Most sausages air fry in 8–15 minutes at 360–400°F, as long as they reach a safe internal temperature of 160–165°F.
If you have a new air fryer and a pack of sausages waiting in the fridge, the big question is simple: how long to air fry sausages so they come out juicy, browned, and safe to eat on busy weeknights too. Time alone is not enough. Thickness, meat type, and basket crowding all change the cooking time.
How Long To Air Fry Sausages? Time And Temperature Overview
The best starting point for how long to air fry sausages is a medium temperature and a moderate cook time. For most raw pork or beef links, plan on about 10–12 minutes at 380–400°F. Chicken and turkey sausages sit closer to 11–13 minutes because they need a slightly higher internal temperature for safety.
Pre cooked sausages and thinner breakfast links often need less time, closer to 6–9 minutes. Heavier bratwurst, thick Italian sausages, or fully frozen sausages can stretch up toward 15–20 minutes. No matter the style, the real goal is an internal temperature of 160°F for pork or beef sausage and 165°F for poultry sausage, as recommended by national food safety agencies.
| Sausage Type | Suggested Air Fry Temp | Typical Time Range* |
|---|---|---|
| Raw pork or beef links (standard thickness) | 380–400°F (193–204°C) | 10–12 minutes |
| Thick bratwurst or Italian sausages | 380–400°F (193–204°C) | 12–15 minutes |
| Chicken or turkey sausages | 375–400°F (190–204°C) | 11–13 minutes |
| Pre cooked smoked or frank style sausages | 380–400°F (193–204°C) | 6–9 minutes |
| Breakfast links or chipolatas | 360–380°F (182–193°C) | 8–10 minutes |
| Frozen raw sausages (no thaw) | 380–400°F (193–204°C) | 15–20 minutes |
| Veggie or plant based sausages | 360–380°F (182–193°C) | 8–10 minutes |
*Times assume a single layer of sausages in the basket. If the basket is packed, add a couple of minutes and check the internal temperature.
Air Frying Sausages Time And Temperature By Type
Once you know the basic window for how long to air fry sausages, the next step is dialing things in for your exact sausage style. Use these ranges as a reliable starting point, then adjust by a minute or two based on browning and thermometer readings.
Raw Pork Or Beef Links
Set the air fryer to 380–400°F. Place sausages in a single layer with a little space between them. Cook for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through. Start checking the internal temperature from the 9 minute mark. Pull them once the center hits at least 160°F and the juices run clear. Many home cooks report that 400°F for around 12 minutes gives a nicely browned outside while keeping the inside moist.
Thick Bratwurst Or Italian Sausages
These sausages hold more meat and fat, so they take longer than standard links. Set the air fryer to 380–400°F and cook for about 12–15 minutes, turning once or twice. Start checking the thickest sausage around 11 minutes. If the center is still below 160°F, add 2–3 minutes and check again. Recipes for air fryer Italian sausage often land near 15 minutes at 400°F, which lines up well with these ranges.
Chicken Or Turkey Sausages
Poultry sausages cook fast but need a higher endpoint for safety than pork. Set the air fryer to 375–400°F and cook for 11–13 minutes in a single layer. Look for an internal temperature of 165°F. Many home cooks find that 8–10 minutes at 400°F works for thinner chicken sausages, but thicker styles usually need that extra couple of minutes.
Pre Cooked Smoked Or Frank Style Sausages
These sausages are already cooked, so your goal is browning and thorough reheating, not bringing raw meat to a safe point. Set the air fryer to 380–400°F and cook for 6–9 minutes, turning once. Since they are pre cooked, the risk is lower, but an internal temperature near 140°F still keeps you within common food safety advice for reheated ready to eat meat.
Breakfast Links Or Chipolata Sausages
These small sausages are ideal for air fryers because they crisp fast. Set the air fryer to 360–380°F and cook for 8–10 minutes. Shake or turn halfway through so they brown evenly. Because they are small, they can move from pale to dark fast, so start checking early.
Frozen Sausages Straight From The Freezer
You can cook raw sausages from frozen in an air fryer without thawing. Set the temperature to 380–400°F and plan for 15–20 minutes. After about 10 minutes, break apart any sausages that are stuck together. Turn once or twice, and keep checking the internal temperature until every sausage reaches at least 160°F for pork or beef, or 165°F for poultry. Many recipe tests suggest that 20 minutes at 400°F gives a fully cooked, nicely browned result for frozen sausages.
Veggie Or Plant Based Sausages
Most veggie sausages contain less fat than meat sausages, so they brown in less time and can dry out if you treat them the same way. Set the air fryer to 360–380°F and cook for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway. A light spray of oil helps prevent a hard, dry exterior. Since veggie sausages do not carry the same meat safety risks, focus more on texture and taste than exact internal temperature.
Using Internal Temperature For Safe, Juicy Sausages
Cooking time guides are helpful, but the safest way to decide how long to air fry sausages is by checking internal temperature. A simple digital thermometer tells you when the center is hot enough to keep your kitchen safe while still tasting good.
Food safety agencies recommend that ground meat and sausage made from pork or beef reach 160°F, while poultry sausages need 165°F. The safe minimum internal temperature chart from FoodSafety.gov and the USDA sausage guidance both repeat these numbers, because those temperatures are high enough to kill common bacteria in ground meat.
To check temperature in the air fryer, pause the cycle, slide out the basket, and insert the thermometer probe into the center of the thickest sausage. Keep the tip away from the sides of the basket so you do not pick up heat from the metal. Once you see 160–165°F, you can stop cooking. If the reading stalls in the 150s, give the sausages 2–3 more minutes and test again.
Safe time out of the air fryer matters too. Cooked sausages should not sit in the temperature danger zone for long periods. Food safety agencies describe this range as roughly 40–140°F, a band where bacteria multiply faster. Try to serve sausages soon after cooking, or chill leftovers within two hours.
Step By Step Method For Air Frying Sausages
Prep The Sausages
- Pat sausages dry with a paper towel so they brown instead of steam.
- If casings tend to split, prick each sausage once or twice with a toothpick.
- Lightly oil the air fryer basket if your model tends to stick. A quick spray works well.
Preheat And Load The Basket
Many air fryer models now preheat automatically. If yours does not, run it empty at the target temperature for 2–3 minutes. Then place sausages in a single layer with gaps between them. Air needs room to flow around the meat. A crowded basket always stretches the answer to how long to air fry sausages, because the heat has more work to do.
Cook And Turn
- Set the temperature based on sausage type, using the earlier table as a reference.
- Start with the shorter end of the suggested time window.
- Turn or shake halfway through so every side browns.
When the timer hits the low end of the range, check one sausage with a thermometer. That quick check protects against overcooking while still keeping food safety in line with guidance from agencies such as the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Rest And Serve
Once the sausages hit their target temperature, let them rest on a plate for 3–5 minutes. Resting helps the juices settle so they run onto your plate instead of out onto the cutting board. Then slice, serve with your chosen sides, or tuck them into rolls with onions and mustard.
Adjusting Air Fry Time For Your Exact Air Fryer
Two people can follow the same recipe and still get slightly different answers for how long to air fry sausages. That gap usually comes from small differences between air fryers and sausage brands. A few quick checks help you adapt any time and temperature chart to your own kitchen.
Thickness And Fat Level
Thicker sausages always need more time. A slim breakfast link might reach 160°F in eight minutes, while a bulky bratwurst takes fifteen minutes at the same temperature. Fat adds time as well, since fat needs extra heat to render and crisp. If your sausages look plump and dense, lean toward the upper end of each time range.
Basket Load And Air Flow
An air fryer works by pushing hot air over the food. When the basket is crowded, air struggles to reach the spots where sausages touch. Cook in a single layer and leave gaps whenever possible. If you need a big batch, cook in two rounds or add a couple of minutes and be ready to turn and rearrange during cooking.
Wattage And Model Differences
Higher wattage models heat faster and recover heat more quickly when you open the basket to turn food. If your air fryer is powerful, you might shave a minute off the suggested time, especially at 400°F. If it is older or lower wattage, give sausages an extra minute or two. After a few runs with the same brand of sausage, you will know your personal sweet spot.
Preheating And Starting Temperature
Sausages taken straight from the fridge take longer than sausages that sat on the counter for ten minutes. The same goes for a cold air fryer compared with a preheated one. When you first test how long to air fry sausages in a new model, start with chilled sausages and a preheated basket so your timing stays consistent.
Troubleshooting Common Air Fryer Sausage Problems
| Problem | Likely Cause | Simple Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Outside dark, inside still pink | Temperature too high or sausages too thick for the time used | Drop heat by 20°F and add 2–4 minutes, checking internal temperature |
| Sausages split open | High heat or no venting in the casing | Prick casings once or twice and cook at 360–380°F |
| Dry, tough texture | Overcooking past 165°F or extra lean sausage | Start checking a few minutes earlier and use a slightly lower temperature |
| Grease smoke in the kitchen | High fat sausages at high heat with a dirty drip tray | Clean the basket and tray, use a lower temperature, and avoid overcrowding |
| Pale color even when cooked through | Lower heat and high moisture | Finish for 2–3 minutes at 400°F to boost browning |
| Sausages stick to the basket | No oil on a rough or new nonstick surface | Lightly oil the basket or use a high heat safe liner with holes |
Making The Most Of Air Fried Sausages
Keep the core ranges in mind, then tweak slightly when you change sausage types. Raw pork and beef links tend to live around 10–12 minutes at 380–400°F, chicken and turkey sausages around 11–13 minutes, and frozen sausages closer to 15–20 minutes. Hit 160–165°F in the center, let them rest for a few minutes, and you are ready to eat.