Air Fryer Sausage: Can You Use Frozen Sausages?

Cooking frozen sausages in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to prepare a tasty meal. It is possible to cook frozen sausages in an air fryer, and it doesn't matter if they are stuck together. The best temperature to cook sausages in an air fryer is at 180°C/350°F or 360°F/180°C. The cooking time varies depending on the type of sausage, but on average, it takes around 15 minutes to cook frozen sausages in an air fryer.

How to cook frozen sausages in an air fryer

Defrosting and Preparation

If your frozen sausages are stuck together, you can put them in the air fryer basket and heat them up at 160°C/320°F for 8 minutes to help separate them. Then, use your hands to separate them—they won't be too hot—and use scissors if the sausages are still linked.

Cooking

Once your sausages are defrosted and separated, spread them out in the air fryer basket and cook them for 10 minutes at 180°C/360°F. If you want to simply defrost your sausages, you can do the initial 8 minutes followed by 3 more minutes to fully thaw.

Temperature and Timing

The cooking time will depend on the type of sausages you are using. Frozen sausages that are purchased pre-frozen from the supermarket can be cooked straight from frozen. However, if you are using fresh sausages that you froze yourself, it is recommended to defrost them overnight in the fridge before cooking.

For thin sausages, such as breakfast sausages, cook at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes. For thicker sausages, like bratwurst, cook for 15 minutes. If you are cooking sausages that are stuck together, the total cooking time, including defrosting, will be around 18 minutes.

Tips

• You can cook sausages and bacon at the same time in the air fryer, but adjust the timings accordingly.
• It is recommended to use a meat thermometer to ensure the sausages are cooked to at least 71°C/160°F for food safety purposes.
• Prick the sausages with a fork or sharp knife before cooking to prevent the skin from splitting and to help drain some of the fat.
• You can add spray oil or olive oil to the air fryer basket to prevent the sausages from sticking, especially if they are lean.
• If you are cooking frozen sausages, start at a lower temperature to prevent the surface from burning before the middle is cooked.
• If you are cooking sausages that are stuck together, it is recommended to use a meat thermometer to ensure they are cooked through.

How long to cook frozen sausages in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook frozen sausages in an air fryer. It is recommended to preheat your air fryer for five minutes at 380 °F (or 400 °F according to some sources). Place the frozen sausages in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 to 12 minutes at 380 °F (or 400 °F). If your sausages are stuck together, you can air fry them for 2 to 3 minutes, then separate them and continue cooking.

The exact cooking time will depend on the type of sausages you are using. For thinner sausages, such as breakfast sausages, cook for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 °F. For thicker sausages, such as Italian sausages, cook for 9 to 12 minutes at 400 °F. If your sausages are pre-cooked, they will take less time to cook, around 10 minutes at 380 °F. If your sausages are raw, they will need a higher temperature of 400 °F and a longer cooking time of 14 to 16 minutes.

To ensure your sausages are cooked properly, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 160 °F.

The benefits of cooking frozen sausages in an air fryer

Efficiency

Air fryers can cook frozen sausages in as little as 15 minutes, with minimal preparation required. This means you can go straight from freezer to air fryer without needing to thaw first. This is especially useful when you haven't taken any meat out of the freezer for dinner or want something quick and easy to prepare.

Reduced Odour

Air fryers are great at containing smells and reducing odours. This means your kitchen won't smell like sausages all day long, as it might if you were cooking them in a skillet on the stove.

Less Grease

When sausages are cooked in a skillet, they swim in their own grease and absorb it. In an air fryer, the grease falls to the bottom of the unit, so you can enjoy your sausages without all the grease.

Hands-Free

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a hands-free process. You don't need to watch them, flip them, or do anything other than separate them if they're stuck together. They cook and brown evenly without any input from you.

Versatility

You can cook any type of sausage in the air fryer, including Italian sausages, British bangers, chicken sausages, beef sausages, and vegetarian sausages. You can also cook other foods at the same time, such as bacon, peppers, and onions.

Health Benefits

Air frying sausages is one of the best ways to prepare them as it doesn't require any added fat or grease. The high heat of the air fryer also crisps the skin, resulting in a juicy sausage with a crisp and brown exterior.

How to cook sausages in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook frozen sausages in an air fryer. Here is how you can cook sausages in an air fryer:

First, remove the frozen sausages from their packaging and place them in the air fryer basket. It doesn't matter if the sausages are stuck together. Then, air fry the frozen sausages for 8 minutes at 160ºC/320ºF. After that, separate the sausages with your hands or scissors if they are linked together. Spread them out in the air fryer basket and cook for another 10 minutes at 180ºC/360ºF. Check if the sausages are brown enough for you, or if you want to cook them a little longer.

If you are cooking fresh or thawed sausages, use a paring knife or a fork to poke holes in the casings. This will allow the fat to escape easily from the casing. For an average-sized sausage, poke it three times with a knife. Next, arrange the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer temperature to 400ºF and cook the sausages until they are well-browned on the outside and cooked through the middle. This will take about 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sausages and how many you have in the basket.

Some additional tips:

• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. It is best to cook sausages in batches to ensure even cooking.
• Larger or thicker sausages will take longer to cook.
• You can cook any kind of sausage in the air fryer, including thin breakfast sausages, thick sausages like Bratwurst or Italian sausage, and sliced or whole fully-cooked sausages.
• If you want to add some colour to fully-cooked sausages and heat them through, cook them for a shorter time at 400ºF.

What type of sausages to cook in an air fryer

You can cook any type of sausage in an air fryer. This includes thin breakfast sausages, thick sausages like bratwurst and Italian sausage, sliced or whole fully-cooked sausages, and frozen sausages.

The cooking time will vary depending on the type of sausage. For example, thinner sausages will take around 8-10 minutes, while thicker sausages will need 9-12 minutes. Frozen sausages will take around 18 minutes to cook, including defrosting time.

It's important to note that the cooking time and temperature may need to be adjusted depending on the specific air fryer model and the number of sausages being cooked. However, the recommended temperature for cooking sausages in an air fryer is typically between 350°F and 400°F.

Some recipes suggest poking holes in the sausages to let the fat escape, while others advise against it to prevent the sausages from drying out. It's also recommended to use a piece of parchment paper or aluminium foil at the bottom of the air fryer to catch any drippings and make cleanup easier.

Frequently asked questions