Air Fryer Frozen Sausage: Quick, Easy, Delicious

Cooking frozen sausages in an air fryer is a quick and easy process that can be done in under 20 minutes. There's minimal prep involved and the results are juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection. You can use any type of sausage, whether it's breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, bratwurst, or chorizo. The key steps are to preheat the air fryer, cook the sausages in batches if they're stuck together, separate them halfway through, and ensure they're cooked through by checking their internal temperature.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your sausages cook evenly and that your air fryer is at the optimal temperature for cooking frozen sausages.

To preheat your air fryer, simply turn it on and set the temperature to your desired level. Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F (180°C). However, some recipes suggest cooking your sausages at a lower temperature of 360°F (180°C) first, and then increasing the temperature to 400°F (200°C) halfway through the cooking process. This helps ensure that the sausages are cooked through to the middle, without burning the outside.

You should preheat your air fryer for at least 5 minutes. This gives the appliance enough time to reach the desired temperature and ensures that your sausages will cook evenly.

Once your air fryer is preheated, you can place your frozen sausages inside and begin the cooking process. Remember, you do not need to defrost your sausages before cooking them in the air fryer. Simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook according to your chosen recipe.

Cook sausages for 3 minutes to defrost

To cook frozen sausages in an air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 350°F/180°C for at least 5 minutes. Place the frozen sausages into the air fryer basket. Don't worry if the sausages are frozen together—you can use a spray oil on the basket or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Pop the sausages into the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes to defrost. After this time, they should be ready to separate. Use a fork to separate them carefully. Once they are separated, distribute them evenly across the air fryer, leaving enough room for the heat and oil to circulate around each sausage.

Now that the sausages are defrosted, it's time to cook them through. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 4 minutes. Then, rotate the sausages and cook for a further 4-6 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of crispiness and are evenly browned.

And that's it! Your sausages should now be cooked to perfection, with crispy browned skin and a juicy, tender centre. Serve them immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Separate sausages with a fork

Separating frozen sausages with a fork is an important step in the air-frying process. After placing the frozen sausages in the air fryer basket and cooking them for a few minutes, you'll need to separate them to ensure even cooking. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Once the sausages have been in the air fryer for around 2 to 3 minutes, they will be ready for separation. Take the air fryer basket out of the air fryer. The edges of the sausages will have started to defrost, so use a fork to gently separate them. Be careful not to pierce the sausages, as this can cause moisture and fat to escape, resulting in dry sausages. Simply use the fork to lift and separate the sausages from each other.

After separating the sausages, it's important to distribute them evenly across the air fryer basket. This ensures that the heat and oil can circulate properly around each sausage, resulting in even cooking and browning. Place the basket back into the air fryer and continue cooking as per the recipe instructions.

By following these steps, you'll ensure that your frozen sausages cook evenly and don't stick together. This will help you achieve the desired crispiness and browning, while also keeping the sausages tender and juicy.

Distribute sausages evenly across the air fryer

Distributing the sausages evenly across the air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. This is because it allows for even cooking and browning, helping to ensure that your sausages are cooked through and have a crispy, golden-brown exterior.

When placing the sausages in the air fryer basket, ensure that they are not overlapping. Leave a little space between each sausage. This will allow the heat and oil to circulate properly, cooking each sausage evenly.

If you are cooking a large batch of sausages, you may need to cook them in batches to ensure they are not overcrowded in the air fryer. Alternatively, you can cook them in a staggered formation to allow for better air circulation.

Once you have arranged the sausages in the air fryer, you can proceed with the cooking process, following the instructions outlined in the previous paragraphs.

Cook for 4 minutes, then rotate and cook for another 4-6 minutes

Once you've preheated your air fryer to the desired temperature and separated your sausages, it's time to cook them. Place the sausages in the air fryer basket and cook for 4 minutes.

After 4 minutes, your sausages will need to be rotated. This is an important step to ensure even cooking and browning. Use a pair of tongs or a spatula to carefully flip or rotate each sausage.

Then, continue cooking the sausages for another 4 to 6 minutes. The total cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness and browning. Keep an eye on the sausages during this final cooking stage, as you don't want them to overcook or burn.

If you're using an instant-read thermometer, ensure that the internal temperature of the sausages reaches 160-165°F (74°C). This is important to ensure that the sausages are fully cooked and safe to eat.

Once they've reached your desired level of doneness, remove the sausages from the air fryer and serve immediately. Enjoy your juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked sausages!

Frequently asked questions