Our favorite way to make Italian sausage or bratwurst is in the air fryer. It’s easy, quick, and the skin gets a great crisp.
How Long to Cook Farmer Sausage in an Air Fryer for Juicy, Crisp Results
As an avid home cook and air fryer enthusiast, I’m always looking for quick, easy and healthy ways to prepare tasty meals. Farmer sausage is one of my favorite breakfast meats, with its mild, savory flavor and mixture of fat and lean meat. Recently, I discovered that the air fryer is absolutely perfect for cooking farmer sausage to juicy, plump perfection in just minutes.
In this article, I’ll share with you my tips and tricks for using the air fryer to cook farmer sausage links and patties. You’ll learn exactly how long to cook them, how to prep the sausages, what temperature to use, and how to ensure they turn out juicy on the inside with a nice crispy exterior. Let’s get cooking!
Benefits of Cooking Farmer Sausage in an Air Fryer
Here are some of the biggest advantages to using an air fryer for farmer sausage
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Super fast cooking times – Links and patties cook in just 10-15 minutes max.
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Crispy exterior – The hot air circulates around creating a nice crispy browned casing.
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Juicy interior – Quick cook time keeps interior moist
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Hands-off cooking – No flipping required, just set and forget.
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No oily mess – Excess fat drips away while cooking.
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Even cooking – Hot air cooks the sausage evenly from all sides.
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Versatile – Use links for breakfast or sliced patties for sandwiches/appetizers.
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Healthy – Less fat and calories compared to frying in oil.
Factors that Impact Cook Time
The exact air fryer cook time for farmer sausage can vary based on:
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Size and shape – Links take 1-2 mins longer than thinner patties.
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Amount – More sausages increases cook time. Don’t overcrowd.
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Preferred texture – Add 1-2 mins for crisper exterior.
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Air fryer wattage – Lower wattage units may need more time.
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Frozen vs. thawed – Double cook time for frozen sausage.
Taking these factors into account will help you nail the perfect cook time every time.
Step-by-Step Cooking Directions
Follow these simple steps for perfect farmer sausage from your air fryer:
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Pre-heat air fryer to 370°F (390°F for frozen).
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Prep the sausages – Poke holes in links, patties just place in basket.
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Arrange sausages in single layer in basket – Don’t overcrowd.
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Cook at 370°F (390°F frozen) for recommended time.
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Check for doneness – Interior 160°F, browned outside.
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Enjoy your juicy, crispy farmer sausage!
Recommended Air Fryer Cook Times
Here are the approximate cook times to aim for:
Fresh Farmer Sausage Links
- 2-4 links = 12-13 minutes
- 5-6 links = 14-15 minutes
- 7+ links = 16-18 minutes
Fresh Farmer Sausage Patties
- 2-4 patties = 10-11 minutes
- 5-6 patties = 12-13 minutes
- 7+ patties = 14-16 minutes
For frozen sausage, double the times above. Add 1-2 minutes for crispier texture.
Tips and Tricks
Follow these tips for the very best air fried farmer sausage:
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Thoroughly thaw frozen sausage before cooking – this prevents uneven cooking.
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Poke sausage links well with a fork – allows moisture to release and fat to render.
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Brush cooked sausage with your favorite glaze or sauce – adds delicious flavor.
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Don’t overcook – follow recommended times for ideal texture.
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Let air fryer fully preheat before adding sausage – ensures proper cooking temp.
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For extra crispiness, give links a quick 30 second broil after air frying.
Serving Suggestions
Farmer sausage straight from the air fryer is delicious, but here are some tasty ways to serve it up:
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Breakfast – Pair with eggs, potatoes, pancakes or gravy
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Appetizer – Slice diagonally and serve with sauerkraut & mustard
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Dinner – Add to pasta, roasted veggies or mac and cheese
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Sandwiches – Use patties for sausage sandwiches with peppers & onions
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
To extend the shelf life of cooked farmer sausage:
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Refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days
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Reheat thoroughly to 165°F before serving again
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Freeze leftovers for 2-3 months – thaw before reheating
With my handy air fryer tips and guidelines, you can now enjoy tender, juicy farmer sausage patties and links any time. The air fryer saves time and cuts the mess of pan frying for the quickest hearty breakfast or dinner. Give farmer sausage a try in your air fryer soon and taste how delicious it can be!
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
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What Makes This Recipe So Good
- This air fryer method is SO easy. No more standing over the stove while grease splashes everywhere and turning the sausages over and over to make sure they’re browned (not burned) on the outside but still cooked all the way through on the inside. The air fryer does all the work here, so you don’t even have to use your hands! You only need to flip the sausages once, about halfway through the cooking time.
- Air fryer sausages come out perfectly cooked, every single time. You can get different stovetop sausages every time if the heat is just a little off or if you flip them too many or too few times, among other small things. When you cook sausages in an air fryer, the outside is always perfectly crisp and the inside is crazy juicy.
- From fridge to table, sausages are ready in less than 20 minutes! They go well with a lot of different foods, like potatoes, roasted peppers and onions, pasta with a cream sauce, or just by themselves or in buns.
Link sausages are the only thing you need to make air fryer sausages. This method works for any link sausage, so choose your favorite (or try something new and different!) Smaller links, like breakfast sausages, will cook a little faster than thicker sausages like bratwursts. If you’re Whole30, make sure the sausages you use are Whole30-compliant!.
- If your air fryer is small or the sausages are big, you might not be able to fit all five links in the basket at once. That’s fine. If you need to, you can work in groups. It’s important that they lie flat in a single layer, without touching or overlapping, so that air can flow all the way through. The sausage won’t cook all the way through if the air can’t get to it.
- Before you put the sausages in the air fryer, don’t poke holes in the skin. The skin’s job is to keep the juices inside, and if you do that, they will leak out while the sausages are cooking.
- Don’t worry if your air fryer starts to smoke. Sausages have a lot of fat, and the fat that drips off can cause a little smoke. In this case, you can try putting a piece of parchment paper made for air fryers under the sausages in the bottom of the basket. Putting some water in the basket’s bottom might also help.
- They are great, but each one can be a little different, just like any other appliance. In the air fryer, watch your sausages carefully the first time or two you make them. This will help you figure out the best cooking time for your machine. Remember that pork sausage should be at least 160° Fahrenheit inside.
How To Cook Sausages in the AirFryer
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