Marianne Martinez
Cooking beef brats in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious meal. Air fryers are a convenient alternative to grilling, especially in cold or hot weather, and can produce juicy and tender bratwursts with a crispy exterior in less than 15 minutes. The process is simple: preheat the air fryer, place the brats inside in a single layer, and cook for around 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The brats are done when they reach an internal temperature of 160-165°F. You can serve them with a variety of toppings, sauces, and sides, such as onions, peppers, mustard, and sauerkraut.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cook time | 8-15 minutes |
| Temperature | 350°F-370°F |
| Internal temperature | 160°F-165°F |
| Preheat temperature | 300°F-370°F |
| Cook in batches | Yes |
| Single layer | Yes |
| Flip halfway through | Yes |
| Brushing with oil | Optional |
| Toppings | Mustard, sauerkraut, cheese, ketchup, relish, onions, peppers |
| Sides | Garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, gravy, onion rings, coleslaw, cucumber salad |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is the first step to cooking juicy beef brats. While some recipes suggest preheating to 350°F (180°C), others recommend 370°F (190°C). One source suggests an even lower temperature of 300°F (150°C).
If your brats are frozen together, you can skip the preheating step and initially cook them at 320°F (160°C) for 7 minutes to separate them. Then, preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature before continuing with the cooking process.
Spraying some oil in the air fryer basket before preheating can aid in cleanup and prevent sticking. Using air fryer parchment paper or aluminium foil with holes in it can also help with cleanup.
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Cook the beef brats for 8-15 minutes
Cooking beef brats in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a juicy and flavourful meal. The cooking time will depend on the number of brats you are cooking, the power of your air fryer, and whether you are cooking from frozen or not.
To cook your beef brats, first preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the brats in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between them to allow hot air to circulate. If your air fryer can't accommodate all your sausages, cook them in batches.
Once the brats have reached the desired internal temperature, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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Flip halfway through
Flipping the brats halfway through the cooking process is an important step in ensuring that both sides of the sausages are evenly browned. This technique helps to achieve that desirable golden brown colour and crispy texture that is so appealing in a bratwurst.
The process is simple: after preheating the air fryer and arranging the sausages in the basket, set the timer for half of the total cooking time. When the timer goes off, open the air fryer, flip the brats, and then close it again to continue cooking.
For example, if the total cooking time is 15 minutes, you would flip the brats after 7 minutes. If the total cooking time is 10 minutes, flip them after 5 minutes. This ensures that both sides of the sausages cook evenly and receive the same amount of heat.
It is also important to note that flipping the brats is not the only movement they should make during cooking. To ensure they cook evenly, it is recommended to turn or rotate them during cooking so that all sides are exposed to the heat. This is especially important if you are cooking a large batch of brats and they are stacked or arranged in multiple layers in the air fryer basket.
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Check the internal temperature
Checking the internal temperature is the best way to determine whether your beef brats are cooked or not. The internal temperature of fully cooked beef brats should be between 160°F and 165°F. You can use an instant-read or digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Insert the thermometer into the centre of the brat to get an accurate reading. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also cut into one of the brats to check for doneness. The inside of the brat should not be pink, and it should feel firm to the touch. Another way to check is to insert a metal skewer into the centre of the brat for 10 seconds. If the skewer feels hot when you touch it to your lip, the brat is cooked.
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Serve with toppings and sides of your choice
Once your beef brats are cooked, you can serve them with a variety of toppings and sides.
A traditional way to serve bratwurst is to split a crispy German bun, stuff it with the bratwurst, and add mustard—regular, not hot or sweet. If you're serving these to kids, they may prefer ketchup. Another popular option is currywurst, where sliced bratwurst is topped with curry sauce. You can also melt cheese on your bratwurst by putting the cheese on the sausage and bun, then letting it sit in the hot air fryer for 1–2 minutes while it's off.
You can also serve bratwurst with a variety of toppings, including onions, peppers, mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut, relish, and buns. If you're looking for a low-carb option, you can skip the bun altogether.
If you're looking for a more complete meal, you can serve your bratwurst with garlic parmesan mashed potatoes and gravy, or roasted onions. You could also pair your bratwurst with a simple side dish such as onion rings, coleslaw, or cucumber salad.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking beef brats in an air fryer takes 8 to 15 minutes.
The air fryer should be preheated to 350°F or 180°C.
The beef brats are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F or 71°C. You can use a meat thermometer to check this.
Place the brats in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between them for the hot air to circulate. You can brush them with oil before cooking for a crispier texture.
Beef brats can be served in a roll or bun with toppings such as onions, peppers, sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup, or relish. They can also be served with sides like onion rings, coleslaw, or cucumber salad.
