Italian sausage is the easiest food that can be made for any meal time. If we look at Italian cuisine, there are a lot of types of sausages. But this specific one is called Italian because it is called so in the North American region. Italian sausage is a pork sausage and it is seasoned most commonly with fennel. It is also called sasitsa or salsiccia. There are varieties of Italian sausage ranging from mild and sweet to hot ones. These only differ in one or two ingredients.
Why Italian Sausage?
Quick Cook: It takes very little time to cook. Ready-made Italian sausage cooks in almost twenty minutes.
Easy: It does not require any extra skills to cook Italian sausage. It is very easy to cook.
Varied Flavors: Italian sausages come in different flavors. You can pick the flavor according to your choice or mood.
Versatile: Italian sausages can be eaten at any meal time; breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
How To Cook Italian Sausage In The Oven?_A step-by-step guide
Italian sausages can be cooked in a variety of ways including oven, air fryer, stovetop, grill, etc.
Ingredients:
- Ground pork = 3 lbs
- Onion powder = 1 tbsp
- Dried parsley = 1 ¼ tbsp
- Brown sugar = ¼ tsp
- Paprika = 2 tsp
- Red wine vinegar = 3 tbsp
- Garlic powder = 1 tbsp
- Dried oregano = ⅛ tsp
- Salt = 1 tbsp
- Red pepper flakes = 2 tsp (crushed, and can be according to taste)
- Fennel seeds = ¾ tsp (Ground)
- Dried thyme = ⅛ tsp
- Dried basil = 1 tbsp
- Black pepper = 1 tbsp (freshly cracked)
Method
- In a big container, place the minced pork with red wine vinegar.
- Add garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds, dried thyme, dried basil, black pepper, paprika, dried parsley, onion powder, and brown sugar in the quantities listed above.
- Knead and mix to evenly spread all the seasonings in the meat.
- Make three portions of the mixture.
- Wrap each part in a plastic sheet keeping the diameter two to three inches.
- Place these plastic-covered sausages into a zip-top bag.
- Then place them in the refrigerator for twelve hours before you cook them.
- After 12 hours of refrigeration, remove the zip-top bag.
- On the cutting board, cut the hardened log of seasoned minced meat with a fine knife in preferred sizes. (these then can also be stored in a freezer)
- Remove the plastic sheet with care and discard it.
- Cook the Italian sausages. Different methods of cooking are discussed below:
Stovetop
- Take a large skillet.
- Place the Italian sausages in it.
- Add some water to it. (approximately an inch)
- Cover the skillet and simmer.
- Cook for 8 minutes.
- Uncover the skillet.
- Further, cook the Italian sausages for 5 minutes.
- The temperature for doneness is 160 degrees Celsius.
- After the desired level of doneness is achieved, take out the Italian sausages.
- Place in the dish and serve with your favorite sauce.
Grill
- Apply a little oil to the grill.
- Preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the Italian sausages on the grill.
- Close the lid.
- Cook for 18 minutes.
- While cooking, keep them turning so that they get even heat and brown color.
- The temperature for doneness is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After the desired level of doneness is achieved, remove the Italian sausages from the grill.
- Place in the dish and serve with your favorite sauce.
Air Fryer
- Preheat the fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the Italian sausages in the basket of the air fryer.
- Cook for 13 minutes.
- Check the level of doneness.
- After the desired level of doneness is achieved, remove the Italian sausages from the basket of the air fryer.
- Place in the dish and serve with your favorite sauce.
Oven
- Preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wrap the Italian sausages in aluminum foil.
- Then place on a baking sheet.
- Place them in the oven.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- The temperature for doneness is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After the desired level of doneness is achieved, take out the Italian sausages from the oven.
- Place in the dish and serve with your favorite sauce.
| Temperature | Time to cook |
| 200 degrees F | 40-45 minutes |
| 350 degrees F | 30-35 minutes |
| 400 degrees F | 15 minutes |
Baking the Frozen Sausages
- Thaw the frozen sausages.
- Dip in warm water for a short time to let them separate if they are frozen together.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Spread an aluminum foil on the baking tray and oil it.
- For 10 minutes, place this tray in the preheated oven.
- Place the pre-cooked sausages on the tray and again place the tray in the oven.
- Cook for 17 minutes.
- During this time, turn them over at least 2 times.
- To achieve the required doneness, the temperature of the oven can be increased during the last 3-5 minutes.
- After the desired level of doneness is achieved, take out the Italian sausages from the oven.
- Place in the dish and serve with your favorite sauce.
Pricking the Skin_ Fact or Fantasy?
Well, it is a fantasy tale. You do not need to prick the skin of the sausage. It will leak out all the juices and flavor of the sausage and affect its taste and liquid content.
Get Extra Crisp
There is a simple secret to adding an extra crisp to your sausages. While you preheat the oven, also heat the baking tray along with it. Then place parchment paper on the heated tray and bake the sausages.
Ways to Check Internal Temperature
The internal temperature of sausage to check the level of doneness can be measured in a variety of ways:
- Meat thermometer
- Metal skewer
- Metal cake tester
- Ordinary thermometer
- Check the firmness of the sausage.
What to serve with Italian sausages?
A variety of combinations can be done with Italian sausages:
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Sandwich
- Pasta
- Roasted potatoes
- Oat rolls
- Cheese
- Tomato sauce
Precautions
- Do not cook at a very high temperature or too fast. It causes excessive browning and uneven cooking of the sausage.
- Make sure to check the final internal temperature at 160 degrees F.
- A barbecue clamp can help avoid curling.
- Apply gradual heat.
- Do not pierce the skin.
- Pre-cooked sausages need less cooking time.
- Apply a thin layer of olive oil or other vegetables on the sausages if desired.
- Bake the Italian sausages in the middle rack of your oven.
Storing the Italian Sausages
| Temperature | time for storage | |
| Room Temperature | 2 hours | |
| Freezer | 0 degrees F | 1-2 months |
| Refrigerator | 40 degrees F or less | 1-2 days |
| Deep Freezer | 0 degrees F | 1-2 months |
- Sausages must be stored in an airtight container to avoid contamination.
How to Thaw?
Place the frozen sausages in a refrigerator 12 hours before cooking. Then, before cooking either dip them in warm water for a short duration, normal temperature water for 45 to 60 minutes, or heat them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes. After defrosting/thawing, these sausages can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Storing Thawed Sausages again in Freezer
Do not store the raw sausages again in the freezer once you thaw them. Never! However, if defrosted sausages are cooked, they can be frozen again. But this is also a one-time offer. They can not be freeze-thawed again and again.
Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per 100gCalories = 346 cal | ||
| % Daily value | ||
| Carbohydrates | 0.7g | 0% |
| Total Fat Cholesterol Saturated Fat | 31g | 47% |
| 76mg | 25% | |
| 11g | 55% | |
| Protein | 14g | 28% |
| Calcium | – | 1% |
| Iron | – | 6% |
| Cobalamin | – | 14% |
| Magnesium | – | 3% |
| Vitamin C | – | 3% |
| Vitamin D | – | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | – | 15% |
How To Cook Italian Sausage In The Oven?
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Ground pork
- 1 tbsp Onion powder
- 1 ¼ tbsp Dried parsley
- ¼ tsp Brown sugar
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp Garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tbsp Salt
- 2 tsp Red pepper flakes (crushed, and can be according to taste)
- ¾ tsp Fennel seeds (Ground)
- ⅛ tsp Dried thyme
- 1 tbsp Dried basil
- 1 tbsp Black pepper (freshly cracked)
Instructions
- In a big container, place the minced pork with red wine vinegar.
- Add garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds, dried thyme, dried basil, black pepper, paprika, dried parsley, onion powder, and brown sugar in the quantities listed above.
- Knead and mix to evenly spread all the seasonings in the meat.
- Make three portions of the mixture.
- Wrap each part in a plastic sheet keeping the diameter two to three inches.
- Place these plastic-covered sausages into a zip-top bag.
- Then place them in the refrigerator for twelve hours before you cook them.
- After 12 hours of refrigeration, remove the zip-top bag.
- On the cutting board, cut the hardened log of seasoned minced meat with a fine knife in preferred sizes. (these then can also be stored in a freezer)
- Remove the plastic sheet with care and discard it.
- Cook the Italian sausages. Different methods of cooking are discussed below:
Oven
- Preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wrap the Italian sausages in aluminum foil.
- Then place on a baking sheet.
- Place them in the oven.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- The temperature for doneness is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After the desired level of doneness is achieved, take out the Italian sausages from the oven.
- Place in the dish and serve with your favorite sauce.
Notes
Precautions
- Do not cook at a very high temperature or too fast. It causes excessive browning and uneven cooking of the sausage.
- Make sure to check the final internal temperature at 160 degrees F.
- A barbecue clamp can help avoid curling.
- Apply gradual heat.
- Do not pierce the skin.
- Pre-cooked sausages need less cooking time.
- Apply a thin layer of olive oil or other vegetables on the sausages if desired.
- Bake the Italian sausages in the middle rack of your oven.
