Air Fryer Sausage: Can You Do It?

Air fryers are a great way to cook sausages. They are quick, easy, and produce evenly cooked sausages with a crispy exterior and a juicy interior. Cooking sausages in an air fryer is also a healthier alternative to frying them in a pan, as less oil is required.

Should you pierce the sausages before cooking?

Whether or not you should pierce your sausages before cooking them in an air fryer is a matter of personal preference. Piercing the sausages will help them release more fat, but they will stay juicier if you don't pierce them. If you don't pierce the sausages, they may burst open a little, but that's fine.

Some recipes recommend poking holes in the sausages before cooking to allow the fat to escape easily from the casing. However, other sources advise against this, as it can cause the sausages to dry out and become flavourless.

If you're concerned about the sausages bursting or drying out, you can try cooking them at a lower temperature for a longer time. This will help prevent the casings from splitting.

How long do sausages take to cook in an air fryer?

Sausages cooked in an air fryer will be hands-free, quick, and have a brown and crispy exterior with a juicy interior. The cooking time will depend on the type of sausages being cooked and the temperature of the air fryer.

For thinner sausages, like breakfast sausages, they will take about 8-10 minutes to cook at 400°F. For thicker sausages like Brats or Italian sausage, it will take 9-12 minutes at the same temperature.

If you are cooking sausage patties, you will cook them for 5 minutes, flip them, and then cook them for about another 3 minutes at 400°F.

If you are cooking your sausages at 180°C, it will take 10-15 minutes, turning them every 5 minutes, until they are cooked through.

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

You can cook any type of sausage in an air fryer. Whether they are thin breakfast sausages or thick Italian sausages, chicken, turkey, pork or lamb, the air fryer can handle it. You can even cook frozen sausages in an air fryer.

Some recipes suggest poking holes in the sausages to let the fat escape, but others advise against this, saying it dries the sausages out. If you are worried about the sausages exploding, you may want to try poking a few holes in them.

If you are cooking raw sausages, they should be cooked until they reach an internal temperature of 75°C in the middle. If you are cooking fully cooked sausages, you just need to heat them through.

What should you serve with air-fried sausages?

There are many ways to serve air-fried sausages. You can serve them as they are, in a bun, over pasta, or with peppers and onions. You can also make a sausage and pepper sandwich, or slice the sausage and throw it over some pasta. If you're looking for a healthier option, you can serve air-fried sausages with easy air-fried frozen broccoli, air-fried okra, or air-fried mushrooms.

If you're short on time, cooking sausages in the air fryer is a great option. It's hands-free, quick, and the sausages turn brown and crispy on the outside, while remaining juicy in the middle. You can cook any type of sausage in the air fryer, including thin breakfast sausages, thick sausages like Brats or Italian sausage, sliced or whole fully-cooked sausages, and even frozen sausages.

To cook sausages in the air fryer, first, poke some holes in the casing with a fork or knife to allow the fat to escape. Then, arrange the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to between 180°C and 400°C, depending on the thickness of your sausages, and cook for 8-15 minutes, until they are well-browned and no longer pink inside.

What temperature should you cook sausages at in an air fryer?

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick, mess-free option for mid-week dinners. The air fryer can be used like a mini oven to cook just about anything.

The ideal temperature to cook sausages in an air fryer is 400°F or 200°C. This temperature ensures that the sausages get a nice, crispy brown crust on the outside and are less likely to dry out. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the sausages, the number of sausages in the basket, and the type of air fryer being used.

For example, thinner sausages like breakfast sausages will take about 8-10 minutes to cook, while thicker sausages like Brats or Italian sausages will take 9-12 minutes. It is important to ensure that the sausages are cooked all the way through and are no longer pink in the centre before serving.

Some recipes suggest preheating the air fryer to 360°F for 3 minutes before adding the sausages and cooking them for 12-13 minutes, flipping them halfway through. This results in juicy, delicious sausages.

To prevent sausages from bursting in the air fryer, it is recommended to use a sharp knife or a paring knife to poke a few holes in the casings before cooking. However, some people prefer not to poke holes as they believe it causes the sausages to dry out.

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a convenient and hands-free way to prepare juicy and crispy sausages without the need for additional oil.

Frequently asked questions