Air Frying Thick Sausages: How Long Does It Take?

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and relatively mess-free process. Depending on the thickness of the sausages, the cooking time will vary. Thick sausages, such as bratwurst, Italian sausage, or British bangers, will take between 9 and 15 minutes to cook at temperatures between 180°C and 400°F. For even cooking, it is important to ensure the sausages are placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket and not overcrowded.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is not always necessary, but it can be helpful for certain foods. It can speed up cooking time and make your food extra crispy. If you're unsure whether to preheat your air fryer, check the manual or the recipe you're following. Some air fryers have preheat functions, but if yours doesn't, here's what to do:

First, turn on your air fryer and ensure it's clean and ready to use. Then, if your air fryer doesn't have a preheat button, set the temperature to 400 °F (204 °C) or the cooking temperature listed in your recipe. Let the air fryer heat up for 3 to 5 minutes.

Preheating is a good idea if you want to speed up the cooking time, make your food extra crispy, or cook thinly cut meats. It's also a good option if you're reheating precooked or frozen foods or baking cakes, donuts, and cookies.

However, you may not want to preheat your air fryer if you're cooking thick cuts of meat, as the outside may burn before the inside is cooked. Similarly, if you're cooking delicate foods that you don't want to be crispy, preheating may cause them to burn on the outside before the inside is tender. Preheating is also not recommended for pastries, breads, and cakes, as it can cause the outside to cook too quickly and leave the inside raw.

Additionally, never preheat your air fryer with parchment paper, as it may blow around and hit the heating element. Instead, wait until after preheating to put the parchment paper in the air fryer.

Prick sausages with a knife

Pricking sausages with a knife before air frying is an important step that should not be skipped. It is done to prevent the sausage casings from bursting and splitting during cooking. By pricking the sausages, the fat is able to escape easily from the casing, and this also helps to prevent the skin from splitting. This is especially important when cooking at high temperatures, as the risk of bursting is greater.

When pricking the sausages, use a sharp knife to pierce a few holes in each sausage. You can also use a fork or the end of a skewer. It is recommended to prick each sausage about three times, or a few times all over. This will ensure even cooking and prevent the casing from blowing up or exploding, creating a mess.

Pricking the sausages before air frying is an optional step, but it is important to note that it can help to reduce the amount of fat in the sausages. This may be desirable for those who prefer less fat in their sausages or are looking for a healthier option. However, some people enjoy the fat in sausages and may choose not to prick the sausages before cooking. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference.

Additionally, pricking the sausages can help to prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket. This is especially useful if you are using lean sausages or cooking at high temperatures. By pricking the sausages and allowing the fat to escape, you can help to ensure that your sausages don't stick to the basket and make a mess.

Oil the air fryer basket

To cook thick sausages in an air fryer, you'll need to preheat your air fryer to a high temperature. Most sources recommend preheating to 180°C/350°F, but one source suggests cooking at 400°F.

Once your air fryer is preheated, you'll need to prepare your sausages. Most sources recommend pricking the sausages with a fork or sharp knife before placing them in the air fryer. This helps to prevent the skin from splitting and allows excess fat to drain. However, one source recommends against poking holes in the sausages, as this can dry them out.

After pricking the sausages, you'll need to place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave space between the sausages for even cooking. At this point, you can also add a few squirts of spray oil to the basket to prevent sticking.

Now, you're ready to cook your sausages. For thick sausages, cook them for 9-15 minutes, depending on the specific type of sausage and your air fryer. Be sure to check the sausages periodically and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Once the sausages are well-browned and cooked through, they're ready to serve. Enjoy!

Arrange sausages in a single layer

When cooking sausages in an air fryer, it's important to arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This ensures that the sausages cook evenly. If you overcrowd the basket, the sausages won't cook evenly and may take longer to cook. Depending on the size of your air fryer and the number of sausages you're cooking, you may need to cook them in batches.

When placing the sausages in the air fryer, use a pair of tongs to ensure they don't touch each other. This allows for even cooking. You can also use tongs to turn the sausages over halfway through the cooking process.

If you're cooking frozen sausages, it's especially important not to pile them up in the air fryer basket. Frozen sausages are more likely to stick together, which can affect how evenly they cook.

For best results, leave some space between the sausages and avoid stacking them on top of each other. This will ensure that the hot air in the air fryer can circulate around each sausage, cooking them evenly and giving them that desirable crispy exterior and juicy interior.

Additionally, when cooking sausages in an air fryer, it's a good idea to prick them with a fork or knife before placing them in the basket. This prevents the skin from splitting during cooking and helps drain some of the fat. However, some people prefer not to pierce the skin to retain the juices and keep the sausages moist.

Cook for 10-15 minutes

Cooking thick sausages in an air fryer for 10-15 minutes will give you a delicious, crispy, brown exterior with a juicy and tender inside. This method is super quick and healthier than traditional frying.

First, preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F). It is important to preheat the air fryer to ensure the sausages cook evenly. Then, lightly grease the bottom of the air fryer basket with olive oil or a cooking spray to prevent the sausages from sticking.

Next, prick each sausage a few times with a sharp knife or fork. This step is optional, but it will help to release excess fat and prevent the sausages from bursting or splitting during cooking.

Now, you're ready to cook the sausages. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap or touch, so the air can circulate completely. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the sausages in batches. Set the timer for 10-15 minutes and turn the sausages over with tongs halfway through cooking.

After the timer goes off, check that the sausages are cooked through. You can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 75°C in the middle. If the sausages are not yet cooked to your liking, put them back in the air fryer for a few more minutes.

Once they're cooked to perfection, let the sausages rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to settle, ensuring juicy and tender sausages.

And that's it! You now have perfectly cooked, crispy, and juicy thick sausages from your air fryer in just 10-15 minutes.

Frequently asked questions