How to cook frozen sausages

Cooking sausages is often a challenging task. Getting the sausages to have a perfectly crispy golden skin on the outside while ensuring the inside is cooked to perfection can seem like an impossible feat. Thankfully, there are several methods that can help you achieve delicious sausages right before dinner. It’s not ideal to grill sausages straight from the freezer, so you should defrost them first.

Preheat the oven to 190°C. The temperature may vary depending on the oven type. For convection ovens, the recommended temperature is 190°C, while for gas ovens, the initial temperature should be lower – around 170°C.

Place a tablespoon of olive oil in the baking tray and arrange the sausages on it. Roll the sausages around to ensure the oil coats them evenly before baking.

• Line the tray with aluminum foil to keep it clean.

Bake the sausages for 20-25 minutes, turning them 2-3 times during the process. Remember to flip the sausages at least once when halfway through cooking. This will ensure the sausages cook evenly and achieve a golden brown color on the outside.

• Sausages may turn darker or lighter in color during baking, and not all sausages will have the same golden hue.

Use a food thermometer to ensure the thickest part of the sausage reaches a minimum of 71°C. When cutting the sausage, the inside should not be pink, and the juices should run clear.

• If you’re uncertain whether the sausages are fully cooked, place them back in the oven for another 5 minutes and check again.

Preheat the grill to medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Once the grill is hot, turn off two burners to create an indirect heating zone.

Place the sausages on the grill rack in the indirect heat zone. The grill rack helps the sausages cook evenly by keeping them away from direct heat. If your grill has upper and lower racks, you can use the upper one.

• If you don’t have a grill rack or an upper rack, you can create your own grill by using aluminum foil. Roll a piece of foil into a wire, then bend it into an S-shape and place the sausages on top.

Grill the sausages for 15 minutes with the lid closed. Turn the sausages once halfway through the cooking time. This will ensure that the sausages become evenly browned on both sides and the internal temperature is consistent.

Use a food thermometer to ensure the sausages reach a minimum internal temperature of 71°C. Once the temperature reaches 71°C, place the sausages directly on the grill to crisp the outer skin for 3 minutes. Flip the sausages and grill the other side for an additional 1-3 minutes.

• Grilling the sausages for an extra 3 minutes to achieve a golden brown color is not mandatory. As long as the inside is cooked, the sausages are ready to eat!
• If the temperature hasn't reached 71°C yet, close the grill lid and cook for another 5 minutes before checking again.

Place the sausages in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Turn the stove to medium-high heat and wait for the water to start simmering. It will take about 6-8 minutes for the water to begin boiling gently.

• Boiling the sausages gently ensures they cook evenly and become tender.

Use a food thermometer to check the sausage's internal temperature, ensuring it reaches at least 71°C. The sausage should have a grayish exterior with no pink remaining inside. The juices should run clear.

Pour a small amount of cooking oil into the pan, enough to coat the entire bottom. Turn the heat to high and wait for the oil to gently bubble.

Place the sausages in the hot oil to fry them until golden brown. Since the sausages are already cooked, they don’t need much frying time. Once the sausages are golden brown to your liking, remove them immediately to prevent them from drying out or overcooking.

• You can fry the sausages whole, slice them lengthwise or crosswise, or cut them into pieces.

• For sausages containing pork and other red meats like beef, veal, or lamb, ensure the internal temperature reaches 74°C.
• For sausages made with chicken or turkey, the safe internal temperature should be 71°C.