Farmer sausage is a type of fresh pork sausage that is a staple breakfast food for many. It has a milder flavor than Italian sausage and a nice mix of fat and lean meat. Farmer sausage needs to be fully cooked before eating to eliminate any foodborne illnesses. Using an air fryer is a quick, easy and healthy way to cook farmer sausage to perfection.
When cooking farmer sausage in an air fryer, there are a few factors that determine the ideal cook time:
Size and Shape of the Sausage
Farmer sausage comes in different sizes and shapes. The most common are:
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Sausage links – These are the long cylindrical shaped sausages around 4-5 inches long
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Sausage patties – Formed into flat, round patties about 1/2 inch thick
The general rule is the thicker the sausage, the longer the cook time. Sausage links need a minute or two longer than patties.
Amount Being Cooked
The more sausages you cook, the longer the cook time. With an air fryer’s confined space, overcrowding will increase the time needed. For 4-6 sausages, allow 2-3 extra minutes. For more than 6 sausages, give it 4-5 minutes longer.
Preferred Texture
The cook time can vary based on personal taste for texture. Some prefer a softer exterior while others like it browned and crispy.
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Softer exterior – Cook for the minimum recommended time.
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Browner exterior – Add 1-2 minutes to the cook time.
Air Fryer Wattage
Higher wattage air fryers heat up faster and cook food quicker. If your air fryer is less than 1300 watts, you may need to add a couple minutes to the cook time.
Frozen versus Thawed
Always completely thaw farmer sausage before cooking in an air fryer. Starting with frozen sausage can double the cook time needed.
Taking these factors into account, here are general air fryer cook times for farmer sausage:
Fresh Farmer Sausage Links
- 2-4 links = 12-13 minutes
- 5-6 links = 14-15 minutes
- 7 or more links = 16-18 minutes
Fresh Farmer Sausage Patties
- 2-4 patties = 10-11 minutes
- 5-6 patties = 12-13 minutes
- 7 or more patties = 14-16 minutes
For browned exterior, add 1-2 minutes to the times above. For frozen sausage, double the cook time.
Now let’s look at step-by-step instructions for cooking farmer sausage to perfection in an air fryer:
Step 1: Pre-Heat the Air Fryer
- For fresh sausage, preheat air fryer to 370°F.
- For frozen, increase temp to 390°F.
Preheating for 3-5 minutes ensures the air fryer is fully heated before cooking begins.
Step 2: Prepare the Sausage
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Links – Use a fork to poke holes all over the sausage casings. This prevents them from bursting.
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Patties – No preparation needed.
Step 3: Arrange in Air Fryer Basket
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Links – Place in a single layer around perimeter of basket.
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Patties – Space evenly in a single layer in basket.
Avoid overcrowding for fastest, most even cooking.
Step 4: Cook Sausage
- For fresh sausage, cook at 370°F.
- For frozen sausage, cook at 390°F.
Refer to cook times listed above based on amount and type of sausage.
Step 5: Check for Doneness
Farmer sausage is fully cooked when:
- It has browned and crisped on the outside
- The inside is no longer pink
- The minimum safe internal temperature of 160°F is reached.
If needed, cook for 1-2 minutes longer and recheck.
Step 6: Remove and Enjoy!
Carefully remove cooked farmer sausage from the air fryer basket and serve immediately.
Here are some serving suggestions:
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Breakfast – Serve with eggs, potatoes, pancakes or biscuits and gravy.
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Appetizer – Slice diagonally and serve with mustard, sauerkraut and crackers.
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Dinner – Pair with roasted vegetables and macaroni & cheese.
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Sandwich – Place on hoagie roll and top with sautéed peppers and onions.
With the simple steps above, you can have perfectly cooked farmer sausage from your air fryer in 15 minutes or less. Adjust cook times as needed based on the factors outlined. Soon you’ll have the timing down for making your favorite farmer sausage meals.
The air fryer makes cooking sausage so fast and easy with no messy grease splatters to clean up afterwards. The hot circulating air cooks the sausage evenly for ideal texture. Give farmer sausage from the air fryer a try soon and see how juicy and delicious it can be!
Common Air Fryer Farmer Sausage FAQs
Many people have questions when first cooking farmer sausage in an air fryer. Here are answers to some of the most common queries:
Should farmer sausage be poked before air frying?
For sausage links, definitely poke them. Use a fork to make several holes all over the casing. This allows hot air to penetrate and release steam and grease. Without poking, the casings can burst open.
For patties, poking is not necessary. The flat shape allows air flow.
Can farmer sausage be air fried straight from frozen?
It’s best to fully thaw farmer sausage before air frying. Frozen sausage will take nearly twice as long to cook. The sausage also may not cook evenly, with the outside overcooking before the inside thaws.
To thaw, place sausage in the refrigerator overnight. For quicker thawing, place in a bowl of cold water for 30-60 minutes.
Should farmer sausage be flipped during air frying?
Flipping is not necessary when air frying. The hot circulated air cooks the sausage evenly on all sides. One benefit of air frying is not having to flip or monitor like when pan frying.
How to prevent farmer sausage from drying out?
The key is to not overcook the sausage. Follow the recommended cook times for your amount of sausage. Also, poke sausage links to allow moisture to escape and increase air flow. This prevents drying out.
Finally, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Too many sausages will increase cook time.
What oil or fat is needed for air frying sausage?
No additional oil or fat needs to be added when air frying farmer sausage. The natural fat in the sausage will render out during cooking. Adding extra oil will just increase the fat and calories.
What are the best cooking temperatures for air frying sausage?
The ideal air fryer temperature for fresh farmer sausage is 370°F. For frozen sausage, set the temperature to 390°F.
Adjust the temperature as needed thicker or larger amounts of sausage that require longer cook times.
What are some flavorful basting sauces for air fried sausage?
For added flavor, you can brush the sausage with barbecue sauce, honey mustard sauce or other glazes during the last 3-5 minutes of cook time.
Some good options include:
- Sweet & spicy barbecue sauce
- Honey mustard
- Brown sugar ketchup glaze
- Bourbon molasses bbq sauce
- Pepper jelly
Choose your favorite sauce to give the air fried farmer sausage extra flavor and sticky glaze.
How long does cooked farmer sausage last in the refrigerator?
Fresh, raw sausage must be cooked or frozen within 1-2 days of purchase.
Fully cooked farmer sausage keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. It’s best to eat any leftover cooked sausage within that timeframe for food safety.
To extend shelf life, cooked sausage can be frozen for 2-3 months.
Follow these air fryer tips for enjoying tender and juicy farmer sausage with a crisp exterior and no greasy mess. In just 10-15 minutes, you can have the perfect quick breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack the whole family will love.