Hot dogs have always been about simplicity. Slap one on a bun, add some ketchup / mustard / relish, and you’re ready for a quick bite. But Joel Creates took that concept and wired it for actual electricity. His most recent creation transforms the basic frankfurter into its own heat source, all housed in a device tiny enough to fit in your jacket pocket.
The story begins at Open Sauce, where inventors gathered to showcase their wacky innovations. Joel saw a pattern: hot dogs consistently stole the show, from thermite-fueled burns to microwave races. He grabbed an antique Presto cooker from that era, the type that stabbed wires into the meat and let current do the work. That old model required a wall plug and took its sweet time. Joel desired speed and maneuverability. He spent weeks in his workshop swapping parts and testing voltages until he had a battery-powered version capable of handling a whole day.
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Carbon rods are the key to this setup, and Joel puts one into each end of the hot dog, allowing electricity to flow through the center. The meat’s water and salt resist the current just enough to generate heat where it’s needed most. Early experiments with tiny wires took forever to warm up, with only minutes on the line. Thicker bolts, designed to carry more power, caused havoc instead—hot dogs inflated and ruptured like overfilled balloons. Carbon was the ideal medium: strong enough to allow for consistent flow while remaining safe enough to avoid the worst reactions.
The enclosure was next, thanks to a 3D printer that could produce prototypes overnight. Joel created a stylish PETG plastic casing that is resistant to heat while also allowing you to see the activity. The body houses a 12v lithium-polymer battery, which is small and rechargeable via USB. An inverter inside raises the low voltage to 120v AC, replicating a domestic socket without a cord. Wires run from the inverter to spring-loaded contacts at the ends, where the hot dog fits in like a cartridge. Snap it shut, flip the switch, and the rods will make contact. A little blue LED indicates that it is operational, and vents allow steam to escape without causing pressure to build up.
Every decision was made with safety in mind, as the salt in the hot dog can cause electrolysis and emit chlorine gas if the wrong materials come into contact with the current. Stainless steel fasteners were awful, emitting poisons that no one wants near food. Joel consulted professionals, including an electrochemistry professor and two YouTube builders. They claimed carbon was the cleanest option, inert enough to prevent most toxins. Magnesium rods performed well and heated up quickly, while carbon rods were more reliable. There is no official shut-off, but Joel keeps the cook durations short, around 90 seconds, to keep the temperature from boiling.
Starting with a chilly hot dog from the fridge (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit), performance shines through in the subtleties. Slide it onto the rods, close the case, and switch on. Within 40 seconds, the core reaches 100 degrees, and after 90 seconds, it steams at 160 degrees. A thermal camera records the glowing building from the inside out, with the edges trailing behind. The AC system outperforms the DC system, which Joel’s assistant designed in a mustard yellow tube. That one cooked unevenly and created unpleasant-smelling byproducts. The end product can run three full cycles per charge, possibly four with minor changes, and it also charges your phone via the built-in connectors.
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