Air Fryer Link Sausage: The Perfect, Quick, Crispy Treat

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty breakfast or brunch. You can cook fresh, refrigerated or frozen sausages in an air fryer, and it's so simple that kids can make their own breakfast. To cook sausages in an air fryer, you need to preheat the air fryer, arrange the sausages in a single layer in the basket, and cook for around 10 minutes, turning halfway through.

Preheat the air fryer to 380-400ºF

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in ensuring your sausages cook evenly and get a crispy skin. Set your air fryer to 380-400ºF. You should preheat your air fryer for two minutes before adding your sausages.

Arrange your sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between each sausage. This allows the hot air to circulate freely around each sausage, cooking them evenly and preventing them from sticking together.

Once your air fryer is preheated, carefully place the sausage links in the basket or tray, leaving room between each one for the air to circulate.

Place the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket

When cooking link sausages in an air fryer, it's important to place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between each sausage. This allows the hot air to circulate freely around each sausage, ensuring they cook evenly and don't stick together.

Make sure the sausages are not touching each other. Leaving room between each sausage will help the hot air circulate and ensure the sausages cook evenly.

If you're cooking raw sausages, you'll need to cook them for longer than pre-cooked sausages. For raw sausages, cook at 400ºF for half of the cooking time, then turn them halfway through to ensure they brown evenly. Finish the cooking time by checking that they're done in the centre. Pre-cooked sausages just need to be browned and heated through.

Cooking times can vary depending on your air fryer model and the size and thickness of the sausages. As a guide, cook fresh, refrigerated sausages for 5 minutes at 400ºF, then flip or shake the basket and cook for another 5 minutes. For a crispier finish, cook for 7-9 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF.

Leave space between each sausage

When cooking link sausages in an air fryer, it is important to leave space between each sausage. This is because the hot air needs to be able to circulate freely around each sausage to cook them evenly and prevent them from sticking together. If the sausages are touching, they may cook unevenly and end up with soggy spots.

Leaving space between the sausages also helps to ensure that they brown evenly. If the sausages are too close together, they may end up steaming each other instead of browning. This is especially important if you are cooking raw sausages, as you will want to make sure they are cooked through in the centre.

To leave space between each sausage, place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This means that you may need to cook the sausages in batches if you are making a large quantity. It is worth noting that cooking times may vary depending on the size of the sausages and the model of your air fryer, so be sure to keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook.

By following this simple step of leaving space between each sausage, you can ensure that your link sausages cooked in the air fryer turn out juicy and evenly browned every time.

Cook for 7-11 minutes

Cooking the sausages for 7-11 minutes is the final step in the process of cooking sausages in an air fryer. The exact cooking time will depend on the type of sausage you are cooking, the temperature of the air fryer, and the level of crispiness you desire.

For fresh, refrigerated sausage links, cook them for 5 minutes at 400ºF, then flip them or shake the basket and cook for another 5 minutes. If you want crispier sausages, you can cook them for an additional 2 minutes.

For uncooked frozen links, cook them at 350ºF for 5 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 7-8 minutes at 400ºF.

If you are cooking pre-cooked sausages, you only need to cook them until they are browned and heated through. This will usually take around 7-9 minutes, but the exact time will depend on your desired level of crispiness.

During the cooking process, it is important to ensure that the sausages are not touching and that there is space for hot air to circulate freely around them. This will help them cook evenly and prevent them from sticking together.

Flip the sausages halfway through cooking

Flipping the sausages halfway through cooking is an important step in the air-frying process. This ensures that the sausages cook evenly on all sides and helps to achieve that desirable crispy skin.

To flip the sausages, you can either shake the air fryer basket or use tongs to turn them over individually. It is important to ensure that the sausages are not touching each other when you place them back in the basket, as this allows the hot air to circulate freely and cook the sausages evenly.

The exact cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness and the internal temperature you are aiming for. For juicier sausages, you may want to cook them for a shorter amount of time, while for crispier sausages, you may want to cook them for a little longer.

Remember to always check the internal temperature of the sausages before serving. The recommended internal temperature for sausage links is 160 degrees F.

Frequently asked questions