Cooking chicken sausage for the first time can be pretty confusing if there are no instructions on the label. You might have many questions, such what is the best way to smoke or cook sausage, as well as how to tell if chicken sausage is cooked.
Here is an overview that will help you determine when your chicken sausage is cooked, and more.
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How long does it take to cook chicken sausage?
There are so many different ways to cook chicken sausage that determining how long to cook it will vary, depending on several different factors.
The thickness of the sausage that you’re cooking must be taken into determination, whether the sausage is raw or pre-cooked, what temperature you’re cooking it at, as well as what method you’re using to cook it.
You can cook chicken sausage in a skillet, in the oven, in an air fryer, on the grill, and even in the microwave. If you’re dealing with raw chicken sausage, then here is how long to cook it:
Ways to cook chicken sausage
Here are a few different methods.
In a skillet
If you plan on cooking your raw chicken sausage in a skillet, then it should take about 15 minutes total on medium heat, and you’ll want to turn the sausage halfway to be sure it’s cooked thoroughly.
In the oven
Cooking raw chicken sausage in the oven will take longer than in a skillet. With the oven set to about 400 degrees F, you should expect to cook them for approximately 20-30 minutes, but this will depend on how thick the sausage is, how many you’re cooking, and whether they’re separated or not – just be sure not to dry it out.
In the air fryer
Cooking raw chicken in the air fryer is very similar to cooking it in the oven. When cooking chicken sausage in an air fryer, you should be sure to pre-heat it for the required amount of time and then cook for about 15-20 minutes.
On the grill
Cooking raw chicken sausage on the grill should take about 15 or 20 minutes, depending on how brown you want it to be. As long as the internal temperature is at least 165 Fahrenheit as measured by a thermometer, then the amount of browning doesn’t matter and totally depends on your preference.
In a microwave oven
Although your sausage won’t get crispy by cooking it in the microwave, this is certainly a very rapid way of cooking your sausage if you’re famished and don’t want to wait the time it takes to cook it using other methods.
Depending on the wattage of your microwave, it can take as little as 2 minutes to fully cook raw chicken sausage, or as long as 5, if you have a low wattage microwave.
How do you know if a sausage is cooked?
Sometimes, merely looking at the sausage and determining whether it’s cooked or not is difficult, especially if you’re not an experienced cook. Some experienced cooks can tell whether food is done by looking at it, but it’s always best to check, because it’s better to be safe than sorry.
That is why food thermometers exist, so that you can check the internal temperature of foods to ensure their safety. The internal temperature of the thickest part of the sausage should measure 165 degrees Fahrenheit in order to be considered completely cooked.
Consuming raw or undercooked chicken can result in food poisoning from bacteria like E Coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and more. You could become ill enough to require hospitalization for food poisoning, so it’s best to avoid it at all costs.
How long does it take to cook chicken sausage on the stove?
If you’re going to be cooking chicken sausage on the stove, in a pot, then it should take about 10 minutes. To fully cook chicken sausage in a pot, all you have to do is add water and the sausage to a pot and boil on medium until it’s done.
Cooking the sausage in this manner is one of the quickest ways to cook it, aside from microwaving it, which is the absolute fastest.
If you’re cooking pre-cooked chicken sausage on the stove, then it will be done even faster, only taking about 5 minutes. All you’re trying to do is heat the sausage throughout instead of fully cooking it, so you don’t have to measure the temperature unless you desire to.
Is chicken sausage fully cooked?
Some chicken sausage does come fully cooked and all you have to do is heat it, which shouldn’t take long at all.
For instance, when cooking pre-cooked chicken sausage in a skillet, instead of it taking 15 minutes, it should only take half the time.
This is the same for the other cooking methods, because again, all you’re doing is heating the sausage, and unless you’re placing frozen chicken sausage on the grill, in the oven or in an air fryer, then you should be able to cut the cooking time in half.
When cooking fully cooked chicken sausage in the microwave, you can be ready to eat in as little as a minute, depending on the type and wattage of your microwave.
What’s the easiest way to cook chicken sausage?
By far the easiest (and quickest) way to cook chicken sausage is by tossing it into the microwave oven.
However, if you prefer not to use a microwave oven to cook your sausage, then the next easiest way to prepare your sausage is by tossing it into an air fryer.
Unlike an oven, air fryers are set for a certain amount of time and when they’re done cooking, they automatically turn off. That means that you aren’t required to set a timer or constantly watch the sausage as you’re waiting for it to cook.
Is raw chicken sausage better than pre-cooked?
This is a matter of personal opinion, and while one person will have a preference for pre-cooked chicken sausage, another person might prefer raw.
So, whichever type of chicken sausage you personally prefer is fine, whether it’s pre-cooked or raw.
Ways to cook your chicken sausage faster
If you don’t necessarily want to cook your chicken sausage in the microwave but you want it to cook faster, here are some ideas to help you easily achieve this goal:
- Slice them up – cut the sausages into thin slices, which will reduce the cooking time significantly. You can then add them to a casserole or even a stir fry.
- Refrain from cooking frozen sausage – be sure that your chicken sausage is completely thawed before cooking, which will help it to cook faster. Frozen sausage will take 50% longer to cook.
- Slice the sausages in half – another way to cook your chicken sausages faster instead of cutting them into thin slices is to slice them lengthwise. This way, they can still be eaten on a bun, if that’s what you prefer.
- Plan in advance – if you plan ahead of time, you can ensure your chicken sausage cooks faster by pre-cooking raw sausages and simply reheating them once you’re ready to serve the meal (like bratwursts).