When many of us hear the word “sausage,” we think of summer barbecues or game days. However, this type of meat has been popular for centuries. Countries worldwide eat sausage both at regular meals and during times of celebration. So whether you’ve just bought some chorizo, some bratwurst, or another sausage type, you may be wondering about the best ways to cook sausages at home. We’ve got you covered with the best methods and tips for cooking your sausages!
Tips for Cooking Sausage
For some people, properly cooking sausage can get a little tricky, since you never want to over- or undercook it. Rather, you want to hit that happy medium. When it comes to cooking sausage, you have a few options:
- Frying
- Baking
- Boiling
- Grilling
The way you cook your sausage will change its taste and texture. Plus, some methods are best for certain recipes, so consider how you plan to serve the sausage.
No matter how you cook it, checking the meat before consumption to ensure it’s not undercooked is always vital. When you think your sausages are done cooking, pull one aside and cut into it. Continue cooking if the inside is still pink.
Fried Sausage
If you want to fry your sausages, you have two ways of doing so: in a pan or by deep-frying. Let’s start by explaining how to pan-fry your sausages. First, pour some cooking oil into the pan and allow it to heat up over a low flame. Then, it’s time to put those sausages in the pan to start frying! Increase the flame to medium and cook until the sausages turn golden brown.
As far as deep-frying sausage goes, begin by dipping the sausages in egg batter—thoroughly beat the eggs to ease the process—and then rolling the sausages in breadcrumbs. After coating the links, fry them up in a deep-fryer or in a deep pot with oil.
If you want to avoid the dreaded mess that oil always brings when you’re frying, then throw your sausages into the air-fryer. Plus, you won’t have to batter them! Simply set the air-fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then cook the meat for around 8 to 12 minutes. Keep in mind that cook times can vary due to sausage thickness, the amount of links you cook, and even your air-fryer brand.
Baked Sausage
Sometimes, you may want to bake your sausage, perhaps on a pan alongside some other veggies. You may even want to add a bit of extra flavor. We recommend setting your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, although the cooking time will vary depending on your sausage size. Smaller sausages usually only take 16 to 20 minutes to cook thoroughly, but double the time for larger links, typically cooking them for 30 to 40 minutes.
As you cook the sausages, remember to flip them halfway through baking so that the meat cooks evenly. Some people also suggest brushing a bit of oil on top before cooking, while others suggest parboiling the sausages prior to baking them. Regardless of what you do, remember to check the meat by cutting into it to prevent the risk of consuming raw sausage.
Boiled Sausage
Some people parboil sausage before using an additional cooking method since the sausage is more likely to remain juicy that way. Of course, boiling sausage is also a cooking method in itself, and an easy one at that. Simply fill a pot with water and put in the sausages once the water reaches a simmer.
Cooking time depends on whether the sausage was precooked. Sausage cooked before boiling is usually good to eat in 10 minutes. On the other hand, if you’re boiling raw meat, then it could take a half-hour to cook before it’s safe to consume. But always remember to check the meat once that timer goes off, since cooking time may be a bit longer than expected.
Chef’s Tip
Logan’s Sausage has fresh sausage for sale! We sell various types of smoked and raw sausage to meet everyone’s taste preferences. And better yet, we offer cooking options for each product to help you best prepare your next meal.
Grilled Sausage
As we answer offer more of the best ways to cook sausages at home, one of the most popular options is grilling them. If you bought a pack of sausages for game day or a family barbecue, then you can’t go wrong with some good old grilling! Grilling sausages usually only takes about 10 minutes, so you should flip them after 5 minutes. Just make sure to keep an eye on your meat while it cooks to prevent it from burning. You can continue cooking an undercooked sausage, but you can’t do anything once it’s burnt.
The Popular Types of Sausage
Sometimes the way you cook your sausages depends on the type you have. After all, sausage comes from countries around the world, and each culture may advise a slightly different way of cooking it. Your chosen cooking method may also differ depending on the dish or recipe you plan on making.
Some of the most popular sausages include:
- Bratwurst
- Italian sausage
- Chorizo
- Kielbasa
- Andouille
Since each of these sausage types has different origins and spices, the taste of each is slightly different. But one thing’s for sure: all of them are sure to satisfy your taste buds!
Serving Sausage
Not sure what sides to serve with your sausage? Honestly, your choice of side depends on your taste preferences and what type of sausage you plan to eat. For example, sauerkraut with bratwurst is popular, but this may not be the side of choice for another type of sausage. Check out our online recipes for inspiration in your kitchen!
Where To Buy Sausage
At Logan’s Sausage, we’ve got chorizo, Italian sausage, Polish sausage, and more for you to cook up at mealtime. And the sausage at Logan’s always has an authentic taste because we take time to season each meat link for pure perfection. Buy high-quality meats from a sausage expert so that you can cook something delicious.
