Air Fryer Sausages with pockets of juices trapped inside the casing and foamies on the surface of the sausages, indicating a perfectly cooked juicy Sausage in every bite. Serve it as a Steamy, Toasty, or both a Steamed & Toasted Bun.

Are Air Fryer Sausages Better?

Here is the thing with air frying. It seems to preserve certain flavors more so than other cook methods. For example; My Homemade Fries go into a brine and are deep-fried. The Vinegar within the brine is cooked out. However, with Air Frying it is not.

Vinegar is a common ingredient in Sausages and can be preserved and affect the final flavor if air frying or at least taste slightly different from other cook methods.

It’s not just with vinegar, either. There seems to be a slight difference in taste, where it seems the natural flavors of the sausages do indeed cook up better and are preserved more with air frying.

I’m still relatively new with air frying and want to do more experimenting with it before I share my findings with writing a post on it. But it is noteworthy that air frying does cook up your food differently and for sausages, Air frying is definitely better.

Cook Times

Sausages can be Air Fried at 370 F — 400 F for 15 minutes.

At 370 F for 15 minutes, the sausages are cooked and removed right at the peak. This means that the sausages have a slight pink in the middle that will cook out when resting. This method produces the juiciest and tender sausage.

At 400 F for 15 minutes, the sausages are cooked and removed just as they are done. This method still produces juicy sausages with more snap to the skin and more browning of the sausages.

It’s really a matter of preference here, I believe. The trade-off or balance it would seem is between how Juicy and tender the sausage is and how much of a snap the sausage offers.

Either way, air frying sausages is definitely now my go-to for cooking Sausages. We’re talking 15 minutes to perfectly cooked sausages ready to go and serve however you desire.

Sausages

I used Mild Italian Sausage, but any good quality sausage can be used.

Thaw the Sausages completely. Placed into the air fryer with space between each sausage to allow for airflow.

You should see the juices run clear when the sausages are resting. With “foamies” on the surface. This is where the juices are running out of the sausages and resting on the surface, that creates a bunch of tiny bubbles that I call foamies.

Chorizo Sausages

These were air fried at 400 F for 15 minutes and flipped over halfway through, removed and allowed to rest. Look at that Juice!

Buns

There are a few ways to cook the buns and all depends on your preference. There are also a few options for other kinds of Buns. Served up in your standard Hot Dog Buns or Hoagie-type Rolls. One of my favorites not just for sausage buns but mini-oven subs or subs, in general, is Spaccatelli Buns.

Steamy

The Steamy is where the Hot Dog or Sausage buns are steamed. You can place them into a steamer for a few minutes until softened.

While I do have a steamer, I always prepare it with some water in a frying pan. I place a pizza screen on top and use a lid that allows room for the buns. I find this method is far faster, producing steamed buns in less than 5 minutes.

Toasty

Two ways to toast here. First is to butter the Buns and toast them in a frying pan. Just as you do for Hamburger Buns. The other way is to place the Sausage in the buns and place them into the air fryer to toast for 1–3 minutes, depending on how toasty you like it. Using this method you can also place on the Doggies any toppings that need to be cooked or heated such as cheese, Bacon Bits, and/or Onions.

Both Steamy & Toasty

This is my favorite way to enjoy Hot Dogs or Sausages. I do tend to go back and forth from Toasty to Steamy depending on the mood. But by far, utilizing both methods is what I most often go for.

While the Sausages are nearing the end of their cooking time, Steam the Buns. After the Sausages are done. Place them into the Buns and Air Fry them until toasty. This results in a Soft and Chewy but Toasty Bun.

Sausage Platter

Sauerkraut Sausage and Beans are another way to enjoy these sausages. This recipe links to homemade Sauerkraut. If you are pressed for time and just want to get a quick meal out. Then you can use store-bought Sauerkraut and Beans.