Linked Sausage, Air Fryer Style: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Cooking linked sausages in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and convenient way to prepare a delicious meal with minimal cleanup. The air fryer method produces evenly cooked sausages with a crispy exterior and a juicy, plump interior. This technique is especially useful for breakfast, as it frees up stove space and allows you to prepare the rest of your meal while the sausages cook to perfection. With the ability to cook sausages directly from frozen, an air fryer simplifies meal prep and ensures a tasty breakfast with minimal effort.

Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Linked Sausage in an Air Fryer

Cooking times for fresh, frozen, and pre-cooked sausages

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to make juicy and crispy sausages without the mess of grease splatter on your stovetop. The cooking time will depend on whether your sausages are fresh, frozen, or pre-cooked, as well as their thickness and the specific model of your air fryer.

Fresh or Refrigerated Sausages:

For fresh or refrigerated sausages, it is recommended to cook them at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. This will ensure they are browned evenly on the outside and fully cooked on the inside. If your sausages are thicker, you may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.

Frozen Sausages:

If you are cooking frozen sausages, there is no need to defrost them first. Simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook at two different temperatures. Start by cooking at 350°F for 5 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes. For thicker sausages, you may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes. It is important to ensure that the internal temperature of the sausages reaches at least 160°F before serving.

Pre-cooked Sausages:

Pre-cooked sausages can be cooked in the air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. This will give them a crispy skin and heat them through. If your sausages are sliced, you can cook them for a shorter time, around 5-7 minutes, until they are heated through and browned in places.

Tips for Cooking Sausages in an Air Fryer:

• Use a single layer of sausages in the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between each sausage, to ensure even cooking.
• Poke holes in the casings of fresh or thawed sausages to release some of the fat and prevent them from drying out. However, some people prefer not to do this to retain the juiciness of the sausages.
• Add a little water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to avoid excessive smoke, especially when cooking frozen sausages.

How to get the perfect brown colour

Achieving the perfect brown colour on your sausages is easy with an air fryer. The key is to cook them at a high temperature of around 400ºF for a short amount of time, typically 8-12 minutes. This will ensure they are browned without drying out.

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 400ºF for 2 minutes. Then, place your sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between each sausage to allow for even cooking.

For fresh, refrigerated sausages, cook for 5 minutes at 400ºF, then flip or shake the basket and cook for another 5 minutes. For a crispier sausage, you can cook for an extra minute.

If your sausages are frozen, you will need to cook them at two different temperatures to ensure they are cooked through. Cook at 350ºF for 5 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400ºF and cook for another 7-8 minutes.

For pre-cooked frozen sausages, cook at 350ºF for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

To check that your sausages are cooked, use a meat thermometer to ensure they have reached an internal temperature of 160ºF. The sausages should be browned and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside.

How to reheat leftover sausage links

Cooking sausage links in an air fryer is a quick, convenient, and mess-free way to prepare a delicious breakfast. The air fryer is also a great way to reheat leftover sausage links, ensuring they retain their juicy texture and slightly crispy skin.

To reheat leftover sausage links in an air fryer, first, allow the sausages to cool to room temperature. Then, store the leftover sausages in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. Leftover cooked sausages can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

When you're ready to reheat the sausages, preheat your air fryer to 300°F-320°F. Place the sausages in the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between each sausage to ensure even heating. Reheat for 2-3 minutes, or until the sausages are heated through.

You can also reheat leftover sausage links in a skillet on the stovetop. Place the sausages in a small covered skillet with a touch of water and gently reheat until they are warmed through.

Additionally, you can reheat sausages in the oven, toaster oven, or even in the microwave. If reheating from frozen, allow the sausages to thaw overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.

What to serve with air-fried sausages

Air-fried sausages are a quick, convenient, and tasty meal option. They are a great breakfast option, especially when served with eggs, hash browns, and pancakes. They can also be served with a fresh bakery roll, or in a bun with mustard and homemade red cabbage kraut.

If you want to make a heartier meal, you can serve air-fried sausages with sautéed peppers, onions, and garlic, with a side of rice. You can also slice up the sausages and add them to a pasta dish, such as smoked sausage fra diavolo, weeknight chicken sausage pasta, or creamy pumpkin pasta.

For a fun, kid-friendly option, wrap the sausages in crescent roll dough for supersized pigs in a blanket. You can also serve them with paleo blueberry muffins, almond flour banana muffins, or paleo pumpkin muffins.

Air-fried sausages are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways to suit your taste and preferences.

How to cook different types of sausages

Cooking sausages in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and hands-off method that delivers juicy, golden-brown sausages with a crispy exterior. This method works with raw, cooked, and frozen sausages, and can be used for various types of sausages, such as Italian sausages, bratwurst, breakfast sausages, and more.

Italian Sausage

For Italian sausages, which are typically 1.5 inches thick, cook them in the air fryer for 12-13 minutes at 400°F, flipping them halfway through. If you prefer your sausages extra crispy, cook them for 10 minutes instead. If your sausages are thinner than 1.5 inches, reduce the cooking time accordingly.

Bratwurst

To cook bratwurst, follow the same instructions as for Italian sausages. Adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your bratwurst.

Breakfast Sausage

Breakfast sausages are typically thinner than other types of sausages. You can cook them straight from frozen or defrost them first. At 400°F, they will take around 8-10 minutes to cook.

Fresh or Refrigerated Sausage Links

For fresh or refrigerated sausage links, place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each sausage. Cook at 400°F for 5 minutes, then flip or shake the basket and cook for another 5 minutes.

Frozen Uncooked Sausage Links

If your sausage links are frozen and uncooked, cook them at two different temperatures. Start by cooking them at 350°F for 5 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for another 7-8 minutes. Ensure that the internal temperature of the sausages reaches at least 160°F before serving.

Precooked Frozen Sausage Links

For precooked frozen sausage links, cook them at 350°F for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

General Tips:

• To prevent a mess from grease splatter, line the bottom of your air fryer with parchment paper.
• To check if your sausages are fully cooked, use an instant-read thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of at least 160°F.
• If you're cooking raw pork sausages, expect more steam or light smoke due to the higher fat content.
• Sausages can be served in a variety of ways, such as in a bun, over pasta, or with peppers and onions.

Frequently asked questions