How to Cook Italian Sausage Links: We show you the tried-and-true, simple steps and tricks you can use on the grill, in the oven, or on the stove to make tasty Italian sausages and peppers!
Italian sausage is a staple in many households. It’s flavorful, easy to cook and versatile enough to use in pastas sandwiches, soups, and more. But to get the best results when cooking Italian sausage on the stovetop, it’s important to know how long to cook it. Undercook it and you’ll end up with raw, rubbery sausage. Overcook it and you’ll have dry, tough links. So what’s the ideal stovetop cooking time for juicy, flavorful Italian sausage?
The Basics of Cooking Italian Sausage on the Stovetop
Most Italian sausage you find at the grocery store is pre-cooked meaning it just needs to be heated through Raw Italian sausage from a butcher will take a little longer Here are the basic steps
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Place the sausage links in a skillet and add water, broth, or wine to a depth of 1/2 inch. This will keep the sausages moist while cooking.
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Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat then cover and cook for 10-15 minutes,
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Remove the lid and allow the liquid to evaporate while turning the sausages occasionally to brown evenly. The sausage is fully cooked once the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Italian Sausage on the Stove?
The exact stove cooking time depends on a few factors:
Pre-Cooked vs. Raw
Pre-cooked smoked sausage takes less time since it only needs to be heated through. Raw sausage from the butcher needs to cook fully to be safe to eat.
- Pre-cooked: 10-12 minutes
- Raw: 12-20 minutes
Thickness
The thicker the sausage, the longer the cook time. Thin sausages will be done faster than thick sausages.
- Thin (1-2 inches diameter): 10-15 minutes
- Thick (3+ inches diameter): 15-20 minutes
Stove Temperature
Cooking over higher heat will speed up the cook time versus lower gentle heat. But too high of heat can lead to burnt exterior before the middle is cooked.
- High heat: 8-12 minutes
- Medium heat: 12-15 minutes
- Low heat: 15-20 minutes
Cut or Whole
Sliced or cut sausage will cook faster than whole links.
- Sliced: 8-12 minutes
- Whole: 12-20 minutes
As you can see, the cooking time can vary quite a bit. For best results, go with a middle ground cooking time of 12-15 minutes for pre-cooked sausage. Then check for doneness and add more time if needed.
How to Tell When Sausage is Done on the Stovetop
There are a few ways to check Italian sausage doneness while cooking on the stove:
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Temperature – Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Sausage is safely cooked at 160°F. The juice will run clear when poked with a fork or knife tip.
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Texture – Fully cooked sausage will feel firm when squeezed versus squishy when undercooked. Pre-cooked sausage will plump up slightly.
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Color – Raw sausage will turn from pink to brownish-grey when cooked through. Pre-cooked sausage will develop a light char or crispness on the outside.
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Liquid Evaporated – When all the liquid has evaporated in the pan, prick the sausages. If the juice runs clear, they are done. If still pink, simmer for 5 more minutes.
Trust your thermometer over visual signs for the most accurate doneness indication. The sausage may brown before reaching a safe internal temperature.
Tips for Cooking Italian Sausage on the Stovetop
Follow these tips for perfectly juicy Italian sausage every time you cook it on the stovetop:
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Pat raw sausage dry before cooking to help it brown better.
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Use a heavy pan like cast iron or stainless steel. Nonstick doesn’t brown as well.
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Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook in a single layer and work in batches if needed.
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Add a small amount of oil to the pan to prevent sticking.
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Flip the links every few minutes while simmering to cook evenly.
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Once cooked, let the sausage rest for 5 minutes before cutting to prevent juiciness loss.
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Cook a little beyond 160°F to account for carryover cooking, up to 170°F.
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For extra flavor, sauté onions, peppers, garlic, or other veggies in the pan.
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Add seasoning, herbs, spices, wine, or broth to the cooking liquid.
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If sausage begins to brown too quickly, turn down the heat.
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Let any burnt bits in the pan dissolve in the cooking liquid for extra flavor.
With these tips and ideal cooking times, you’ll be able to achieve perfectly cooked, juicy Italian sausage on the stovetop every time. Just monitor for doneness and adjust cook times as needed based on thickness. In no time, you’ll be able to whip up quick and delicious Italian sausage meals for your family. Buon appetito!
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How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Whether you are using pre-cooked or raw sausages, you will want to cook them for about 25 minutes.
- If you use raw Italian sausages, use a meat thermometer to make sure they are cooked to 165 F on the inside. They need to be cooked over medium-low heat so that the outside can sear and the inside can be cooked all the way through without the outside burning first!
- Should you buy frozen sausages, make sure to let them thaw in the fridge overnight before cooking them.
- You can eat Italian sausages in a lot of different ways, but one easy way is on top of fresh pasta or Italian bread.
Serve these Hot Italian Sausages as-is with peppers and onions for a low-carb meal. You could also put the sausages, onions, and peppers on soft hoagie rolls and cover them with tangy marinara sauce and creamy provolone cheese. For a side dish, I like to serve these with:
Of course! You can use any kind of sausage you like, like turkey sausage, sweet Italian sausage, hot Italian sausage, or chicken and apple sausage.
After being cooked, the sausages will stay fresh in the fridge for another three to four days. Let them cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and store.
Italian sausage is a type of sausage that is typically seasoned with fennel seed or anise. There are a lot of different kinds of Italian sausage, such as spicy Italian sausage and sweet Italian sausage.
You can heat up leftover sausage and peppers in the microwave or on the stove in a skillet until they are hot again.
When you are cooking sausages on the stove, it is best to fry them up with butter. It goes better with the sausage flavors when you use butter instead of oil with a high smoke point. Also, you don’t have to cook the sausage over very high heat. Fry them on medium heat with some butter!.
Technically you can, but this method of cooking doesn’t result in the best flavor. For best results, cook the sausages in a skillet, on the grill, or in the oven.
Since smoked sausages are already cooked, all you need to do is heat them up in a pan for a few minutes. However, raw sausages take about 10-12 minutes to cook through, or 15-20 minutes if they are very thick. They must reach 160°F inside to be fully cooked.
How to Cook Italian Sausage on the Stove
First, prep your ingredients. Remove the bell pepper seeds and slice them into thin strips. Then peel and slice the onions.
Set a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once the butter has melted, place the Italian sausages into the skillet.
Sear the sausages for 2 to 4 minutes per side, until the skin looks slightly blistered or charred. (6-8 minutes per side for raw sausages. ).
Move the Italian sausages and place them on a holding plate.
Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Once melted, add in the onions. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes.
Then stir the bell peppers and continue to sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes. The onion should be soft, but I prefer if the bell peppers are still slightly firm.
Salt and pepper the onions and peppers to taste. Then stir the sausages back into the skillet to rewarm.
How to Cook Italian Sausage on the Stove Top
FAQ
How do you know when Italian sausage is done on the stove?
How long to cook sausages in frying pan?
How to tell if sausage is cooked in the pan?