Air Fryer Sausage: Frozen To Cooked In Minutes

Cooking frozen sausages in an air fryer is an easy, convenient, and quick way to prepare a meal. It takes less than 20 minutes to cook frozen sausages in an air fryer, and you don't need to defrost them first. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the sausages and whether they are raw or pre-cooked. For example, thin sausages will cook faster at a higher temperature, while thicker sausages will take longer and are cooked at a lower temperature.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your sausages cook evenly throughout the cooking time. While some recipes suggest that preheating is not necessary, preheating your air fryer can help achieve the best results, especially if you are cooking your sausages from frozen.

To preheat your air fryer, simply turn it on and set the temperature to 380°F (some recipes suggest 400°F) for 5 minutes before adding your sausages. This will ensure that your air fryer basket is hot when you place your frozen sausages inside.

Once preheated, open the air fryer basket and lay your frozen sausage links inside without overlapping them. Close the basket and cook for 10 minutes if your sausages are precooked. If your sausages are raw, increase the cooking time to 14-16 minutes. Flip your sausages halfway through the cooking time and spray the tops with olive oil.

If your sausages are frozen together in a clump, you can air fry them for 2-3 minutes before separating them and continuing with the cooking process.

Cook sausages for 5 minutes

Cooking frozen sausages in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get delicious, juicy sausages. The first step is to set your air fryer to 380-400°F and place the sausages in the basket. It is best to preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes before adding the sausages.

After preheating, place the sausages in the basket and cook for 5 minutes. If the sausages are stuck together, they can be air-fried for 2-3 minutes to help separate them. After 5 minutes, the sausages should be thawed enough to pull apart and redistribute in the basket so that more air can circulate around them.

Once the sausages have been cooked for 5 minutes and separated, return the basket to the air fryer and continue cooking. For thinner sausages, cook for an additional 3-8 minutes. For thicker sausages, cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. The sausages are done when they are browned, cooked through, and have an internal temperature of at least 160-165°F.

Once the sausages are cooked, they can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Separate sausages and continue cooking

Separating the sausages after the initial cooking period is an important step when cooking frozen sausages in an air fryer. This is because it allows more air to circulate around the sausages, ensuring they cook evenly and reducing the risk of undercooked or overcooked spots.

To separate the sausages, first remove the basket from the air fryer after the initial cooking period. Be careful, as the basket will be hot. Then, using tongs or a similar utensil, gently pull the sausages apart. Try to separate them as much as possible, giving each sausage its own space in the basket. If the sausages are particularly difficult to separate, you can try running the package under cool water for a few minutes before cooking, or microwaving it for 30 seconds.

Once the sausages have been separated, return the basket to the air fryer and continue cooking. For thin sausages, set the temperature to 390°F (200°C) and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes. For thicker sausages, set the temperature to 360°F (180°C) and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes.

It is important to ensure that the sausages are cooked through before serving. You can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the sausages has reached at least 165°F (74°C). If the sausages have not reached this temperature, continue cooking in increments of 2 minutes until they have.

Cook sausages for another 8-10 minutes

So, you've cooked your frozen sausages in the air fryer for five minutes, and now you're ready to cook them for another eight to ten minutes.

At this point, your sausages will be thawed enough to pull apart and redistribute in the air fryer basket so that more air can circulate around them. Separate your sausages, then place the air fryer basket back into the air fryer and cook for another eight to ten minutes.

If you're cooking thicker sausages, like bratwurst or Italian sausages, they will take nine to twelve minutes to get crispy on the outside and fully cooked on the inside. If you're cooking thinner sausages, like breakfast sausages, they'll take about eight to ten minutes.

After this time, your sausages will be perfectly browned, cooked through, and juicy. Check that they're cooked through by cutting into one to ensure it's not pink inside before serving. You can also use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the sausages has reached 165°F (74°C).

Serve the sausages immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Serve immediately or store

Sausages are best served immediately after cooking. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

To reheat, cut the sausages into bite-sized pieces and pan-sear them with some potatoes or vegetables. You can also reheat them in the air fryer, either whole or cut into pieces, at 360°F (180°C) for 3-5 minutes.

It is not recommended to freeze leftover sausages.

Frequently asked questions