tins in a big pan, just simmer till ready

GinaFordCortina · 28/07/2017 15:11

Why are you refrigerating the cake?

GinaFordCortina · 28/07/2017 15:12

Make sandwiches and leave cake out of the fridge

LizTaylorsFabulousTurban · 28/07/2017 15:14

I think 5 year olds won't care as long as there are crisps and sandwiches and cake (and cornflake buns because it's the law). Seriously, enjoy the party and don't make things too complicated.

LizTaylorsFabulousTurban · 28/07/2017 15:15

(and unless you have a really posh birthday cake with cream, you don't need to refrigerate it).

RideOn · 28/07/2017 15:16

Bring them cooked and eat them cold. Lovely with ketchup!

unfortunateevents · 28/07/2017 15:16

Does the cake need to be in the fridge? What kind of cake is it? What kind of drinks are you providing? They don't need to be in the fridge overnight either. Presumably the hall has a hob of some kind so just do the hot dogs while you are there. Any hot dogs I have ever cooked only take 10 mins in simmering water and a decent saucepan would hold a good dozen so either two batches or four saucepans will do it. I think hot dogs heated and left to cool for 2 hours sounds gross - sorry.

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Partybrain · 28/07/2017 15:18

A relative just mentioned a halogen oven... they're quite big aren't they but portable?! Anyone got one/cook hot dogs in it before? Can it "keep warm"? Like a rice cooker does?...

I have a rice cooker!

I clearly have the wrong size pans... I might get one packet in a pan but not 40?? Tbh I need it all done prior to party or I will get flustered and it'll be a big fail

OP posts:
Partybrain · 28/07/2017 15:20

Haha this was my idea of "keeping it simple"

Serve hot dogs and popcorn and cupcakes and nothing else

But now I'm over complicating hot dogs Grin

OP posts:
Flowersinyourhair · 28/07/2017 15:22

Just do the vege ones. We did for a party and the kids didn't know the difference. I can't stomach the idea of the crap that goes in a meat hotdog

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