Air Fryer Smoked Sausage: How Long To Fry?

Cooking smoked sausage in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a versatile dish that can be served as a snack, appetiser, or main course. The process is simple: slice the sausage, place it in the air fryer, and cook for a few minutes. The result is a delicious, savoury treat that can be served on its own or with a variety of sides and dips.

Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your food starts cooking at the desired temperature as soon as it is placed inside the air fryer. For smoked sausages, preheating your air fryer to 350-400°F is recommended. This temperature range is ideal for getting that nice, crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy.

When preheating your air fryer, it is important to give it enough time to reach the desired temperature. Most air fryers will have indicator lights or sounds to let you know when they are preheated and ready for cooking. It usually takes around 3-5 minutes for an air fryer to preheat, depending on the model and brand. So, make sure to give it some time to heat up before adding your sausages.

Additionally, it is worth noting that not all air fryers have a preheat setting. If yours doesn't, don't worry! You can still achieve delicious results. Simply set the temperature to 350-400°F and let it heat up for a few minutes before adding your sausages.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can move on to the next step of preparing your sausages. This usually involves cutting them into 1-inch thick slices, but you can also keep them whole if you prefer. Then, you'll place them into the air fryer basket and let them cook for 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness and your desired level of crispiness.

So, remember to give your air fryer some time to preheat to 350-400°F before adding your smoked sausages. This will help ensure even cooking and that delicious crispy texture we all love!

Cook the sausage for 5-12 minutes

Cooking smoked sausage in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. After preheating your air fryer to the desired temperature, you can cook the sausage for 5-12 minutes, depending on the style of sausage and your desired level of crispiness.

For thinner sausages, such as breakfast sausages, cook for 8-10 minutes. For thicker sausages like brats or Italian sausage, cook for 9-12 minutes. For smoked sausage links, cook for 5-6 minutes. If you want to cook the sausage whole, it will take 7 minutes at 400°F to get some crispy skin.

If you are cooking raw sausages, do not poke any holes in them before cooking. You want to keep the juices inside the sausage. However, for smoked sausages, poke several holes in the sausage with a fork or sharp knife to prevent them from exploding in the air fryer.

When cooking sausages in the air fryer, it is best to arrange them in a single layer and not overlapping. This ensures even cooking. You can flip the sausages or shake the basket halfway through the cooking process for more even results.

Serve with barbecue sauce or mustard

There are many ways to serve smoked sausage cooked in an air fryer with barbecue sauce or mustard. Here are some ideas:

As an Appetizer or Snack

You can cut the sausage into bite-sized chunks and serve them with toothpicks and a side of barbecue sauce or mustard for dipping. This is a great option for parties or get-togethers.

On a Bun

You can serve the smoked sausage on a bun, like a hot dog, with your favourite condiments. If you want to add some extra flavour, try smothering the sausage in barbecue sauce before placing it on the bun.

With Potatoes

Try air frying some potatoes with the sausage for a hearty meal. Cut the potatoes into quarters, toss them in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne, and then cook them in the air fryer until they are soft and slightly browned. You can also add other vegetables, such as peppers and onions, to the mix.

With Rice or Pasta

For a more substantial meal, serve the smoked sausage over rice or pasta. You can also add a veggie side dish, such as green beans or baby potatoes.

For Breakfast

Smoked sausage goes great with breakfast favourites like pancakes, eggs, and air fryer breakfast potatoes. You can also serve it with an air fryer omelette.

With Dipping Sauces

In addition to barbecue sauce and mustard, you can offer a variety of other dipping sauces, such as ranch, blue cheese, hot honey, or honey sriracha.

Poke holes in the sausages if they're precooked

Poke Holes in Precooked Sausages for the Air Fryer

If you're preparing precooked sausages in the air fryer, it's important to poke holes in them before cooking. This is because the high heat of the air fryer can cause the sausage casings to burst and split. By poking holes in the sausages, you can prevent this from happening and reduce the risk of grease splatter.

To poke holes in the sausages, use a sharp knife or a fork. Poke each sausage a few times, breaking through the casing. This will allow the fat to escape easily and help prevent the sausages from drying out.

For smoked sausages, it is recommended to poke several holes in each sausage with a fork or sharp knife. This will prevent them from exploding in the air fryer basket.

It's important to note that you should not poke holes in raw sausages before cooking in the air fryer, as you want to keep the juices sealed inside to ensure they stay tender.

Once you've poked holes in your precooked sausages, you can cook them in the air fryer at 370-400°F for 4-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sausages.

Add to sandwiches or hot dogs

If you're looking to add smoked sausage to sandwiches or hot dogs, there are a few ways you can prepare them using an air fryer.

Firstly, you can cook the sausages whole, which is ideal if you're making hot dogs. Place the sausages in the air fryer and cook them for 5-6 minutes at 350-360°F (180-182°C). You can also cook them at 370°F (188°C) for 5-6 minutes, or at 400°F (204°C) for 8 minutes. This will give you a quick, tasty, and juicy sausage, perfect for a hot dog.

Alternatively, you can slice the sausages into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces and cook them in the air fryer. This method is great if you want to add the sausage to a sandwich. Place the sliced sausages in the air fryer basket and cook them at 390°F (199°C) for 8 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 5 minutes. You can also cook them at 400°F (204°C) for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

You can serve the sausages with a variety of toppings and sides. Try serving them with barbecue sauce, spicy brown mustard, or another dipping sauce. You can also add sautéed bell peppers, onions, or your favourite vegetables.

So, whether you're in the mood for a juicy hot dog or a hearty sandwich, you can easily prepare delicious smoked sausages in your air fryer.

Frequently asked questions