Can You Cook Sausages From Frozen

Are you in a hurry, or do you just need to cook sausages in the quickest way? Did you just find a package with frozen sausages in the freezer? Can you cook the sausages directly from frozen? Will the texture and taste change if you will cook them unthawed? Read further to find out how to get the best taste if you want to cook the sausages directly from frozen.

Can You Cook Directly From Frozen?

Yes, sausages can be cooked from frozen, but it’s best to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight for even cooking. If cooking from frozen, add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time and use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.

If you have to cook the sausages directly from frozen, consider that they may not cook evenly. You may get overcooked edges and undercooked sausages in the middle.

Because of that, it is recommended to thaw them first, ideally in the fridge, for a few hours.

If you’re limited time, you may use the defrosting method on your microwave oven. It will get you better results than if you will cook them directly from the freezer.

If you still want to cook the sausages from frozen, then consider cooking them on low heat. Another recommendation is to cook the sausages on a skillet or a griddle because you will see the sausages all the time and can control the temperature under them, so it will be easier for you to avoid burning them.

How Long Does It Take?

The cooking time of the frozen sausages depends on many factors, like the cooking method, how big the sausages are, and the type of meat used for the sausages.

Generally, if you grill the frozen sausages, it should take around 8-10 minutes to cook them.

Quick Note: Don’t forget to flip them from one side to another to ensure they will cook more evenly.

It will take 12-15 minutes to cook them on a skillet at medium heat.

How to Check if the Sausages Are Done?

The best method to check if the sausages are cooked properly is to check the inner temperature of the sausages. If you cook pork or turkey sausages, the internal temperature of the sausages in the thickest part should reach 165°F.

If you cook sausages from ground beef or chicken, cook them until their internal temperature reaches 165°F.

If you don’t have a meat thermometer in your kitchen, you may consider taking one sausage, then cutting it into the thickest part, and looking at the color. It shouldn’t be pink in the middle. If it is still pink, it still needs a few extra minutes.

And the last method is to use the “poke” method. You can press with your fingers on the sausages and look at how they will react.

If it feels firm and the sausages hold their shape, then it is mostly like is done. If it is soft and squishy, you will need to cook it for a few more minutes.

Should You Thaw Them Before Cooking?

It is preferable to thaw the sausages as you will get a better texture, and the sausages will be juicer and evenly cooked. However, if you know that the sausages are too soft, you may leave them partially frozen as they will keep their shape better.

In that case, you will need to increase the heat level partially. That means you should start cooking them on low heat to give them more time to thaw completely; then, you can increase the heat and cook them as usual.

How to Thaw?

In the Fridge

The best method is to let the sausages defrost in the fridge for several hours. You can leave them overnight in the fridge and cook them the next day.

Thawing the sausages in the fridge will get you the best results in terms of texture and flavor after cooking, but it requires the most time, which may be a problem if you’re limited.

Under Cold Water

I love to call this variant the optimal one as it helps to defrost the sausages more quickly if we compare it with defrosting the sausages in the fridge. You will get better results if you force the defrosting process in the microwave.

To defrost the sausages in cold water, ensure that you will put the frozen sausages in a sealed bag, then put that bag in a deep plate with cold water.

Quick Note: Replace the water every 30 minutes to speed up the thawing process.

In the Microwave

I will consider defrosting the sausages in the microwave as the last option when you are pressed by time, and you need to put something on the table quickly.

The downside of defrosting in the microwave is as the sausages are not too thick, the temperature of the meat on the meat on the edges will increase, and in some cases, it may start the cooking process.

Then, when you start cooking them as usual, the sausages may cook unevenly.

Quick Note: No matter what thawing method you choose, it is important to cook the sausages immediately after they are thawed, as there is a high risk that the bacteria will start growing in them if you leave them for too long.

Conclusion

As we saw, even if it is not recommended to cook the sausages frozen, if you will pay a little more attention to the sausages and will cook them on low heat, even better on the stove where you can control the heat more precisely, you can get some delicious and juicy sausages cooked directly from the freezer.