Emilie Meyer
Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and mess-free way to prepare a tasty breakfast. You can cook various types of sausages in an air fryer, including Italian sausages, bratwurst, and breakfast sausages. The cooking time will depend on the type and thickness of the sausages, but generally, it takes around 10-15 minutes to cook sausages in an air fryer, with some recipes recommending temperatures of 375°F to 400°F.
Cooking Sausage Links in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 360°F to 400°F |
| Time | 8 to 15 minutes |
| Frozen or Fresh | Both |
| Greasiness | Less greasy than stovetop cooking |
| Cleanup | Minimal |
| Splatter | No splatter |
| Smoke | Possible, but can be prevented by cleaning the air fryer and adding water |
| Oil | Not required |
| Spices | Can be stuffed with shredded cheese, onions, or other fillings |
| Serving Suggestions | Eggs, potatoes, hash browns, muffins, syrup |
What You'll Learn
Cooking temperature and time
For frozen sausage links, you should first break them apart and place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, without stacking them. You can cook them straight from frozen, but you may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry the sausages for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
For fresh breakfast sausage links, the cooking time is generally shorter. Place the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket, without packing them in tightly so that the hot air can reach them evenly. You can cook them at anywhere from 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
For thicker sausage links, such as Italian sausage or bratwurst, you may need to increase the cooking time. For Italian sausage links that are 1.5 inches thick, cook them at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-13 minutes, flipping halfway through. For extra crispy Italian sausages, you can cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the sausages, as well as your personal preference for doneness. You can use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the sausages, ensuring that the internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Frozen vs fresh sausage links
You can cook both frozen and fresh sausage links in an air fryer. The air fryer method uses hot airflow to cook foods from all angles, producing evenly browned sausages with a juicy meaty inside.
When cooking fresh sausage links in an air fryer, you should use a paring knife or a fork to poke holes in the casings. For an average Italian sausage, you can poke it three times with a knife. Place the sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some breathing room between them to crisp up nicely. Air fry the sausage links at 375°F for 10 minutes, giving the basket a shake at the halfway mark.
When cooking frozen sausages, you don't need to thaw them first. You can cook them straight from frozen in your air fryer. Start with a lower temperature (around 360°F) for the first 3–5 minutes, or until the sausages have thawed a bit. Then, increase the temperature to 380°F and cook for another 8–10 minutes, or until the sausages are cooked through. You can also cook frozen sausages at 390°F for 12–14 minutes, turning them halfway through. If your sausages are stuck together, air fry them together for 2–3 minutes, then separate them and continue cooking.
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Single layer arrangement
Cooking sausages in an air fryer is quick and easy. You can cook your breakfast sausage in the air fryer in 10 minutes while you work on the rest of your breakfast. The sausages turn brown and crispy on the outside, and juicy in the middle.
To cook sausage links in a single layer arrangement, first, preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the frozen sausage links in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between each sausage. Make sure they are not stacked or overlapping. The hot air needs to reach them evenly.
Air fry the sausages at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12-15 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cooking time. The cooking time may vary by a minute or two, depending on how crispy you like your sausage links. For thicker sausage links, add a few extra minutes.
You can also cook uncooked Italian sausages in a single layer arrangement. Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes. Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket with avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray. Add the uncooked sausages in a single layer and air fry for 12-13 minutes, flipping halfway through. The internal temperature of the sausages should be a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
For extra crispy Italian sausages, cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
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Flipping halfway through
Flipping your sausages halfway through the cooking process is an important step when cooking sausage links in an air fryer. This is to ensure that your sausages brown evenly on all sides.
When cooking sausages in an air fryer, it is recommended that you place them in the basket in a single layer, leaving some space between each sausage. This is to ensure that the hot air can reach them evenly. After placing the basket in the air fryer, you can set the temperature and timer. The temperature and cooking time will depend on the type and thickness of the sausages you are cooking. For example, thinner sausages like breakfast sausages will take less time to cook than thicker sausages like bratwurst or Italian sausages.
Once the sausages have cooked for half of the recommended cooking time, you should remove the basket from the air fryer and turn the sausages over. This will ensure that they continue to cook evenly on all sides. After flipping the sausages, return the basket to the air fryer and let them finish cooking.
Depending on the type of sausages you are cooking, you may also need to poke holes in the casings before cooking. This is not necessary for fully cooked sausages, but it is recommended for fresh or thawed sausages to prevent them from bursting.
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Reheating and storage
Once cooked, allow the sausages to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. They can be kept in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If you want to freeze cooked sausages, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze them for up to 2-3 months.
If you have leftover uncooked sausages, keep them covered and frozen until you are ready to cook them. You can cook them straight from frozen in the air fryer, but you will need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
To reheat cooked sausages, you can use a microwave or an air fryer. Reheat in the air fryer for 2-5 minutes, or until warmed through.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cook sausage links in an air fryer.
It takes around 10-15 minutes to cook sausage links in an air fryer. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the sausages and how crispy you like them.
The ideal temperature for cooking sausage links in an air fryer is between 360-400°F.
No, you don't need to add any extra oil to the sausages before cooking them in an air fryer. However, you can add a few splashes of water to the bottom of the air fryer to prevent smoking.
Yes, you can cook frozen sausage links in an air fryer. Simply place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer and add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
