Crafted from ground meat and often seasoned and spiced, sausages, particularly chicken sausages, are a staple in many countries. They’re actually incredibly versatile too and can be cooked in so many different ways.
If you’re planning to do just that, and are confused about how long to boil chicken sausages, here’s your ultimate resource guide. Read on to discover answers to some of the most easiest and complex questions you might have about cooking chicken sausages, and more tips and tricks to help you make the most of your efforts (and sausages).
How Do I Cook the Chicken Sausages?
There are various ways you can cook sausages- boiling is just one of them. Each cooking technique will lend you a unique flavor and texture- you can pick the technique that works best for you depending on how you’re planning to use the sausages.
You can boil the sausages if you prefer them to have a soft, juicy flavor and texture. If you like your chicken sausages golden brown and crispy on the outside, you might want to consider grilling or broiling them.
If you prefer your sausages to be browned from the outside but still soft and juicy from the inside, pan-frying is the way to go! Then, of course, there’s deep-frying, which isn’t the healthiest cooking technique on this list, but the end result is a delicious, crispy creation.
You can also choose to bake chicken sausages if you want that crispiness without increasing the calorie content, or if you want to prep a big batch of sausages all at once.
Why Should I Choose to Boil the Sausages?
Now that you know there are quite a few options to choose from, which cooking method would you want to implement to cook your sausages? Well, it depends on the dish you’re trying to create- some might call for the use of soft, tender sausages while others might require a crisper version.
That said, boiled and baked sausages are of course, healthier as opposed to sausages that have been grilled or fried, due to obvious reasons. There’s no ‘best way’ to cook the sausages. Some people boil their chicken sausage and then finish them off on the grill.
Understanding How Long to Boil Chicken Sausage
While boiling a chicken sausage is not rocket science, there’s still a process that you need to keep in mind to ensure that you end up with a juicy sausage that is ready to be put to use.
Boiling Pre-Cooked Sausages
Got a bag of pre-cooked sausages? The process of boiling them is super simple. You’ll need to start with a large stockpot (ideally something that can hold over 2 liters of water).
- Fill it up at least halfway with water, and let it come up to a rolling boil. Then, get the pot down on low heat and slowly drop the sausage links into it- be careful to avoid letting your hands come in contact with direct heat.
- Then, turn the heat back up again and let it come to a gentle simmer for around 8-12 minutes or more, depending on how large the sausages are, and if or not they are frozen.
- You can also close the lid on the pot if you want to. This is the most popular way of boiling sausages.
- You could also just immerse the sausages in water, let it stay on medium heat and then let it come up to a boil- it all depends on your personal preference.
Boiling Raw Chicken Sausages
You don’t need to follow any additional steps to boil raw chicken sausages- just follow the same steps. Remember that since the meat is raw, the sausage links will take a longer time to cook. Depending on the size of the sausages, the cooking time might go up to 30 minutes.
Make sure you follow the right steps to check if the sausage is completely cooked to reduce the risk of food poisoning due to the consumption of raw meat.
Can I Boil Frozen Sausages Without Thawing Them?
If you’re boiling uncooked sausages from frozen, it is always a good idea to let them thaw at least a little. However, if you are on a time crunch, you can just go ahead and boil the frozen sausages.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that frozen sausages take a considerably longer time to boil as opposed to the ones that have been thawed.
How Can I Tell if the Boiled Sausage is Done?
Believe it or not, undercooking sausage is a possibility that you need to watch out for, even if you’re choosing to boil them. Undercooking doesn’t just affect the texture and taste of the sausages but also poses a health risk due to food poisoning.
Remember that although your sausages look crisp and cooked on the outside, there is a chance they might be raw or undercooked from the inside- you need to check if the inside of the chicken sausage is grey throughout.
So how exactly can you tell if the sausages are cooked all the way through? Well, the best way to go about it is to measure their internal temperature using a meat thermometer. Sausages should hit the safe internal temperature of 155–165°F for them to be cooked to perfection.
Cooking Times for Poultry
You could also cut through the sausage to check if you find a hint of pinkness- which is another clear sign of it being undercooked. Remember that if you are boiling a raw chicken sausage and then grilling or pan-frying it, the chances of it being raw from the inside are next to none, which is great!
While you’re here, check out:
- How Long Can You Keep Fried Chicken In The Fridge?
- Oven-Baked Honey Soy Chicken Recipe
- How Long Does Deli Chicken Meat Last
Tips & Tricks to Boil Chicken Sausages the Right Way
Think you’ve got it all covered? Ready to try out one of the healthiest ways to cook the perfect sausage and use it for your recipes?
Wait up! You might want to take note of these little tips and tricks to help you ace the process.
- Remember to use filtered water to boil raw sausages. It’ll help retain their original flavor.
- Make sure you use a large pot to prevent any spills while the water is coming up to a boil.
- Depending on the dish you’re using them for, you can also choose to boil them in chicken broth or cider instead of just water. This will help them soak up a bit of additional flavor.
- To enjoy that little char on the outside, drizzle a bit of any healthy oil in a frying pan or a large skillet, heat it up, and pan-fry the sausages for a couple of minutes until the outside until they turn slightly golden.
- Make sure you use a heavy skillet for pan-frying- it’ll ensure even distribution of heat and will lend your sausages the perfect flavor you’re looking for.
- Also, remember to choose a large pan or skillet to allow room for the sausages to move around and get browned from all sides.
- You can opt for any healthy oil like extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil to fry the raw sausage. These oils will not just give the sausages a brownish color, but will also enhance their flavor.
- Depending on the recipe you’re aiming to recreate, you can also prick sausages before you boil them.
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