In a 360°F air fryer, sausages usually cook in 10–14 minutes, depending on thickness and whether they’re fresh or pre-cooked.
Air fryers make sausage night easy, but the exact cooking time can feel confusing. Different sausage types, sizes, and starting temperatures all change how long they need in the basket.
This guide explains timing, temperatures, doneness checks, a quick time chart, and a simple routine for even, low-mess results.
Air Fryer Sausage Cooking Time Chart
Use this chart as a quick reference for common sausage styles. Times assume a preheated air fryer and sausages arranged in a single layer.
| Sausage Type | Temp (°F) | Approx. Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh pork links (uncooked) | 360 | 12–14 minutes |
| Fresh bratwurst | 360 | 13–16 minutes |
| Chicken or turkey sausages | 360 | 11–13 minutes |
| Pre-cooked smoked sausages | 360 | 7–10 minutes |
| Breakfast links (pork) | 360 | 8–10 minutes |
| Breakfast patties (pork) | 360 | 7–9 minutes |
| Frozen sausages (no thaw) | 360 | 14–18 minutes |
Treat these timings as a starting point and adjust for your air fryer, basket load, and browning preference.
Why Air Fryers Work Well For Sausages
An air fryer cooks sausages by blasting them with hot air that circulates around every side. This moves heat quickly into the center while drying the outside just enough to crisp the casing.
Because the basket lets fat drip away from the sausage, you often end up with less grease than in a skillet while still getting plenty of color on the skin. That combination is handy when you want browned sausage without turning on the full oven.
The blast of heat can dry out thinner sausages if you leave them in too long. That is why knowing exactly how long different sausages need in your air fryer matters so much.
How Long To Cook Sausages In An Air Fryer For Different Types
Different sausages are packed, seasoned, and cased in different ways. That means timing for air fryer sausages is always tied to the specific style you put in the basket.
Fresh Pork Sausages
Standard fresh pork links, around 1 inch thick, do best at 360°F for 12–14 minutes. Turn them once at the halfway mark so they brown on all sides.
For safety, ground pork and sausage should reach at least 160°F in the center. Food safety charts from FoodSafety.gov list 160°F as the safe minimum for ground meat and sausage. Use a digital thermometer so you do not have to guess based on color.
Bratwurst And Thicker Links
Bratwurst and other thick pork sausages usually need 13–16 minutes at 360°F. If the links are very large, start at 14 minutes, take a temperature reading, then give them another 2–3 minutes if the center is still below 160°F.
Place thicker sausages toward the outer edge of the basket where heat hits harder, and leave a little space between each link.
Chicken And Turkey Sausages
Poultry sausages contain leaner meat, so timing and internal temperature matter a lot. Set the air fryer to 360°F and cook chicken or turkey sausages for 11–13 minutes, turning once.
Poultry sausage should reach 165°F in the center. The same safe minimum appears in the USDA safe temperature chart, which covers chicken, turkey, and other poultry.
Pre-Cooked Smoked Sausages
Smoked sausages and hot dogs are already cooked when you buy them, so the goal in the air fryer is to heat them through and crisp the outside. At 360°F, most smoked links need only 7–10 minutes.
If you prefer a gentle snap rather than a very crunchy casing, check them at the 6–7 minute mark. The meat inside should be steaming hot and the skin should show light browning.
Breakfast Links And Patties
Smaller breakfast sausages cook faster because there is less distance for heat to travel. Links usually need 8–10 minutes at 360°F, and patties sit in the 7–9 minute range.
Because breakfast sausage is often high in fat, you may see more grease in the bottom of the basket. Lining the basket with a piece of parchment that is trimmed to fit can make cleanup easier, as long as there is still enough space for air to move.
Frozen Sausages
If you forget to thaw sausages, an air fryer can still handle the job. Cook frozen sausages at 360°F for 14–18 minutes. After 5 minutes, separate any links that are stuck together and continue cooking.
Frozen sausages shed more moisture as they heat, so the outside may not brown as fast. Allow the extra time at the end to get the casing as crisp as you like once the center reaches a safe temperature.
How Long Do You Cook Sausages In An Air Fryer? By Type
When someone asks how long do you cook sausages in an air fryer?, the most honest answer is that it depends on thickness, meat type, and whether the sausage is raw, cooked, or frozen.
Think in ranges rather than exact minutes. Pork links usually finish in 12–14 minutes, poultry sausages tend to need 11–13 minutes, and frozen links push toward the top of the chart.
Step-By-Step Method For Air Fryer Sausages
Knowing the timing is helpful, but a simple routine makes your results consistent. Use this method for most sausage styles, then adjust the minutes based on the chart and sections above.
Prep The Sausages
Pat the sausages dry with a paper towel so the skin does not steam. If the casing looks very dry, rub on a thin film of oil.
Preheat The Air Fryer
Set the temperature to 360°F and let the air fryer run for 3–5 minutes with an empty basket. A warm chamber gives you more predictable timing and helps the sausages brown right away.
Arrange The Basket
Place sausages in a single layer with a little gap between each one. Air needs space to move. If you are cooking a big batch, cook in two rounds rather than stacking the links.
Cook And Turn
Cook sausages for the lower end of the suggested time, then turn them. Turning halfway prevents flat spots and helps every side brown.
If your air fryer has shelves instead of a basket, rotate the trays at the halfway point as well. The back of most units runs slightly hotter, so swapping positions helps every tray of sausages finish at roughly the same time.
Check Doneness
Test one sausage in the thickest section with an instant-read thermometer. For pork sausage, aim for 160°F in the center. For poultry sausage, aim for 165°F.
Rest And Serve
Let the sausages rest on a plate for 3–5 minutes so the juices settle. During this short rest, the internal temperature can rise a couple of degrees.
Adjusting Time And Temperature For Sausage Size
Not every brand labels sausages by thickness, but you can still adjust timing with a quick look. The thicker the link, the more minutes it needs, even when the air fryer temperature stays the same.
If you mix small and large links in one batch, let the thicker ones drive the total cook time and pull the thin ones a couple of minutes early so they stay juicy.
Thin Sausages
Skinny sausages, such as chipolatas, brown fast and dry out quickly. Keep the air fryer at 360°F, but stay closer to 8–10 minutes and check temperature early.
Standard Sausages
Standard dinner sausages around 1 inch thick land in the timing ranges listed in the chart. Twelve minutes is a good middle point for pork.
Thick And Stuffed Sausages
Sausages stuffed with cheese or extra fillings hold more moisture. Start them at 360°F for 10 minutes, then check the color. If the outside looks close to done but the center is still below a safe temperature, lower the heat slightly and continue in 3-minute blocks.
Handling Leftover Air Fryer Sausages
Leftover sausages make quick breakfasts, sandwiches, and pasta add-ins. Cool them within two hours, store them in an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge for up to three or four days.
To reheat in the air fryer, set the temperature to 320°F and warm the sausages for 4–6 minutes. The lower temperature helps heat the center without drying the outside.
For longer storage, freeze cooked sausages on a tray until firm, then move them to a freezer bag. Label with the date and use them within two months for best texture. Reheat straight from frozen at 320°F for 8–10 minutes, checking the center with a thermometer.
Common Air Fryer Sausage Mistakes
Even with a clear answer to how long do you cook sausages in an air fryer?, a few simple missteps can lead to burnt spots, uneven cooking, or smoke. Watch out for these issues and use the quick fixes in the table below.
| Mistake | What You See | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Crowded basket | Pale spots and uneven browning | Cook in smaller batches with gaps between links |
| No preheat | Longer cook time and rubbery skin | Preheat 3–5 minutes before adding sausages |
| Too high temperature | Burnt casing, undercooked center | Stay near 360°F and extend time as needed |
| No turning | One side too dark, one side pale | Turn links halfway through cooking |
| Skipping the thermometer | Guessing if meat is safe | Use an instant-read thermometer for every new brand |
| Dirty basket | Smoke and burnt smells | Clean out grease and crumbs between batches |
| No rest time | Juices spill out when cut | Rest sausages 3–5 minutes before slicing |
Practical Tips For Consistent Air Fryer Sausages
A few habits make your air fryer sausage routine smoother. Keep a notepad or note on your phone where you record the timing and temperature that worked best for each brand. Over a few weeks, patterns appear and you stop second-guessing every batch of sausages in your kitchen.
When you plan meals, think about sides that share similar temperatures and cook times, such as potato wedges or sliced peppers. Cook the vegetables first, then add sausages on top so the juices drip down and season everything.
Try not to chase deep color at the cost of moisture. If you want a darker casing, extend cooking time by small steps, 1–2 minutes at a time, instead of adding a big block of time all at once.
Most of all, treat the thermometer as part of your routine instead of a special tool. Once you match safe temperatures with the time ranges in this guide, sausages from your air fryer turn out tender, browned, and ready to pair with everything from breakfast eggs to quick sheet-pan vegetables.