Sausage In The Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make juicy sausages with a crispy exterior. You can cook any kind of sausage in an air fryer, from thin breakfast sausages to thicker Italian or bratwurst sausages, and even frozen sausages. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the sausages and the desired level of crispiness, but generally, you can expect them to be ready in around 10-12 minutes at 375-400°F.

Cooking temperature and time

Cooking Temperature

For uncooked sausages, it is recommended to set your air fryer to between 360°F and 400°F. For cooked sausages, you can use the same temperature settings, but you are just looking for the desired colour rather than needing to reach a specific internal temperature.

Cooking Time

The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your sausages and how many you are cooking. For thinner sausages, such as breakfast sausages, cooking time will be around 8-10 minutes. For thicker sausages, such as Brats or Italian sausage, cooking time will be more like 9-12 minutes. If you are cooking frozen sausages, you can cook them straight from frozen, but you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.

Checking Doneness

To check that your sausages are cooked, you can cut into one to make sure it is not pink inside. You can also use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the sausages. For uncooked sausages, the internal temperature should be at least 160°F when fully cooked.

How to serve Italian sausage

Yes, you can cook sausages in an air fryer. It is a hands-free, quick, and convenient way to cook sausages, which turn out brown and crispy on the outside, and juicy in the middle.

Now, here are some ways to serve Italian sausages:

Sausage and Peppers

You can make a sausage and peppers skillet or a sandwich. For the skillet, cook the sausages in a pan, slice them, and set them aside. Sauté sliced onions and bell peppers in the same pan, then deglaze with apple cider or red wine. Put the sausages back in the pan, add chicken broth, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover, turn up the heat, and cook for another 3 minutes. You can serve this over cauliflower "potato" salad, roasted veggies, potato wedges, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, pasta, pizza, cauliflower rice, or polenta.

Sausage and Kale Soup

Add some cheese tortellini, spinach, and a light creamy sauce.

Sausage and Lentil Soup

Add some navy beans.

Sausage and Rapini

Take the meat out of the casings and fry them up. Then, cook a bundle of rapini and toss them together with the sausage in the pan. Top it off with white cannellini beans.

Sausage and Zucchini

Cut and cook some zucchini in a pan with olive oil and onion. When it's almost done, cut the sausage into tiny pieces and add them to the pan. Then, add some cooked pasta and parmesan.

Sausage and Rice Bowl

Make a rice bowl with jasmine rice, sausage, and roast veggies (a mix of peppers, red onion, broccoli, and grape tomatoes). You can also add hummus and sriracha, and maybe some vegan feta.

Sausage and Pierogi

Serve sliced Italian sausage on top of pierogi with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.

Sausage and Polenta

You can serve the sausage and peppers recipe mentioned above with polenta.

Sausage and Noodles

Let the sausages thaw, then take them out of their casings. Fry them up and crumble them. Then, make a bundle of noodles and pour a can of tomatoes on top. Add a pinch of sugar and some red wine, vinegar, pepper flakes, fish sauce, or anchovies. Serve over pasta or zucchini noodles.

Sausage and Cabbage

Fry up some sausage with a bunch of cabbage, onions, and garlic. When that is all nice and caramelized, fold it all into a bunch of mashed potatoes.

Sausage and Spinach

Using sausage in burgers is a smart shortcut because the meat is already seasoned. Make burgers with sweet or hot Italian sausages, top them with provolone cheese, and serve them on ciabatta rolls with garlicky spinach and sun-dried tomato pesto.

Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Make a hearty pasta with sweet-spicy Italian sausage and bitter broccoli rabe, amplified by garlic, grated or shaved Parmesan, and crushed red pepper flakes.

Sausance and Fennel

Make a simple braise with whole pink peppercorns and fennel seeds. Use a fresh, spicy sausage to complement the creamy bean puree and sweet fennel.

Sausage and Squash

Make a crostata with fennel-spiced Italian sausage, chile, delicata squash, and honey. It pairs well with a northern Italian Dolcetto.

Sausage and Beans

• White beans with sausage in a fiery arrabbiata sauce
• Sausage, kale, and small red potatoes in a skillet supper
• Sausage and creamy Marcella beans

How to cook frozen sausage links

Yes, you can cook frozen sausage links in an air fryer. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 360°F and 400°F. Preheating is important to ensure your sausages cook evenly and get a desirable crispy skin.

Step 2: Arrange the Sausages

Place the frozen sausage links in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. This arrangement allows hot air to circulate freely around each sausage, cooking them evenly and preventing them from sticking together. It is okay if they are in a solid block when you first put them in, as they will break apart during cooking.

Step 3: Cooking Time

For the first 3-5 minutes, cook the sausages at the lower temperature to thaw them slightly. Then, increase the temperature to 380°F-400°F and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until the sausages are cooked to your desired level of doneness. The total cooking time will be around 12-15 minutes.

Step 4: Flip the Sausages

Halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket or use tongs to turn the sausages. This ensures even browning on all sides and prevents them from sticking to the basket.

Step 5: Check for Doneness

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the sausages. They should reach at least 160°F to ensure they are cooked through and safe to eat. The sausages should be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. If you don't have a thermometer, ensure there is no pink colour remaining inside the sausages.

Step 6: Serve

Once the sausages are cooked to your liking, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. They can be enjoyed as a standalone breakfast item or paired with other breakfast favourites like eggs, pancakes, or hash browns.

How to reheat breakfast sausage links

To reheat breakfast sausage links in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the pre-cooked sausage links in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not crowded. Reheat for 3-5 minutes until sizzling and heated through.

• Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F to ensure even cooking and crispiness for your sausage links.
• Avoid overcrowding: Place the pre-cooked sausage links in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each link. This allows proper air circulation and even cooking.
• Flip halfway through: For even browning, consider flipping the sausage links or shaking the basket halfway through the reheating process.
• Serving: Remove the sausage links from the air fryer using tongs and serve hot as a snack, with breakfast, or as part of your meal.

You can also reheat precooked sausages in a skillet on the stovetop if you prefer.

How to cook multiple foods in the air fryer at once

Yes, you can cook multiple foods in an air fryer at once. This is a great way to save time and effort, especially if you're just cooking for yourself or a friend.

Some air fryers come with a separator, which is perfect for cooking multiple foods as it prevents them from rolling into each other. If your air fryer doesn't have a separator, you can use a rack to increase your cooking surface area. This allows you to cook different items simultaneously without overcrowding the basket, which can cause uneven cooking.

When cooking multiple foods in your air fryer, it's best to pair items with similar cooking times and oil requirements. For example, French fries and potato wedges typically have the same cooking requirements and can be cooked together.

If you're cooking foods with different temperatures and times, you may need to get creative. One approach is to cook items with similar requirements together, then remove the cooked items and cook the remaining food according to its specific needs.

• Sausages: Poke holes in the casing to allow fat to escape, then arrange in a single layer and cook at 400°F for 8-12 minutes, depending on thickness.
• Frozen foods: You can cook frozen foods like chicken nuggets, chicken, and veggies together. For example, cook frozen chicken and veggies at 380 degrees for 15 minutes, removing the chicken at 12 minutes and leaving the veggies for a few minutes longer.
• Fresh meats and veggies: You can cook fresh chicken, salmon, or other proteins with sides like broccoli or frozen fries. Just ensure they have similar cooking temperatures.

So, go ahead and experiment with cooking multiple foods in your air fryer. Just remember to avoid overcrowding the basket and to adjust cooking times and temperatures as needed.

Frequently asked questions