The Mason Jar Hack For Perfect Copycat Carnival Corn Dogs Every Time

A trip to the carnival or county fair isn't complete without a gastronomic treat or two. Foods like the ever-popular funnel cakes and fried Oreo cookies are a mainstay, while outlandish indulgences — like fried butter and Coke — offer a rare chance to try something totally new. For many kids at heart, though, there's nothing like noshing on a tried-and-true corn dog to make an annual fair outing as fun as it can be.

Still, let's be honest, there are plenty of things not to love about a corn dog. From the mystery meat hot dogs to the not-so-healthy oils for frying, a few of the ingredients used in corn dogs might make you want to make them at home instead. This way, you can control the quality of the meat, the consistency of the batter, and the level of golden perfection achieved during the frying process. And while you're at it, you can explore a hack for making the beloved carnival dish as easy to recreate as possible.

After picking out the best hot dogs you can afford and oil with a high smoke point for frying, there's one more thing you'll want to grab when making corn dogs from scratch: a Mason jar, suggests Taste of Home.

Once you've made your corn dog batter, which can be derived from an easy cornbread recipe or even a boxed mix, you'll want to pour it into a tall jar. First, insert sticks into your hot dogs, and you'll notice how easy it is to simply plunge them into the batter for a seamless, even coating before carefully placing them into the hot oil. The Mason jar hack will work for any battered recipe of your choice, whether you're making Korean corn dogs filled with cheese or emulating the Fletcher's classic. They may not turn out perfectly formed like ones from the carnival or supermarket freezer case, but they'll definitely be fresher-tasting treats made from the best ingredients possible. If you're going to indulge, it's the best way to go!