Air Fryer Sausage: Can You Do It?

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and hands-off method that results in a juicy sausage with a golden brown exterior. The air fryer can be used like a mini oven to cook the sausages, with the added benefit of being quicker and more hands-off than traditional frying methods. The sausages turn out beautifully crisp and brown on the outside, with a juicy and tender inside.

Should you pierce the sausages before cooking?

There are differing opinions on whether you should pierce sausages before cooking them in an air fryer.

Some sources suggest that you should not pierce the sausages because this will cause the juices to leak out, resulting in dry sausages. The air fryer cooks sausages evenly while locking in moisture, yielding juicy sausages with a crisp exterior. However, if you prefer a slight char or are concerned about air pockets forming, you may choose to pierce the sausages lightly. It is important to strike a balance to ensure that the juices are retained.

Other sources recommend poking holes in the sausages to allow the fat to escape easily from the casing. For an average-sized sausage, three piercings with a knife are suggested.

What temperature should the air fryer be set to?

When cooking sausages in an air fryer, the temperature setting will depend on the type of sausage and the level of crispiness you want to achieve.

For thinner sausages, such as breakfast sausages, a temperature setting of 370°F to 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes will give you a nice crisp exterior while keeping the inside juicy. At this temperature, thicker sausages like bratwurst or Italian sausage will take 9 to 12 minutes.

For extra crispy Italian sausages, you can cook them at 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. This will give them a nice, brown exterior.

If you're cooking uncooked Italian sausages, preheat your air fryer to 360°F for 3 minutes. Then, add the sausages and cook them for 12 to 13 minutes, flipping them halfway through. This will result in juicy sausages with a crisp skin.

Some people prefer to cook their sausages at a lower temperature to avoid excessive smoking. In that case, you can try cooking your sausages at 375°F for 8 to 9 minutes. This is a good option for uncooked sausages, and you can use an instant-read thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 160°F or higher.

How long do you cook the sausages for?

The cooking time for sausages in an air fryer depends on the type of sausage you are cooking. For thinner sausages, like breakfast sausages, they will take about 8-10 minutes to cook. For thicker sausages like Italian sausage or bratwurst, they will take 9-12 minutes.

If you are cooking Italian sausage, you can also cook them for 12-13 minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit, or for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for extra crispy sausages.

If you are cooking pre-cooked sausages, such as kielbasa, cook them for 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or 7 minutes if you are cooking a kielbasa ring or unsliced link.

If you are cooking frozen sausages, you can cook them straight from frozen.

Regardless of the type of sausage, you should always ensure that they are cooked through before serving. This means checking that the internal temperature has reached at least 75 degrees Celsius or 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and that there is no pink meat remaining when you cut into them.

What types of sausages can you cook in an air fryer?

You can cook almost any type of sausage in an air fryer. This includes thin breakfast sausages, thick sausages, sliced or whole fully-cooked sausages, and frozen sausages. You can also cook uncooked or cooked sausages, with the cooking time being about the same for both.

Some specific types of sausages that can be cooked in an air fryer include:

• Italian sausage
• Bratwurst
• Kielbasa
• Wieners
• Chicken sausages
• Lamb sausage
• Pork sausage
• Turkey sausage
• Toulouse sausage

How do you serve air-fried sausages?

There are many ways to serve air-fried sausages. Here are some ideas:

In a bun

You could serve your air-fried sausages in a bun with some mustard and red cabbage kraut.

With a side of vegetables

You could serve your sausages with some roasted peppers and onions, or other roasted vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower. If you want to cook your sausages and vegetables together, you can put strips of peppers and onions on the bottom of the air fryer basket and then place the sausages on top.

With potatoes

Sausages also go well with potatoes.

With pasta

You could serve your sausages with pasta and a cream sauce, or in a marinara or pesto sauce.

As part of a sheet pan meal

If you want to cook your whole meal in the air fryer, you could serve your sausages with some easy air-fried frozen broccoli, okra, or mushrooms.

For breakfast

You could serve air-fried sausages as a side for breakfast, or in buns for breakfast sandwiches.

Reheating and storing

If you have any leftover sausages, you can reheat them in the air fryer. You can also store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or freeze them for up to 2-3 months.

Frequently asked questions