Quick Answer: How To Cook Raw Sausages In The Microwave?
Cook raw sausages can be quickly and easily cooked in the microwave oven on high in a matter of mere minutes. Microwaving sausages is safe and effective, and produces a tasty result in a short time. In today’s busy life, we all need any shortcuts we can find to just keep up with the daily demands on our schedules.
If you work full-time and have active children who are involved in activities in the evenings and on weekends, it can be a real challenge to make meals night after night that your kids will eat, and that you can have ready quickly. Of course, you want them to be getting some nutrition as well.
Sausages are a great way to go. They are quick to cook, especially in the microwave, and they are tasty. Most kids like the taste of sausages. They deliver on protein as well.
One of the reasons sausages taste so good is because of their fat content. In 100 grams of sausage, there are about 31 grams of fat, and of that 31 grams, 11 are saturated fat. The cholesterol count is also on the high side with 76 mg in 100 grams. While we’re on the track of pointing out the negatives of sausages, 100 grams of sausage meat contains a whopping 731 mg of sodium.
Don’t think that sausages are all bad. In 100 grams, there are also 14 grams of protein.
The point to be taken away from this is that you don’t want a diet that is heavy in sausage. That would not be a good thing, but having them once in a while is okay. “Everything in moderation.”
You can also opt for sausages that contain less fat and are therefore on the healthier side of the scale. Chicken and turkey sausages are both good options to try.
There are, in fact, many, many different kinds of sausages. If you look at sausages at your local grocery store, you will see that they come in different sizes and levels of heat.
Many countries are known for particular types of sausages. Britain, Germany, Poland and Italy are all countries renowned for their sausages with different types of sausage coming from particular parts of the country, and each with its own characteristic flavor stemming from the seasonings that are added to the meat.
With such a variety of sausages to choose from, it can be fun to try different types. You may find you like a particular type for a certain dish, and another type as a side on its own for a meal.
To help get you started on trying different kinds of sausages, here is a chart that lists the essential flavors of some of the most popular sausages available.
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Some Popular Types of Sausage
| Name of Sausage | Country of Origin | Characteristics | Additional Comments |
| Breakfast | The United States | Breakfast sausages are small links that are most often made from pork. They can also be made from beef, or even a combination of pork and beef. The most common seasonings are black pepper and sage, but they can be purchased with other flavorings as well. As the name suggests, this type of sausage is usually eaten at breakfast along with eggs and toast, and home fries. | In the southern States, breakfast sausage is often prepared as round patties rather than as sausage links. Breakfast sausages are made from pork shoulder. |
| Cumberland | England, the county of Cumberland | Cumberland sausages are made from chopped pork as opposed to minced pork and this gives these popular sausages a fuller, meatier flavor. Cumberland sausages are seasoned with sage, nutmeg, thyme, pepper and cayenne. These sausages are fairly mild in flavor. | Cumberland sausages are one of the oldest and best-loved sausages in the United Kingdom, and have been around for about 500 years. |
| Blood | Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom | As its name suggests, blood sausages are made from a mixture of cooked or dried blood and a filler. A variety of animals may be used in making blood sausage, commonly, pigs, sheep, cows, chicken or goose. From a nutrient standpoint, blood sausages deliver big on zinc as well as iron. Seasonings such as bay leaves and onions are often used. | In England, a form of blood sausage is known as black pudding which most often combines pig blood with oatmeal and fat. These ingredients, like sausages, get put into a casing and the pudding is then cooked by frying, boiling or grilling. Blood sausage appears in Homer’s Odyssey! |
| Chorizo | Spain | This well-loved, spicy Spanish sausage uses pork, with smoked paprika and garlic as seasonings. Other seasonings may be found that reflect the region of Spain the sausage is made in. Chorizo sausage is cured and dried, making it different from many other types of sausage which are sold raw and must be cooked. | Chorizo sausage is also a popular choice in Mexico and Portugal. Chorizo is a great, tasty choice for tacos and burritos. |
| Italian | Italy | Italian sausage is a pork sausage which is traditionally seasoned with such spices as garlic, anise, and fennel. You can purchase mild, medium and hot varieties of Italian sausage in North American grocery stores. | The licorice flavor of fennel sets the Italian sausage apart from other types of sausage. Italian sausage is great on its own, but is also perfect in a pasta sauce or on a pizza. |
| Andouille | France | Andouille sausage is typically made from pork and is a larger sausage than other popular types of sausage. This type of sausage is smoked which gives it a unique smoky flavor. It is often seasoned with wine, garlic, onions, and tripe. | Andouille sausage is associated with Cajun cooking, and can be found in gumbos and jambalayas. This smoked sausage does not have to be cooked, so it can simply be sliced and eaten. |
| Chipolata | Italy | Chipolata sausages are small, mild pork sausages, and are a popular choice to serve at breakfast. These pork sausages are flavored with different seasonings depending on where they come from. Some common seasonings are sage, thyme and pimento. | The term chipolata comes from the Italian word, cipollata, which means flavored with onion. |
| Kielbasa | Poland | This type of sausage is made from pork or a combination of pork and beef. Kielbasa is a smoked sausage and also has a strong garlic flavor along with cloves, pimento, and marjoram. As with sausage from other countries, kielbasa will have a particular flavor depending on the region of Poland it comes from as each region uses different seasonings. | The word kielbasa actually means sausage in Polish. |
| Bratwurst | Germany | Germany is another country with a rich sausage history and there are many different kinds, but Bratwurst is one of the most popular and is loved in North America as much as it is in Europe. Bratwurst is a large sausage with a characteristic white color and a salty, mild flavor. Made from pork or veal, common seasonings in bratwurst are marjoram, caraway, ginger and garlic. | Bratwurst is typically fried and eaten with a roll and German mustard. You will most certainly find bratwurst at any Oktoberfest. |
From this chart you may choose any of these sausages, and pop them in the microwave to have sausages on a plate and ready to eat in only a few minutes and with little preparation.
How To Cook Raw Sausages In The Microwave
When you cook sausages in the microwave, the casings will lift off. You can simply remove them after they are cooked, or if you prefer, you may remove the casings before cooking by slipping a knife underneath them and gently lifting them off.
The sausages should not be pink on the inside when they are fully cooked. Check for doneness by cutting open one of the sausages. If the sausage is pink on the inside, cook the sausages for 30 seconds more and then check again. Repeat this step until the sausages are fully cooked.
The microwave will slightly brown the outside of the sausage but not as deeply as frying, grilling or baking in the oven. You may choose to give your sausages some time in the oven, after cooking them in the microwave, to achieve that brown color but it is not necessary.
Do not forget to prick the sausages with a fork otherwise the sausages will explode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sausages Be Cooked From Frozen?
Don’t let frozen sausages discourage you from having them for a meal right away. Sausages may be cooked from frozen in the microwave. If your microwave has a defrost button, then defrost the sausages first. You can also thaw sausages by placing them in a dish of cold water. As they thaw, separate them with a knife or fork to encourage faster thawing.
Once your sausages are no longer frozen, you may proceed to cook them as prescribed above in the article.
How Should Sausages Be Stored?
It is safe to store your sausages, either cooked or raw, in both the refrigerator or the freezer.
Do not remove the sausages from the packaging, just put them in the meat drawer of your refrigerator.
1. Fresh Sausage
First let’s consider fresh sausages that you are bringing home from the grocery store. If you are going to be cooking the sausages in the next day or two, you may safely store them in the fridge.
If it will be longer than two days before you cook the sausages, then you will want to put them in the freezer. They may be left in the package and placed in the freezer.
It is always a good idea to take note of the “sell by” and “best before” dates on the packaging to give you an idea of when you should cook the fresh sausages, however, left in the freezer, sausages will be fine for up to 6 months.
2. Cooked Sausage
If you are storing cooked sausage then you may keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for several months.
Place your cooked sausage in an airtight container or a freezer bag with a zipper closing before putting it in either the fridge or the freezer.
As with any food, before you use it check to be sure it is still good – no ‘off’ smell or visible signs of going bad such as mold. If you are unsure, it is best to err on the side of caution and throw out the sausages. It simply is not worth taking the risk of making someone ill.
Will It Take Longer To Microwave Larger-Sized Sausages Such As Bratwurst?
The amount of cooking time for a small breakfast sausage will be less than it will be for a larger sausage such as bratwurst.
If you are cooking larger sausages, add another minute to the cooking time, and if more time is needed, cook for 30-second increments, checking after each 30 seconds until the sausages are fully cooked and no longer pink inside.
How Many Sausages Can Be Cooked In The Microwave At Once?
In order to get even cooking, it is best to not layer the sausages. If necessary, cook the sausages in the microwave in batches.
If you are cooking a large quantity of sausages rather than one or two, you will need to allow more cooking time.
How To Cook Raw Sausages In The Microwave
Sausage links are separated, the sausages pricked with a fork, placed on a microwave-safe dish, covered and microwaved on high for 3 minutes, turned once.
Materials
- Sausages
Tools
- ForkCutting board
- Microwave-safe dish
- Plastic wrap or paper towel to cover the dish
- TongsPlate
Instructions
- Remove the sausages from the fridge, and place them on a cutting board.With a fork, prick the sausages all around.
- Put the sausages in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a lid.
- If you do not have a lid, place a piece of plastic wrap or paper towel over the sausages.
- Cook the sausages on high for 1 ½ minutes, then turn, using tongs.
- Cook the sausages for another 1 ½ minutes.
- Remove the sausages from the microwave and with tongs, set them on a plate lined with a paper towel.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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