Can You Eat Hot Dogs While Pregnant?
Yes, if heated until steaming hot all the way through — not lukewarm.
The full answer
Hot dogs are pre-cooked, but like other ready-to-eat processed meats they can pick up listeria after packaging, and listeria is the specific worry in pregnancy. Heating them until they are steaming hot (165°F / 74°C) throughout kills any listeria and makes them safe. A lukewarm or barely-warmed hot dog is the thing to avoid. Beyond the listeria point, hot dogs are high in sodium and nitrates, so they're an occasional treat rather than an everyday food — but a properly heated one at a cookout is fine.
How to eat hot dogs safely
- Heat until steaming hot (165°F / 74°C) all the way through
- Avoid ones that are only warmed on the outside
- Keep them an occasional choice — high in salt and nitrates
When to avoid: Avoid cold or lukewarm hot dogs, and any left sitting at room temperature.
Hot Dogs by trimester
| Stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| First trimester | Same listeria reasoning as other ready-to-eat meats: heat until steaming hot rather than eating lukewarm. That's straightforward with hot dogs since they're usually served hot anyway. |
| Second trimester | Unchanged. The practical trap is a hot dog that's been sitting in warm water or on a roller — warm isn't the same as steaming hot. |
| Third trimester | Same guidance. Stadium and street-vendor hot dogs are the ones worth being deliberate about, for holding temperature rather than anything else. |
Common questions about hot dogs in pregnancy
Are hot dogs safe in pregnancy?
Cooked until steaming hot, they're generally considered fine. The advice concerns ready-to-eat meats served cold or lukewarm, where listeria is the concern.
What counts as hot enough?
Visibly steaming, hot all the way through, not just warm on the outside. A food thermometer should read 165°F (74°C) in the middle.
What about the nitrates people mention?
Cured-meat nitrates come up often, but the pregnancy-specific advice centres on listeria rather than nitrates. As with any processed meat, the general dietary point about not eating it daily still applies.
The general rules on listeria, mercury, caffeine and alcohol are in our pregnancy safety guide, and you can track your pregnancy with the How Far Along Am I? calculator and the week-by-week guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you eat hot dogs while pregnant?
- Yes, if heated until steaming hot all the way through — not lukewarm. Hot dogs are pre-cooked, but like other ready-to-eat processed meats they can pick up listeria after packaging, and listeria is the specific worry in pregnancy. Heating them until they are steaming hot (165°F / 74°C) throughout kills any listeria and makes them safe. A lukewarm or barely-warmed hot dog is the thing to avoid. Beyond the listeria point, hot dogs are high in sodium and nitrates, so they're an occasional treat rather than an everyday food — but a properly heated one at a cookout is fine.
- Why is hot dogs something to be careful with in pregnancy?
- Hot dogs are pre-cooked, but like other ready-to-eat processed meats they can pick up listeria after packaging, and listeria is the specific worry in pregnancy. Heating them until they are steaming hot (165°F / 74°C) throughout kills any listeria and makes them safe. A lukewarm or barely-warmed hot dog is the thing to avoid. Beyond the listeria point, hot dogs are high in sodium and nitrates, so they're an occasional treat rather than an everyday food — but a properly heated one at a cookout is fine.
- When should I avoid hot dogs during pregnancy?
- Avoid cold or lukewarm hot dogs, and any left sitting at room temperature.
Sources
This answer was checked against the following public guidance. Advice can differ between countries; your midwife, doctor or pharmacist can apply it to you.