When it comes to sausages, there are as many ways to cook them as there are kinds of sausage on your supermarket shelf! Some people swear by the grill, while others prefer the good old skillet. Every family seems to know EXACTLY how to cook them best. So who should you believe? Is parboiling everything it’s made out to be? Read on for answers and the best tips for how to get the perfect sausage, every time!
Cooking methods
There are basically three main ways to cook sausages: in a skillet, on the grill and in the oven. Each has its pros and cons, and each requires different approaches.
- Skillet
Want your sausages crispy and cooked to perfection? Pop them in a skillet and cook over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes on each side.
- Grill
Like them smoky? Place them on the barbecue over indirect heat and cook for about 10 minutes on each side. Finish them by grilling over direct heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side to get that nice, irresistible colour.
- Oven
Got a lot of sausages to cook, or don’t have the time to watch them closely? Your oven is your best friend! Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Place the sausages on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes on each side.
To parboil or not to parboil? That is the question.
Many people like to give sausages a quick boil, for just a few minutes, before finishing them in a skillet or on the grill. But should you? It depends on the sausage you’re using! Parboiling sausages does wash away some of the aroma and flavour, but also some of the salt and fat, so bigger sausages could use 5 minutes in boiling water before hitting the grill or being added to a recipe. Parboiling is also useful for cheese-stuffed sausages, to prevent the cheese from running onto the BBQ grill and burning before the inside of the sausages is fully cooked.
Oh no! My sausages burst!
Sausages can burst if they’re cooked over too high heat. If the water inside the sausages boils too quickly, the steam can create internal pressure and cause the casing to burst. The secret to delicious, always juicy sausages is to be patient and cook them over medium heat.
Try not to poke holes into your sausages so you don’t waste any of the juices and, most importantly, keep the flavour locked in. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
