If you’ve had a grill or barbecue with many people, there’s a good chance that you supplied plenty of food. There’s nearly always a few sausages left over. While you don’t want to waste them, you might be asking the question can you reheat sausages? Well, here is the answer. Today we will talk you through all you need to know about reheating cooked sausages, with some important safety tips for good measure.
Stuck for Time? Can You Reheat Sausages?
Yes, you can reheat sausages. Sausages are made from a mixture of meats and other ingredients like maize, fat, and spices. Like any meat, it is possible to reheat them, provided that you do it with safety in mind.
As with most meats, sausages quality will tend to suffer slightly if they have been allowed to cool and reheated.
Nevertheless, we will teach you a few ways to do it and offer some guidance so that you get a good result.
How Do You Reheat Cooked Sausages?
There are quite a few ways that you can reheat cooked sausages. Let us look at them in a bit more detail: –
1. The microwave
This is one of our favorite techniques for many reasons.
First, it is by far the simplest way to reheat sausages. It’s so easy
We place our sausages on a microwave-proof plate and then give them a ping in one-minute bursts. The amount of time will depend on the power of your microwave, how thick your sausages are, and the temperature of the sausages.
The good news is that microwaves cook from the inside out, so provided the exterior is hot, the middle will be too!
2. In a pan
Using a skillet is another great way to heat sausages, but it takes a little longer. Add a small amount of oil to your pan and place the sausages over medium to low heat.
Remember…
You aren’t trying to cook the sausages. You did that the day before! Instead, you just want to warm them through. This is the reason why we use a lower setting on the hob. To speed up the process, you could consider adding a lid. Be sure to turn the sausages regularly so that every side gets exposed to the heat.
3. Under the broiler
The broiler is probably the least effective way to heat sausages. Heat travels up, and it has to be pretty intense to cook the food underneath. High settings are not what you need with precooked sausages as they are likely to burn.
Our advice is to place them in a heavy dish before attempting to reheat them. The broiler will heat the top of the sausages and the dish underneath, heating them from both sides.
4. In the oven
This is another of our favorite methods. You don’t have to guess. With an oven, you can set an exact temperature. To use this method, put your sausages into a cold oven and set it to around 200°F. As the oven warms, it will take the sausages with it. This prevents them from burning and drying out.
Conventional ovens cook from the outside in, so to make sure you are safe, be sure to give your sausages a quick poke with a meat thermometer or food probe.
5. As an ingredient in other dishes
You might not want to leave your cooked sausages as they are…
Well, that’s great news.
Why?
Cold, cooked sausages can be used in all sorts of dishes. Just chop them up and include them as your would any other ingredients. Here are some dishes you could make that will also heat the sausages: –
- Sausage hash
- Sausage pizza
- Sausage pasta
- Nachos with chopped sausages
- Sausage sandwiches
- Sausage and Mashed potatoes
- And many more!
Leave them cold!
Here’s our little secret.
We love cold sausages. You don’t burn your mouth for a start, and often (especially following a BBQ), they get a more intense flavor. We also love to slice them thinly and put them on a sandwich!
Cold sausages can be eaten straight from the fridge (provided they were thoroughly cooked the first time). As long as they are fresh, you are good to go!
Can you Reheat Sausages more than Once?
Nope, this is a very bad idea.
Why?
Bacteria breeds at certain temperatures. This window is called the ‘danger zone’. This is anywhere from about 40°F through to 140°F. In the middle of this window, bacteria breed more readily. Your food will enter this window once when it cools down and enter it again when you heat it up.
That’s why you must ensure even cooked food is piping hot, as high heat kills the bacteria that may have formed.
But…
By repeatedly heating and cooling food, you enter the danger zone more often, and harmful bacteria levels can build up each time. Get it wrong, and it can make you really sick.
Quick Safety Tips
Make sure your reheated sausages reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F. This is enough to kill any bacteria that grew while it was cooling.
If you have thick sausages, cut them in half lengthways before reheating. This will allow heat to penetrate fully, ensuring no spots are still in the ‘danger zone’.
Make sure your sausages are cooked through properly the first time. Reheating won’t cook anything that is raw.
Want utter peace of mind? Invest in a food probe, then you can always be sure that you’ve got the right temperature. (It will also allow you to make perfect steak… But that’s a story for another day!)
FAQs
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How do you cook Sausage?
Cooking sausage requires the temperature to be set to 180°F.
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Can you cook sausages then reheat them?
Yes you can but you should consume within 24 hours and keep them refrigerated until reheated.
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Is it safe to eat cold sausages?
Eating your sausages cold is fine providing they have been cooked and then consumed with 24 hours.
Conclusion
Can you reheat Sausages? Yep! There’s no harm in reheating sausages. Provided you have cooked them properly the first time and make sure they are still fresh and heated through, you should be good to go! Got any good meal ideas for leftover sausages? Why not share them in the comments?
