Learn how to cook frozen sausages. You can cook them in the oven; you can pan-fry or grill them. All three methods are fast, easy, and thoroughly delicious!
Cooking sausages from frozen could not be easier! And itโs definitely much faster than you might think.
It often happens that I buy too many sausages for a grill party. When that happens, I can always store them in the fridge and use them by the "sell-by" date. Or I freeze them. Then, they will be perfectly okay (when it comes to taste and texture) for about 2-4 months.
Are you interested in cooking frozen meat more often? Check out Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot, or learn How to Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs.
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How to cook pre-cooked frozen sausages?
Pre-cooked sausages like hot dogs, Wieners, or Frankfurters: Place them in a pot, cover them with water (boiled from a kettle), and heat through. They should be piping hot inside. You can also place small/thin Wiener or Frankfurters directly in the hot soup and heat them there when making German Lentil Soup, for instance.
Smoked sausages (which are also cooked): Leave them on the counter for about 30 minutes, slice them, and add them to soups or stews.
How to cook frozen sausages in the oven?
Step #1: If the sausages are frozen in a clump, place them on the lightly oiled, lined baking sheet.
Step #2: Bake them for 10 minutes, then you will be able to take them apart. Brush them with oil.
Step #3: Bake them for another 15-20 minutes, flipping once or twice.
Step #4: Increase the temperature during the last 5 minutes of the cooking time to help them get the desired golden-brown color.
The baking time depends on their thickness. Ensure they are cooked through by checking with a meat thermometer or cutting one in the middle.
If the sausages are cooked but too pale, place the tray under a hot grill for a couple of minutes, turning once. Watch closely - they can burn fast. I usually skip this step, as I'm fine with their color.
How to cook frozen sausages in a pan?
Pre-cook them
I prefer to pre-boil them before cooking them in a pan or grill; it is the fastest, safest way I know.
Step #1: Place them in a pot, cover them with water, bring them to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes until cooked through.
Step #2: Technically, theyโre safe to eat now - but they donโt look or taste like proper sausages yet. To achieve the right flavor and appearance, youโll need to pan-fry or grill them.
Pan-fry the sausages
Step #3: Pat the pre-boiled sausages dry. Cook them on medium heat for about 5 minutes, turning often with tongs to ensure even cooking.
Step #4: Adjust heat if they brown too quickly. Remove from pan when the desired color is reached and serve.
Cook them in a grill pan
Step #5: Pat the pre-boiled sausages dry and place them in the hot and lightly oiled grill pan.
Step #6: Grill them on all sides, turning often for about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat slightly if they brown too quickly.
Air fryer method
Cook them in the preheated air fryer for 6 minutes. If they were clumped together, take them apart now. Brush lightly with oil.
Flip with tongs, increase the temperature, and cook them through. Check the internal temperature or cut one in the middle to make sure that they are cooked through.
Safe internal temperature for cooked sausages
The internal temperature should be 160ยฐF/ 71ยฐC. The best way to check is with a meat thermometer (Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab). If you donโt have one, check by cutting one in the middle; the meat should not be pink anymore.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure that they can be frozen; most can. If not, the package should indicate that you cannot do it.
You should never freeze sausages that have already been frozen and then defrosted. Just the way it is with all kinds of food. You should NEVER freeze food that was already defrosted!
Insert the thermometer tip into the center of the sausage without going all the way through. If the safe temperature is not reached, cook the sausages a bit longer and check again.
If you don't have a thermometer, cut a sausage in the middle. It should no longer be pink but grey and hot inside.
Yes. Pre-cook them as instructed above and brown them on the BBQ, flipping them often until the desired color is achieved.
How to store and reheat?
As you cannot refreeze already defrosted food, cook all the sausages in the package.
Leftovers keep well in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
You can reheat them in the microwave or in the oven and serve them as you did the previous day.
Chop the cold sausages and add them to soups, stews, casseroles, potato or noodle salad, risotto, or other rice dishes.
How to serve?
The easiest way of serving them is to stuff them in a bun and add mustard and/or ketchup. You can add Cooked Sauerkraut, roasted or raw onions, sliced sour cucumbers, and so on.
Serve with any kind of potatoes: fries, German potato salad, or Smashed Fingerling Potatoes.
Make a sauce, like caramelized onion sauce, Sauteed Mushroom Sauce for Steak, or curry sauce. You could try the famous German Currywurst sauce (the link opens in a new tab); itโs simply perfect for bratwurst.
Recipe
How to Cook Frozen Sausages
Ingredients
- 6 raw frozen sausages bratwurst or Italian sausages
- 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Instructions
Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/ 200ยฐC - conventional oven or 375ยฐF/ 180ยฐC โ fan oven. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Brush it very lightly with oil.
- Pre-bake: Remove the sausages from their package. Even if they still stick together, place them on the prepared baking tray. Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, you will now be able to take the sausages apart.6 raw frozen sausages
- Bake: Brush them lightly with oil and arrange them on the tray, leaving a bit of space between them. Bake for another 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature of 160ยฐF/ 71ยฐC is achieved, flipping once or twice in between.1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- Increase the temperature to 430ยฐF/ 220ยฐC during the last 5 minutes of the cooking time so that they can get golden-brown. (Notes)
Pan:
- Pre-cook the sausages. Place them in a saucepan or pot. Cover with water and slowly bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Check with a thermometer, they should be cooked through.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet or a non-stick pan on high heat. Brush it lightly with oil.
- Dry sausages: Remove the sausages from the water and pat them dry with kitchen paper.
- Fry: Place them in the hot pan and turn the heat down to medium. Fry them for about 5 minutes, turning them often using tongs. Make sure that all sides make contact with the pan. Turn down the heat slightly if they color too fast. When they have achieved the desired color, remove them from the pan and serve.
Grill:
- Follow the instructions for pre-cooking the sausages.
- Heat a grill pan, brush it with oil and cook the sausages as instructed above.
- You can also cook the pre-cooked sausages on a grill outside. Turn the sausages on the grill until nicely colored all over.
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