We all love a nicely fried sausage, but many of us are concerned about how unhealthy it can be. If you have an air fryer, you can still enjoy a beautifully cooked sausage anytime you want.
If you’ve only just purchased your air fryer, you are likely still trying to understand how it works. And if you want some air-fried sausages, you are probably also wondering about the temperature to use and how long it will take.
This article will explain everything about air frying sausages, including how long to cook sausages in an air fryer.
A Guide to Air Frying Sausages

It’s quick and easy to cook sausages in an air fryer. Below is a guide explaining at what temperature and how long fresh or frozen sausages need to be cooked.
If you have the information below, you can enjoy perfectly cooked sausages every time.
Why Use an Air Fryer?
The main advantages of using an air fryer are as follows:
- Air fryers heat up quickly.
- They cook food fast and more evenly compared to a grill, conventional oven, or pan.
- Your meal is much healthier since far less oil is needed to cook the food.
- It’s a safer way to cook food since you don’t have to worry about oil splattering.
- After cooking sausages, air fryers are easy to clean.
What Kinds of Sausages Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
Air fryers can cook all kinds of sausages.
In just a short time, you´ll soon be tucking into some great British sausage like a tasty Lincolnshire or Cumberland. You can even cook more spicy Italian or large bratwursts.
Your air fryer can cook chipolatas, or breakfast sausages as well.
You can even use your air fryer to heat hotdogs or sausages that have already been cooked.
How to Cook Fresh Sausages in an Air Fryer

When cooking sausages in an air fryer, it is essential to remember the following guidelines. If you do, you will ensure that you will enjoy perfectly cooked sausages every time.
Temperature to Cook Sausages in an Air Fryer
When it comes to cooking sausages in an air fryer, make sure that you set the temperature at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
Remember the following temperature tips when cooking sausages in an air fryer:
Tip 1: Preheat the Air Fryer
Although air fryers heat up quickly, it is best to preheat the machine for 5 minutes before you start cooking the sausages.
While preheating, take a fork and prick the sausages. If you are having problems piercing the skin of the sausages with a fork, use the tip of a sharp knife instead.
Doing this will stop the skin from splitting as the sausages cook. Also, it helps to eliminate some of the fat used to make the sausages, making them even more healthy to enjoy.
Tip 2: Don’t Cook at a Higher Temperature
When cooking sausages keep to the temperature we’ve discussed above. Turning the heat up in the air fryer basket will not help cook the sausages faster. Instead, what will happen is the outside of the sausages will either be burnt or they won’t be cooked through.
How Long to Cook Sausages in an Air Fryer
How long to cook sausages in an air fryer depends on the kind of sausages and their thickness.
Also, when cooking all types of sausage in an air fryer, make sure that you place them in the tray in a single layer. Plus, you must cook large sausages, sausage links, and frozen breakfast sausages for longer.
Sausage Cooking Times
- Cocktail sausages/Pigs in Blankets: 10 minutes
- Thin pork, breakfast & chipolatas: 10 minutes
- British thick sausages, i.e., Lincolnshire & Cumberland (including link sausages): 12 minutes
- Sweet or spicy Italian sausages: 12 minutes
- Chicken, beef, and turkey sausages: 12 minutes
- German Bratwurst sausages: 15 minutes
Also, when cooking uncooked sausages in an air fryer instead of in a conventional oven, be sure to turn them over halfway through cooking.
How to Cook Frozen Sausages in an Air Fryer
It is perfectly safe to cook frozen sausages frozen in your air fryer. However, you may need to cook them longer than fresh sausages. We recommend extending the cooking time of frozen sausages by about 2 minutes.
When cooking frozen breakfast sausages, just like fresh ones, it is a good idea to check them halfway through cooking. This way, not only can you see if they are cooking evenly, but also you’ll be able to see if they need longer to cook or not.
While you can cook frozen sausages in an air fryer, it’s better to allow them to defrost before you put them in an air fryer if you can. After taking them out of the freezer, place them in the fridge until thoroughly defrosted. You may find it best to leave them in the refrigerator overnight.
Once fully defrosted, you can cook them the same way as you would if they were fresh.
Also, make sure to cook frozen sausages at the same temperature as you would if placing an uncooked sausage in the basket of an air fryer.
How to Reheat Cooked Sausages
When it comes to reheating sausages, you still need to cook them at the same temperature as if you were cooking them fresh or frozen. However, instead of cooking them for 10 minutes, to reheat them you will only need to put them in the air fryer for around 4 minutes.
If you are using your air fryer for cooking hotdogs, you should cook them for slightly longer. Also, you will find that they become browned in places.
Preheat the air fryer to 180 degrees Celcius first for 5 minutes. Once it’s preheated, you can place the hotdogs in it. Now cook them, depending on their size and thickness, for between 5 and 7 minutes. Don’t forget to check on them around halfway through the cooking time.
Conclusion
We hope you find this helpful guide on how long to cook sausages in an air fryer informative.
Anyone who enjoys a healthy diet but still wants to include foods like sausages in their diet now and then can do so by cooking them in an air fryer.
Give the tips we’ve offered above a try and let us know how well you got on with cooking your sausages in your air fryer.
Let us know if you have any further advice, others may find it helpful by leaving a quick comment below.