Sausages can be a culinary puzzle. Have you ever faced the frustration of a sausage that’s charred on the outside yet stubbornly raw inside? Or perhaps one where the casing splits unattractively, or even worse, ends up dry and unappetizing despite being cooked through? If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many home cooks encounter these common sausage cooking problems. But there’s good news: perfectly cooked, juicy sausages are absolutely achievable.
The common mistake is to simply throw sausages directly into a hot pan or onto a grill over high heat. This direct heat method often leads to uneven cooking. You risk burning the outside before the inside is cooked, resulting in dry, disappointing sausages. Or, conversely, you might undercook them, leaving you questioning whether they are safe to eat. This is far from ideal, especially when cooking for others.
This is where the two-step, simmer-then-sear technique comes to the rescue. This method involves gently poaching the sausages in water first to cook them through, followed by a quick sear in a hot pan to achieve that desirable crispy exterior and golden-brown color. This foolproof technique delivers consistently perfect sausages, every single time. Let’s dive into how it’s done.
Step 1: The Simmer – Gently Cook Through
Alt text: Raw sausages submerged in cold water in a stainless steel saucepan on a stovetop, first step in how to cook sausage.
Begin by placing your sausages in a large saucepan or pot. Pour in cold water, ensuring the sausages are just covered. It’s crucial to start with cold water to gently raise the temperature and cook the sausages evenly. Place the pot on your stovetop and turn the heat to medium-high. Heat the water until it reaches a gentle simmer – you’ll see small bubbles forming and just beginning to break the surface. This simmering process typically takes around 6 to 8 minutes.
Once the water is simmering, immediately turn off the heat. Carefully remove the sausages from the hot water. At this stage, the sausages are fully cooked through and tender, ready for the next step to enhance their flavor and texture.
Step 2: The Sear – Crisp and Brown
Now that your sausages are cooked and intact, you’ll notice they might look a bit pale or gray from the simmering process. This is normal! The next crucial step is to add color and crispness. You have a few options for searing, depending on your preference and how you plan to serve them:
- Halved and Sear: For sausage sandwiches or dishes where you want a crispy interior, slice the sausages lengthwise in half.
- Whole and Crisp: To maintain the classic sausage shape and achieve a crispy casing, leave them whole.
- Sliced into Coins or Chunks: For adding to pasta, rice dishes, or salads, you can slice them into coins or chunks before searing.
Regardless of how you slice them (or don’t slice them), take a skillet and add a bit of cooking oil or fat. Heat the pan over high heat until the oil is shimmering hot. Carefully place the pre-cooked sausages into the hot pan. Since they are already cooked through, you only need to sear them for a short time – just long enough to develop a beautiful golden-brown color and crispy texture on all sides. Be careful not to over-sear, as you want to avoid drying them out.
Serving Suggestions for Perfectly Cooked Sausages
Alt text: Close-up of a sausage, peppers, and onions sub sandwich on a wooden board, delicious serving idea for cooked sausage.
Once your sausages are perfectly cooked and seared, the culinary possibilities are endless! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Sausage Sandwiches: Load them into a bun with your favorite toppings like peppers, onions, and mustard for a classic sausage sub.
- Sausage and Toast: Serve sliced sausage over toast, perhaps with some greens or a flavorful sauce.
- Sausage with Grains: Incorporate sausage coins or chunks into rice dishes, pasta sauces, or grain bowls for added protein and flavor.
- Simply Enjoy: Sometimes, the best way to enjoy perfectly cooked sausage is simply on its own, as a delicious main course alongside your favorite sides.
Mastering How To Cook Sausage using the simmer-then-sear method will transform your sausage dishes. Say goodbye to undercooked or dry sausages and hello to consistently delicious, juicy, and perfectly cooked sausages every time!
