To ask how to not poison a birthday party?

[Partybrain]

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?

Tbh I've no idea why I'm keeping cake in the fridge... I assumed I should

If I buy one from a store I get not to bother

But I was going to cheat and ice shop bought value cupcakes to save some money and stick some toppers on them on theme... and use them to get children to go home (instead of party bags)

Plus a small shop thing for singing happy birthday but not actually bother with eating there and then

I might just do that flowers don't I still have the keeping them warm issue regardless though?

I've boiled hotdogs in the kettle with lid open, when cooker and microwave died in the same week. They only need couple of minutes and can be taken out with tongs.
Obviously kettle will need to be washed after. You don't want to drink hotdog flavoured tea.

Someone you know. Just have a slow cooker you can borrow??

In the kindest way, you're massively overthinking. Hotdogs are already cooked so you can't poison anyone.

Get the jar ones, empty water, fill with boiling kettle water. that's how we did it when I was a student

Surely you own more than one saucepan though?

Surely, hot dogs can be eaten cold in summer?

With vegetarian ones, I wouldn't worry about them going bad.

I regularly keep veggie sausages at room temperature. The ones I eat are made of wheat protein - so they're just like noodles or other wheat products in terms of poisoning.

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

The hot dogs you get in tins/long life packets are already cooked. You don't need to 'cook them the night before'.

I would heat them up, they will be MUCH nicer.

Borrowing a slow cooker would be easiest.

Or using a cool box, tipping in a couple of kettles of hot water and putting the hot dogs in there for 5 mins would work.

You don't need to do this in advance if there is a kettle in the hall.

I defo feel like you are making this harder than it needs to be!

Or like PP suggests just fill the jars up with hot water from a kettle! Super easy!

They are for 5 year olds - cook them and let them cool! They will be fine. Kids wont want them hot anyway. Just make sure theres plenty of ketchup to hand.

@Blobby10 they are already cooked!

Oh I'm def over complicating it I have little hot dog experience and am virtually a birthday party throwing virgin

Just anticipating DM potential headlines "mum puts party in hospital with Listeria hot dogs"

Does the venue have an urn and a sink?
Fill and heat the urn, place all hotdog packets in the sink and fill with almost boiling water from the urn.

Call your local branch of Domino’s and get pizza instead. I’ve done it a few times, they have delivered at exactly the right time and they always seem to have specials on if you’re ordering a few. Children that age don’t eat that much anyway and they almost all like pizza.

Haha Dominos is out of budget after the rest of the party is done! Wish I could though

stick em in a few thermos flasks with hot water and then serve when ready. also good for picnics c

Sorry, OP, please can I borrow your thread?

I have a similar issue. Was going to BBQ the hotdogs. But it would be good to do that earlier, then keep them warm in the slow cooker. If you put them in the slow cooker, to keep warm, do you put a drop of water in there with them? Or do you think if I BBQ then bing straight in SC they will be ok for 2-3 hours?

Go ahead paffle

The ones in the tin or packets are allready cooked. You can have them hot or cold.
And as its for 5 year old im sure they wont care if they are cold.

Make them at the party there.
Simple

Do you have a steamer? Chuck them in that for 20 minutes or use a roasting tin across a couple of rings? You can hold them for 2 hours heated as long as they are above 63 degrees. You can definitely poison someone with hotdogs! Water in a slow cooker!

5 year olds at a party... Will literally take a bite or two out of a hot dog and leave the rest behind. Especially if there are crisps/sweet things on offer!

Personally, I would order in 3 or 4 large margerita pizzas and put out bowls of cherry tomatoes, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks etc.

At least you can eat any pizza that gets left in the boxes then

I'm gonna try my rice cooker I think... il have a few attempts prior

The ones that come in tins can be heated in a saucepan. They can also be kept hot in those wide topped food flasks (used to do this for winter activities

Otherwise sausages and hotdogs can be done in the oven on baking sheets - or is there room outside for a bbq to grill them on?

Oops sorry just saw dominos comment. Doesnt have to be dominos - cheaper place? Will probably be the same cost as job lot of frankfurters, rolls and ketchup without the faff!

Cold hotdogs would be vile.

Forget about hot food if party in a hall without cooking facilities. Order in pizza or serve snack food - popcorn, crisps, fruit, rice-crispy buns, jelly in individual portions, crackers, brioche, birthday cake.