Cody Casey
The air fryer is a convenient and efficient way to cook pork bangers, resulting in a crispy texture and flavourful taste without the need for excessive oil or deep-frying. This method can be used for all types of pork sausages, from traditional British bangers like the Cumberland or Lincolnshire sausage to thin breakfast sausages or even frozen varieties. The key to cooking pork sausages in an air fryer is to preheat the air fryer, prick the sausages to prevent bursting, and ensure even spacing in the air fryer basket. The recommended temperature and timing vary depending on the source, but most recipes suggest cooking pork bangers in an air fryer at a temperature between 180°C and 200°C for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even browning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 180°C-200°C (350°F-392°F) |
| Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Placement | Single layer with space between sausages |
| Pricking | Recommended to prevent bursting |
| Oil | Brush sausages lightly with oil |
| Flip | Halfway through cooking |
| Rest | A couple of minutes after cooking |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an essential step in the cooking process. It ensures your pork bangers cook evenly and efficiently, producing that irresistible crispy texture that air-fried foods are known for. Here's a detailed guide on preheating your air fryer:
Firstly, remove your pork sausages from the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to cook them. This step is optional but helps to ensure your bangers cook evenly. While you're waiting, you can set up your air fryer and prepare the sausages. Set the temperature to 180°C or 350°F for thin sausages, or 200°C for thicker sausages, and preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes. If your sausages are frozen, it's best to defrost them overnight in the fridge before cooking.
While the air fryer is warming up, prepare your bangers. Prick each sausage a few times with a fork or a sharp knife. This technique prevents the sausages from bursting during cooking and helps release steam and excess fat, ensuring even browning. Just be careful not to over-prick, as this can cause the sausages to dry out. You can also brush the sausages lightly with olive oil at this stage, but remember, a little goes a long way in an air fryer!
Once the air fryer is preheated, you're ready to cook your pork bangers. Place the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them to allow for proper air circulation. Now, you can set a timer and let the air fryer work its magic! Remember to flip your sausages halfway through the cooking process for even browning. Depending on the thickness of your sausages, they should be ready in 10 to 15 minutes.
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Prick the sausages
Pricking the sausages is an important step when cooking pork bangers in an air fryer. It may seem unnecessary, but it serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it prevents the sausage skins from bursting or splitting during cooking. This is because the pricks allow steam to escape, ensuring even cooking throughout the sausages. Additionally, pricking the sausages help to drain some of the excess fat, resulting in a healthier dish.
When pricking the sausages, use a sharp knife or a fork to create a few small holes all over the surface of each sausage. Be careful not to pierce them too deeply, as you want to avoid cutting into the meat itself. A few shallow pricks will be sufficient to allow steam to escape and prevent bursting.
It is recommended to prick the sausages before placing them in the air fryer. This way, you can ensure that the hot air circulates evenly around each sausage, cooking them through uniformly. It is important to note that pricking the sausages is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended to ensure optimal cooking results.
The number of pricks and the depth of each prick can vary depending on personal preference and the type of sausage being used. For thicker sausages, you may need to create more pricks or deeper holes to allow for even cooking. However, for thinner sausages, a few shallow pricks should be enough. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for the specific type of pork bangers you are using.
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Oil the sausages
Oil is not necessary when cooking pork sausages in an air fryer, as the hot circulating air will cook the sausages and create a crispy exterior without the need for excessive oil or deep-frying. However, if you prefer, you can lightly brush the sausages with a bit of oil before placing them in the air fryer.
When oiling the sausages, it is important to only use a small amount of oil, just enough to coat them lightly. Using too much oil in an air fryer can be dangerous, as it may cause the element to catch fire.
You can use any type of oil to brush onto the sausages, such as olive oil or another cooking oil of your choice. If you are using olive oil, be sure to use a light coat, as olive oil has a lower smoke point than some other oils and may smoke or burn at higher temperatures.
If you do not have a brush to apply the oil, you can use your hands to lightly coat the sausages, or you can place the sausages in a bowl, add a small amount of oil, and toss to coat.
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Temperature and timing
The temperature and timing for cooking pork bangers in an air fryer depend on the type and size of the sausages. For thin pork sausages, set the air fryer to 180°C/350°F and cook for 10 minutes. For larger sausages, such as Bratwurst, cook at the same temperature for 15 minutes. You can also cook pork bangers at a higher temperature of 200°C for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
It is important to preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes before cooking sausages. Additionally, piercing the sausages before cooking will prevent the skin from splitting and help drain excess fat. If you are cooking frozen sausages, increase the cooking time by a couple of minutes. For the best results, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the sausages reaches 70-75°C.
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Serving suggestions
Bangers and Mash
A classic combination, serve your air-fried pork bangers with creamy mashed potatoes. For an extra indulgent touch, finish the mash with butter and milk, and don't hold back on the salt. You can also make a tomato-mustard sauce to go with it by cooking onions, garlic, passata, and a hint of honey.
Sausage Sandwiches
Air-fried pork bangers can be the star of a delicious sausage sandwich. Cook some bacon in the air fryer for a crispy texture, and serve the bangers and bacon in buns.
Sausage Rolls
Another option is to use your air-fried pork bangers as the meaty centrepiece of sausage rolls. Wrap the sausages in puff pastry and bake until the pastry is golden and flaky.
Sausage Skewers
For a more casual serving suggestion, thread the air-fried pork bangers onto skewers, alternating with vegetables such as peppers and onions. These can be served as a fun and tasty appetiser or main course.
Breakfast
Air-fried pork bangers can also be served as part of a hearty breakfast. Pair them with other breakfast favourites like eggs, toast, and hash browns for a satisfying start to your day.
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Frequently asked questions
The temperature depends on the type of sausage you are cooking. For thin pork sausages, cook at 180°C/350°F. For larger sausages, like Bratwurst, cook at 200°C.
For thin pork sausages, cook for 10 minutes. For larger sausages, cook for 15 minutes.
Prick each sausage a few times with a fork or a sharp knife to prevent them from bursting during cooking. Brush the sausages with olive oil, but only enough to coat them.
You can use a meat thermometer to check that the sausages have reached 75°C in the middle.
You can serve pork bangers with mashed potatoes, butter, milk, and a tomato-mustard sauce made with onion, passata, garlic, and honey.
