The Average Number of Italian Sausage Links in a Pound

If you’ve ever cooked Italian sausage links as part of a meal, you may have wondered just how many links come in a standard 1 pound package. This can be helpful to know when meal planning, shopping, and cooking. In this article, we’ll break down the typical number of Italian sausage links per pound so you can have a good idea of what to expect.

An Overview of Italian Sausage Links

First, let’s start with a quick overview of what Italian sausage links are. Italian sausage links are a type of fresh sausage made from ground pork and seasoned with Italian-style spices and herbs. Typical seasonings include fennel seed, black pepper, garlic, paprika, anise seed, and red pepper flakes. This gives the sausage its distinctive flavor profile. The ground meat mixture is then stuffed into casings to form individual links. Popular casing types are natural hog casings or collagen casings.

Italian sausage can come in two main varieties:

• Sweet Italian sausage – This features the traditional Italian spices and seasoning without any spicy heat. It has a sweeter, more mild flavor.

• Hot Italian sausage – This contains crushed red pepper flakes or other spices to give it some spicy heat and a bolder spicier flavor.

Both types are extremely versatile and can be used in pastas, soups, pizzas, sandwiches, and more. The links are often browned and crumbled in recipes to add hearty flavor. Now let’s look at how many links you get per pound.

The Average Number of Links per Pound

So how many Italian sausage links are typically found in a 1 pound package? Here is the general range

• 4 to 5 links per pound – This is the average and most common number of Italian sausage links you will find in a 1 pound package from most grocery stores, butcher shops, and sausage producers.

There can be some variability in the exact count based on the size and thickness of the links. But generally expect right around 4 to 5 sausage links in a 1 pound package.

Here are some more details on the link count:

• Links are usually made around 3.5 to 4 ounces each. So 5 links would add up to about 1 pound.

• Jumbo sized links may only have 3 or 4 in a pound.

• Smaller “cocktail” sized links may have up to 6 in a pound.

• When buying bulk sausage from a butcher, you may get longer continuous ropes of sausage instead of individual links. These are often cut into 4 to 5 inch lengths, which also breaks down to about 4 or 5 per pound.

• Major Italian sausage brands like Johnsonville and Applegate Farms state their one pound packages contain 4 to 5 links on average.

So in most cases when cooking with 1 pound of Italian sausage, plan for about 4 to 5 links total. This can help with recipe planning. For example, a recipe that calls for 1 pound of Italian sausage links browned and sliced would yield enough slices from 4 to 5 links.

If you purchase sausage links labeled with the exact count, you can adjust your recipe accordingly. But an estimate of 4 to 5 per pound works for most situations. Let’s look at some more buying and cooking considerations.

Buying and Cooking Tips for Italian Sausage Links

Here are some helpful tips for buying and cooking Italian sausage links:

• Check the label – If buying sausage links at the grocery store, check the packaging label. It may state the exact number of links in that package for the poundage. This can remove any guesswork.

• Purchase extra – Since link counts can vary, it’s smart to buy a little extra sausage just in case when cooking for a crowd or for a recipe. An extra pound to have on hand can be useful.

• Consider thickness – Thicker, jumbo sized links will have fewer per pound compared to thinner links. So 4 thicker links may make a pound while thinner links may be 5 or more.

• Remove casing – Many recipes call for removing the sausage casing before cooking and browning the meat. Be sure to account for this step in your timing if following a recipe.

• Brown properly – Cook Italian sausage links over medium heat allowing the outside to brown while the inside cooks through. Low and slow is key. Cut to test for doneness.

• Drain grease – Be sure to drain excess grease after browning sausage to remove excess fat before adding to other recipe ingredients.

• Cook fully – Always cook Italian sausage links to an internal temperature of 160°F to ensure safety. Undercooked sausage can pose health risks.

• Freeze extras – Leftover uncooked sausage links freeze well for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you cook Italian sausage links to perfection no matter the exact link count per pound.

Popular Brands of Italian Sausage Links

There are many excellent Italian sausage brands available at grocery stores or to purchase online. Here are some of the top options:

• Johnsonville – One of the most popular brands, they offer both sweet and hot Italian sausage options in links and bulk rolls. Links contain 4-5 per pound.

• Applegate – This natural and organic brand makes Italian chicken sausage and organic Italian pork sausage links with about 4 links per pound.

• Al Fresco – Available in both sweet and hot, their chicken and turkey Italian sausages have 5 links per pound.

• Aidells – Known for their fully cooked chicken apple sausage, they also have a tasty Italian style pork links option.

• Trader Joe’s – Their house brand Italian pork sausage comes in sweet and hot options with 4 to 5 links per pound.

• Jimmy Dean – You can find their familiar breakfast sausage brand in Italian pork sausage too, often 4 links per pound.

There are also more regional and specialty Italian sausage brands found throughout the country in differing meat markets. Check your local stores for local favorites.

Tips for Making Homemade Italian Sausage

Interested in making your own Italian sausage at home? Here are some tips:

• Use ground pork – Most authentic recipes call for pure ground pork shoulder. Add some fatback if you want extra moisture and juiciness.

• Add seasonings – Use traditional spices like fennel, paprika, garlic, black pepper, anise, and red pepper flakes. Adjust amounts to preference.

• Use a sausage stuffer – A kitchen sausage stuffer allows you to easily stuff the ground meat mixture into hog casings. Stuff fully but not too tight.

• Tie off links – Twist the stuffed casings into links at your desired size, tying off each link. Use butcher’s twine. Work in batches.

• Refrigerate 2 days – Allow homemade sausage to cure for 1-2 days in the fridge before cooking. This allows flavors to meld.

• Cook before eating – Always cook homemade pork sausage to 160°F internal temperature before eating for food safety.

With the right technique, you can craft your own signature Italian sausage links at home.

Common Uses for Italian Sausage Links

The uses for cooked Italian sausage links are nearly endless. Here are some of the most popular ways to use them:

• Add to pasta dishes like ziti, lasagna, pasta salad, and pasta fagioli

• Top pizzas before baking

• Make meatball sandwiches with sliced sausage

• Chop and add to red or white sauces and gravies

• Serve with roasted vegetables, peppers, onions, and potatoes

• Add to soups like minestrone, bean soup, or potato soup

• Stuff into and wrap with biscuits, bread dough, pizza dough, etc.

• Fry up with scrambled eggs or an omelette

• Skewer for grilling or roasting

• Add to casseroles and baked pasta dishes for extra flavor

With so many possibilities, Italian sausage links are one of the most versatile meats to always have on hand. Now that you know about how many to expect per pound, you can better plan for using them in your favorite dishes.