We probably have a stock of chicken sausage in a fridge, and there is no reason not: there are probably a thousand ways to eat a chicken sausage.
You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; you can have it as a snack; you can eat it anytime, even during ungodly hours.
But besides being delicious, why do people want to have this among their everyday food staples? What are the benefits of having a stock of chicken sausage?
Lastly, what is the best way to, and how long to cook chicken sausage?
Why Chicken Sausage?
There are excellent reasons why mothers pick chicken sausages when they go to groceries; among these are the following:
Very Nutritious
Chicken sausage is made of ground chicken, usually chicken thighs and chicken breast, and is one of the healthy alternatives for meat.
It is a good source of protein and is low in fat and calories, so those who want to reduce their caloric intake would benefit from it.
Those who want to increase their protein would benefit from a chicken sausage rather than beef or pork sausage.
Nutrition facts tell us that a hundred grams of chicken sausage contain about 17 percent protein, which is quite a lot.
This food is so healthy that it is always on the lists of recipes for a healthy diet, and those that want to manage their weight lower their caloric intake and increase their protein intake.
Very Easy To Cook And Prepare
Sausage is one of the better comfort foods because you can cook it anytime, but it is even more so for chicken sausage.
Whatever way you want to cook it, you can do so, and that is without sacrificing taste or nutrition.
You can cook it using an air fryer, grill it, smoke it, and use any oil, like vegetable or olive oil. You can partner it with other food, like veggies or potato wedges, or eat it with bread.
Whatever you decide, preparation is not that difficult with chicken sausage. Even if you choose to have a fancy dinner or snack, it will not take much to prepare and cook.
Read More: Which is better, pork sausage or beef sausage?
How Long To Cook Chicken Sausage: Things You Need To Know
As delicious as the chicken sausages, there is the tendency you might overcook or undercook them.
It would be best if you always are mindful of how long you cook the chicken sausage; not minding it or forgetting about it will undoubtedly impact the taste of the meat.
The duration will ultimately depend on what type of dish you are preparing. But whatever it is, there are things you can do to ensure that the temperature and the duration are just right for the meat.
Knowing If It Is Cooked
Whether you bake, fry, or smoke, it would be best to know if the meat is already cooked.
Whatever recipe you have, there are signs you cannot miss, like having a brownish color and the chicken sausage being firm, which means the chicken sausage is ready for eating.
But this one is never always accurate, and some things could go wrong.
A minute or two more in an air fryer or oven might make the meat overcooked; it may become fluffy and melt even as you remove the chicken sausage from the pan or oven.
Taking The Temperature
Using a meat thermometer might be a good idea if you want to be more exact and precise.
The ideal internal temperature of a chicken sausage should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and you will know that it is cooked already if it stays that way for half a minute.
Accurately measuring the temperature can give you the best of everything. For one, you can be sure that the chicken sausage is already cooked as it should be.
Secondly, you are sure to preserve the meat’s right taste and juiciness.
You minimize overcooking if you measure the temperature and the chances of undercooking it, thereby reducing the chances of infection.
But you can still get it right if you use a timer and cook it at the appropriate temperature.
How Long To Cook Chicken Sausage?
You need to have the proper timing and the right temperature to have the ideal chicken sausage dish you want. But everything depends on how you cook it.
If you use an oven and bake the chicken sausage, you need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Put the chicken sausage on the baking sheet, then bake it for at least twenty minutes.
If you want to use a microwave, put it on high, then cook it for 2-3 minutes. If you cook it in a skillet, you can cook the chicken for up to fifteen minutes to ensure you have a thoroughly cooked chicken sausage.
When using an air fryer, set the temperature at 400 degrees, put it in the air fryer basket, then cook the chicken sausage for at least ten minutes.
If you want a grilled chicken sausage, make sure you preheat the grill to medium-high heat first, then place the chicken sausages on the grill.
Turn them over now and then for at least 8 minutes, then observe the meat’s color, texture, and firmness.
But How Should I Cook Chicken Sausage?
The beauty of chicken sausage is that you can cook it any way you want, depending on your preferences. However, there are ways to make your chicken sausage truly salacious.
If you want a healthy dish or snack, you can bake your chicken sausage, for instance, with some veggies in it. Adding some, like Brussels sprouts, bell pepper, or broccoli, will not hurt.
If you want it simple, you can use an air fryer or fry it in a pan. Cooking a chicken in a skillet, you will need an onion and pepper to make your chicken sausage spicy.
If you like to add some twist, you can roast the chicken sausage, and add some side dishes, coleslaw, fries, and potato wedges are some which you can add.
You use mayo as dressing or have some gravy or ketchup.
Final Thoughts
Cooking chicken sausage is easy, and a delicious, nutritious dish or snack is guaranteed whatever way you cook it.
More than the ease and comfort, the nutritional value makes it appealing, and you can be sure you meet your protein quota if you have one.
But you need to cook it properly, and if you do not have a thermometer, you need to know how long to cook chicken sausage.
Be it grilled, baked, or in the oven, fried in a pan or air fryer, you must know when the time is up for the cooking so that you may eat.
That will guarantee excellent taste without the threat of quick spoilage or infection.
