Sausages such as andouille and kiełbasa are cooked in a smokehouse before packaging. Although pre-cooked sausages can be eaten right away, you can also cook them on the fire, in the oven or on the grill. Cooking them allows them to be heated and gives the opportunity to incorporate different aromas. At that point you can add them to a large number of recipes.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Boil the Sausages on the Fire
Step 1. Fill a large saucepan with water
Choose a pot large enough for all the sausages you want to boil. In general, about 6 liters of water are needed to immerse them, although this can vary according to the size of the pot used.
- If you need to boil a large amount of sausages, you can cook them in separate batches or use multiple pots.
- You can also boil them in beer, tomato sauce, or other liquids if you want to make them more flavorful.
Step 2. Put the seasonings in the pot
In addition to being a simple cooking method, boiling offers the opportunity to incorporate other seasonings. For example, you can add lemon, bay leaves, salt and pepper to the water. This is useful for anyone planning on boiling onions, potatoes or other foods along with sausages.
Check the recipe if you are following one, as it is possible that the ingredients will gradually be added to the pot
Step 3. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil
Close the pot to speed up the boiling time. Wait for the water to boil briskly and for large bubbles to rise to the surface. In this way it will have reached the boiling point.
If you need to check that the water has actually come to a boil, stir it with a wooden spoon. It should continue to boil, without the bubble forming
Step 4. Put the sausages in the pot
Place the sausages in the pot carefully to avoid splashing the boiling water on you. Push them down with a spoon or tongs so they are completely covered in water. Wait for the water to boil again.
Step 5. Boil the sausages for 10 to 15 minutes
Cover the pot again to speed up the process, then set the timer. Once 10-15 minutes have passed, carefully drain the water down the sink. Sausages should be hot and ready to eat.
You can easily drain the water by pouring the entire contents of the pot into a large colander. Alternatively, turn the pot upside down while holding the sausages with the lid on so that only the water is poured into the sink
Method 2 of 4: Grill the Sausages
Step 1. Preheat the grill for 10 minutes
Whether you have a gas or charcoal grill, light it and wait for the temperature to go down to make sure it cooks just right. To reheat the sausages without breaking the casing, the ideal would be to cook them over a moderate heat. Keep your hand on the grill to check the temperature. Once it reaches a medium temperature, you can hold your hand on the cooking surface for about 6 seconds before it starts to feel excessively hot.
- An average temperature is between 160 and 190 ° C.
- Depending on the grill, you may need to wait longer for it to reach the right temperature.
Step 2. Arrange the sausages on the wire rack
Place them near the central area. Instead of placing them directly in the center, where the heat is concentrated, distribute them in a way that brings them a little closer to the sides of the grill. Leave at least 1-2 cm of space between one sausage and the other: in this way the heat will reach them in a less direct way, decreasing the chances of them burning.
- Since the sausages are pre-cooked, it is not necessary to cook them at a high temperature for the inside to cook.
- Before cooking, you can cut them lengthwise in half to get a slightly different taste and texture.
Step 3. Grill the sausages for 9 minutes until they are evenly browned
Wait for the skin to take on a homogeneous golden color. Remove them immediately if the skin starts to crack. During cooking, turn them with tongs if necessary so that they brown on all sides.
- If the casing breaks, make sure the grill is not too hot. In this case it is also possible that you are leaving the sausages on the grill for too long.
- Don't worry if grilling marks remain on the sausages, but make sure the outer wrapping takes on an even browning.
Step 4. Remove the sausages and let them cool for 2 minutes
Remove the sausages from the grill immediately to prevent them from overcooking. Place them on the plate and let them rest before eating them, so that the juice stays inside the meat.
If you leave the sausages on the grill for too long, they may crack or appear shriveled when cold
Method 3 of 4: Cook the Sausages in a Pan
Step 1. Cut the sausages into pieces of about 2 cm
Cut the sausages from one end to the other using a sharp knife. The dimensions of the slices don't have to be precise, but try to make them more or less the same, so that they brown at the same speed.
- If you wish, you can cut them into smaller pieces or cubes.
- Alternatively, cut them lengthwise in half and then place them in the pan.
Step 2. Heat the skillet over medium heat
Sausages can be heated directly in the pan. You should add about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or water, or use a cooking spray, so that they brown evenly without sticking to the cooking surface.
- Make sure the temperature is moderate or medium-high. If the pan is too hot, the sausages may crack or dry out.
- You can also heat them using a cast iron pot.
Step 3. Cook the sausages for 5 minutes until golden brown
Skip the slices, turning them if necessary with tongs or a spatula. The heat from the pan will cause the meat to begin to brown slightly. Once all the slices have acquired a similar and uniform color, remove the pan from the heat.
Step 4. Drain the liquid and mix the sausages with your favorite ingredients
Use a spatula or spoon to hold the slices in place while you pour the remaining liquid into the pan. At that point, you can eat them on their own or incorporate them into a recipe.
For example, you could cook and season rice or potatoes and then add the sausages
Method 4 of 4: Bake the Sausages in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 190 ° C
Before starting it is a good idea to check the sausage package or the recipe (if you follow one) to know the recommended temperatures. It is possible that they indicate a different temperature, which will affect the cooking times of the sausages and other ingredients used.
- The temperature settings and cooking times can also change depending on the oven.
- Baking is an easy way to reheat large, uncut sausages indoors.
Step 2. Spread a sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet
The non-stick foil will prevent the sausages from sticking to the pan. It will also protect the cooking surface from any fat or juice that may drip from the meat. You could also use parchment paper or a non-stick cooking spray.
Step 3. Spread the sausages on the baking sheet
Fix them by creating a single layer. Try to leave about 1-2 cm of space between each sausage. This way the heat will reach them evenly on all sides and will not stick together when you remove them.
- You can also cut them into slices. This will help them cook faster.
- If you need to make a lot of sausages, divide them into groups or use multiple pans.
Step 4. Bake the sausages for about 12 minutes
This time should be enough to warm them up. You could also wait until they have browned evenly or become crispy on the edges. At this point take them out of the oven immediately to prevent the wrapping from cracking or the meat from wrinkling.
You could also turn them over and let them cook a little longer to make them brown better. However, this is usually not necessary
Advice
- When the outer casing of sausages has cracks, this often means that the cooking is finished and that they must be removed from the heat.
- Avoid cooking them at a high temperature. High temperatures cause the outer shell of the sausages to contract, which will burn as a result.
- Pre-cooked sausages can be eaten safely.
