Air Fryer Sausage: Browning Without Frying

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and hands-free method that gives you evenly browned sausages with a juicy interior. The high heat of the air fryer crisps the skin of the sausage, and you can cook any kind of sausage in it, be it thin breakfast ones, thick ones, sliced or whole fully-cooked sausages, or even frozen sausages. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the sausages, but on average, it takes around 8-12 minutes to cook sausages in an air fryer.

Air fryer temperature and cooking time

The ideal temperature for cooking sausages in an air fryer is 400°F. This temperature ensures that the sausages develop a nice, crispy brown crust on the outside without drying out. It also reduces the cooking time, so the sausages are less likely to dry out.

The cooking time depends on the thickness of the sausages. For thinner sausages, such as breakfast sausages, it will take about 8-10 minutes to cook. For thicker sausages like bratwurst or Italian sausage, the cooking time is 9-12 minutes. It's important to ensure that the sausages are cooked thoroughly and are not pink inside before serving.

Some recipes suggest cooking the sausages at a lower temperature of 360°F-375°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through. This results in golden brown sausages that are juicy on the inside.

If you're cooking frozen sausages, you can cook them straight from frozen. However, for fresh or thawed sausages, it's recommended to poke holes in the casings to allow the fat to escape.

When arranging the sausages in the air fryer, place them in a single layer to ensure even cooking.

How to avoid grease splatter

Yes, you can cook sausages in an air fryer. They turn out brown and crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle.

Grease splatter can be a messy and even dangerous problem when cooking with hot oil. Here are some tips to help you avoid grease splatter when using an air fryer:

• Use a splatter guard or screen: A splatter guard or screen can be placed over the air fryer basket to help contain the grease splatter. These guards are usually made of fine wire mesh or silicone and can effectively reduce the amount of grease that escapes.
• Don't pierce holes in the sausages: Some recipes suggest poking holes in the sausages to let the fat escape. However, this can actually increase the amount of grease splatter. It's better to avoid piercing the sausages and let the fat render naturally during cooking.
• Use parchment paper: Placing a piece of parchment paper at the bottom of your air fryer can catch any grease drips and make cleanup easier. This is especially useful when cooking foods with a higher fat content, like sausages.
• Cook at lower temperatures: Cooking at lower temperatures can help reduce the amount of grease splatter. Instead of cooking at 400°F, try lowering the temperature to 330°F and adjusting the cooking time as needed.
• Dry your food: Before placing food in the air fryer, ensure it is as dry as possible. Any surface water or ice can cause grease to splatter when it comes into contact with hot oil.
• Use a deeper dish: If you're cooking something like fries, opt for a deeper dish or pan. This will help contain the grease splatter and prevent it from reaching your stovetop or surrounding areas.
• Be careful when adding food to hot oil: When adding food to the air fryer, do so slowly and carefully. Avoid tossing or dropping the food into the hot oil, as this can cause grease to splatter.
• Use a lid: While a lid can change the cooking method by creating steam, it can also help contain grease splatter. Just be sure to leave a small gap or remove the lid periodically to prevent a buildup of steam.
• Use a slice of bread: Placing a slice of bread at the bottom of your air fryer can help soak up any grease. This is a great way to use stale bread, and it's also compostable, making it a more environmentally friendly option than aluminium foil.

How to serve air-fried sausages

Air-fried sausages make a great meal, and they're so easy to cook! But how should you serve them? Here are some ideas:

In a bun

If it's summer, you might be inclined to throw your air-fried sausage in a bun with some mustard and red cabbage kraut.

With a side

You could serve your air-fried sausages with some sautéed peppers, onions, and garlic. This meal goes well with rice and is also great for meal prepping.

On a plate of pasta

Slice your air-fried sausages and throw them over some pasta. Pesto spaghetti squash, red lentil pasta, or air fryer cauliflower gnocchi are great bases for this.

As part of a bigger air-fried meal

Make your whole meal in the air fryer and serve your sausages with some easy air-fried frozen broccoli, okra, or mushrooms.

With breakfast

If you're cooking breakfast sausages in your air fryer, you can serve them with some air-fried French toast sticks, a sweet potato hash, or an English muffin.

Just as they are

Of course, air-fried sausages are delicious on their own, too!

There you have it! A few ways to serve air-fried sausages. How you choose to serve them will depend on the type of sausages you're cooking and what you're in the mood for. Enjoy!

How to avoid sausages bursting in the air fryer

To avoid sausages bursting in the air fryer, there are a few simple steps you can follow. Firstly, it is important to prick the sausages with a sharp knife or fork before placing them in the air fryer. This allows the steam and fat to escape during cooking, reducing the risk of bursting or splitting. The number of pricks can vary from two to five on each sausage, depending on the type of sausage and personal preference. However, it is worth noting that pricking the sausages may cause some loss of juices, resulting in drier sausages.

Another crucial factor is the temperature setting. Avoid increasing the temperature to cook the sausages faster, as this can lead to burnt exteriors and raw interiors. Instead, maintain a temperature of around 180°C (350°F) to 200°C (400°F). Additionally, ensure that you arrange the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow for even cooking. Overcrowding the basket may lead to uneven cooking and increase the risk of bursting.

It is also essential to keep an eye on the sausages during cooking. Check on them periodically, and if you notice any swelling, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest before resuming cooking. This will help prevent bursting and ensure even cooking.

By following these simple steps, you can minimise the chances of sausages bursting in your air fryer and enjoy perfectly cooked, juicy sausages with a crispy exterior.

What kind of sausages can you air fry?

You can cook all kinds of sausages in an air fryer, from thin breakfast sausages to thicker options like bratwurst and Italian sausage. You can even cook sliced or whole, cooked sausages, such as wieners and chicken sausages. Frozen sausages can also be cooked in an air fryer, although they may need to be defrosted first, depending on their thickness.

For uncooked sausages, it is recommended to poke holes in the casing to allow the fat to escape. However, this is a controversial step, as some people believe it dries out the sausages.

When cooking sausages in an air fryer, it is best to arrange them in a single layer and cook at 375-400°F for 8-12 minutes, or until they are well-browned and no longer pink inside.

Frequently asked questions