Sausage Links: How Long Should I Cook Them?

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If this is your first time cooking breakfast sausage, you may want to look into air fryer recipes like this one, which results in flavorful sausages with a quicker cooking time. There are also different ways in which you can use your finished product, including making ground sausage for a hearty soup and all kinds of dishes. Here, we share how long you should cook sausage links while providing other details you need to know.

Table of Contents

What are Sausage Links?

When we hear “sausage links,” we often think about strings of sausages that hang behind the meat counter; in reality, they’re put inside plastic wrap by the meat section at your local grocery store. A sausage link is typically made using seasoned meat that’s been ground and then placed inside a casing — next, they are tied at intervals to create the links. There are also many different kinds of sausages, which include the following:

Italian Sausage: Italian sausage links are often seasoned with Italian herbs such as basil, oregano, and thyme, which can be used to give depth to soups and sauces
Pork Sausage: These are made by using ground pork from various parts of a pig
Spicy Sausage: This contains chili powder or chili flakes along with other spices to give it a spicy flavor
Chicken Sausage: Ground chicken is often used in these sausages and is a good choice for a more neutral or leaner flavor
Beef Sausage: Made with ground beef, this can be great for stews or added to sauerkraut with potatoes to provide richness to your meal
Breakfast Sausage: Is often made using maple, sage, or fennel seeds to provide a distinct flavor

Air Frying Sausages

Here are a few simple steps on how to cook fresh sausage using an air fryer.

Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees F.
Place your sausage links in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook your sausages for 9 to 11 minutes; halfway through the cooking, use tongs to turn the sausages to them cook evenly.
Your sausages should reach an internal temperature of 160°F to be safe to eat.
Using a meat thermometer, check the temperature of your sausages — they should be juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Serve your sausages immediately for a hearty breakfast.

Other Ways to Cook Sausages

Cooking sausage links can be done in a variety of ways; they can be boiled like hot dogs, baked, sautéd, or cooked slowly. You can come up with delicious sausages using a frying pan over medium heat at 160 degrees F, which can be cooked whole, sliced, diced, or removed from the casing. Another way of cooking sausage is through baking which can be done whole or sliced; for a baking sheet dinner, place your sausages on aluminum foil or parchment paper, then bake at 350 degrees F between 25 to 30 minutes.

Another easy way to cook sausages is through a charcoal or gas grill, charring them on each side for a couple of minutes.

Serving Sausage Links

The best way to serve sausage links is also the simplest, which is to put them in a bun with your favorite condiments. However, you can also cut them into 1-inch pieces and sauté them with onions and bell peppers inside a skillet. You can also serve breakfast sausage links with eggs and toast, or inside a sandwich for a classic breakfast.

Storing Leftover Sausage

Your leftover sausage can be placed inside an airtight container and put in the refrigerator for as long as 3 days, but your sausages need to be at room temperature before going inside. Alternatively, you can also freeze your sausages when they’re left inside the casing and haven’t been cooked yet. Simply place sausage links in plastic wrap and store them inside an airtight container or zip-lock bag for a few months.

When you’re ready to eat your leftover sausage, simply place it inside a shallow baking pan and warm it up inside the oven at 250 degrees F for 30 minutes or until it’s warmed through.

Variations and Substitutions

If you’re looking for something leaner, a turkey sausage is a great option that’s lighter but still has plenty of flavor. When working with thicker sausages, it’s best to slightly increase the cooking time from 10 to 12 minutes to 13 to 15 minutes to ensure it’s cooked thoroughly.

Conclusion

Air frying is a great way to cook sausages, which gets the job done quickly and efficiently without too much cleanup. However, baking is another cooking method that you can use to get great results. But no matter how you cook your sausage or the type you use, you can be sure to get flavorful meat for all occasions.

Sources

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