Properly cooked sausages are a perfect breakfast hack. You can boil, grill, bake, or deep fry your sausages and still get good results.
The current microwave heist has prompted the question, ‘Can you microwave sausages?’ and this is what our cooking experts have to say.
Can You Microwave Sausages?
Yes. It is perfectly ok to microwave sausages and still have them as juicy as you desire.
The following reasons will make you want to microwave your breakfast sausages:
- It is fast and easy to cook your raw sausages in the microwave. It takes 4 minutes to have your sausages ready since the procedure involves fewer steps.
- It is convenient since it saves you from washing many dishes.
- You don’t require oil that will most likely splatter in the microwave causing more mess.
- It does not require monitoring. You need to set a timer on your microwave oven.
- Microwaved sausages don’t attain the usual deep brown color, but their skins peel off to indicate they are cooked.
How to Cook Sausages In The Microwave
Here is the step-by-step guide for microwaving sausages:
- Several sausages come attached, so cut the links to make the single units. If the sausages are frozen, you thaw them by letting them sit for 15 minutes or defrost them in the oven.
- Place your breakfast snack on a microwave-safe plate, preferably a glass or ceramic plate. Avoid plastic platters because they are likely to melt under high heat and leach toxins into your sausages.
- Ensure enough spacing between the sausages to allow even cooking. You should line them as a single layer and avoid overstacking them.
- Prick them severally with a fork to create vents for steam. Hot steam that builds up within the sausages causes them to burst.
- Cover your sausages with a microwave-safe lid or use cling film. Perforate vents on the cling film if you must use it.
- Set your microwave timer to 5 minutes. You can stop the microwave halfway through the cooking time to check the progress.
- Sausages are protein; hence you should microwave them on high power to ensure they are adequately cooked.
- Use a wooden spoon to turn your sausages to allow the other side to cook. It also prevents the top side from burning.
- Once the microwave stops, check if your sausages are adequately cooked. The pink color should turn brown.
- Let the sausages rest for a few minutes before serving to finish cooking, or run them on a grill to give them an attractive brown finish.
- The extra time also cools the hot steam and prevents severe burns to your mouth and gut.
How Long Can You Microwave Sausages?
The recommended microwave time for sausages is 5 minutes on high power (800 watts). You cook for the first 2.5 minutes, turn the sausages, and continue cooking for another 2.5 minutes.
The cooking time might vary depending on other factors like:
- The number of sausages being microwaved.
- Personal preference; how well you want the sausages done (light or deep brown).
- The type of sausages you have (standard pork, beef, or chipolata).
- Size and weight of each sausage.
- Amount of microwave heat. High power will give the best results.
- The type of microwave. Check the user guide to see the recommended time for cooking sausages in that particular appliance.
Tips To Microwave Sausages Successfully
The following hacks will give you the best-microwaved sausages:
- Prick your sausages with a fork to prevent them from bursting.
- Turn your sausages after 2.5 minutes of cooking to ensure both sides are properly cooked.
- Toss your sausages over a greased pan or grill them in an oven to give them an appealing brown color.
- Maintain high microwave power to cook the sausages properly.
- Remove the peeled skins before serving to make the sausages soft and chewable.
- Prick the middle of the sausage with a fork to ensure the natural pink color has gone.
- Drain the liquid that comes from the sausages before serving them too.
- Ensure safe handling of raw sausages to avoid cross-contamination.
Alternative Methods For Microwaving Breakfast Sausages
You can use the following alternative methods to cook your sausages. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
- Pan-frying
- Air frying
- Boiling
- Deep frying
- Baking
Of all the cooking methods, microwaving sausages is the most convenient since it is quick, less messy, less equipment-intensive, and does not require monitoring.
FAQs
Why Some People Don’t Microwave Breakfast Sausages
Microwaved sausages are not everyone’s favorite, and some people choose alternative methods because of the following reasons:
Light Brown Color
The light brown color of microwaved sausages is not as appealing as the golden brown color of pan-fried sausages. Most people think that light brown sausages are undone.
Some people find it double work to microwave the sausages and later toss them on a pan or grill them to get their desired brown finish.
Peeling Skin
Microwaved sausages tend to peel off their skins. It’s an absurd scene if you are used to eating whole sausages with their skins intact. Peeled-off skins are not impressive to the sight.
It is tedious to remove the skin after microwaving before you serve them.
Loss of Flavor
The liquid that flows out of pricked sausages comes out with the dissolved nutrients and flavors, giving the final product a flat taste.
You also can’t add pepper to your sausages since pepper is microwave-unsafe.
Why Do Sausages Explode In The Microwave?
Sausages contain juices and fats which form steam under high heat. The hot steam build-up causes the sausages to burst
You should flip or turn the sausages when halfway cooked to ensure both sides are evenly heated.
You should also prick the sausages with a fork to vent the steam that would otherwise explode.
To Wrap It Up
It is safe, fast, easy, and less messy to cook raw breakfast sausages in the microwave.
Use a microwave-safe plate and lid, set your appliance on high power, and run the microwave for 5 minutes.
Find a detailed guide on how to microwave breakfast sausages above.