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Once you try cooking Italian sausages in your Instant Pot, you’ll never make them any other way! So moist and juicy and ready in under 20 minutes!
Baked Italian Sausage is my go-to easy dinner. Before the Instant Pot, I would always bake it in the oven (see my oven baked Italian sausage recipe and BBQ baked sausage). Once I got the Instant Pot, I can now cook Italian sausages in half the time of the oven method!
You can cook Italian sausages in the Instant Pot from fresh or frozen! So go ahead and stash that package of Italian sausage in a freezer – this way you’ll always have a meal on hand for those busy weeknights!
How To Cook Italian Sausage In The Instant Pot
Cooking Italian sausage in the Instant Pot is very simple. All you need is sausage and water!
Pour 1/2 cup of water in the Instant Pot and add sausage links in a single layer. Close the lid, turn the valve to a Sealing position, press the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set the time for 15 minutes. When it’s done cooking, quick release (QR) the steam. Perfectly cooked and tender Italian sausages are ready to be eaten!
If you want a more “browned” look, you can either saute the sausage in the Instant Pot on a “Saute” setting or put it in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes. I just eat it as is, as I’m lazy and don’t like any extra steps :)
What happens if you want to make more than one package of sausage at once? Yes, you can! You can put as much sausage in the Instant Pot as you can fit under the “Max Fill” line. The quantity of water remains the same (1/2 cup). Just be aware that when the sausages overlap, they stick together, and when you separate them, they have weird marks on them :) They taste just as good, but that’s something to be aware of if presentation is important. The way to get around the sticking issue is to separate the layers of sausages by sheets of foil.
How do you cook Italian sausages from frozen? Simply add 5 minutes to the cooking time (making a total cooking time 20 minutes). So if you have a package of frozen sausage in your freezer, you are less than 30 minutes away from a delicious hot meal!
What’s on the plate on the picture above with the sausages? Like what you see? The salad recipe is here: Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad. And believe it or not, these roasted sweet potatoes were also made in the Instant Pot! Check out my recipe forInstant Pot roasted sweet potatoes. Enjoy!
If you liked Instant Pot Italian Sausages, you will also love these easy recipes:
Instant Pot Chili – so easy you won’t believe it! Just dump all ingredients in the Instant Pot and enjoy a hot bowl of epic chili in 20 minutes!
Instant Pot Corn On The Cob – the juiciest moistest corn ever, made in minutes! Once you try making corn in the Instant Pot, you’ll never make it any other way!
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken – this amazing recipe is using just 2 ingredients – chicken and salsa! So easy and yummy!
Instant Pot Pasta – say goodbye to watching a boiling pot of water on the stove! Instant Pot pasta is truly effortless!
Instant Pot Baked Apples – stuffed with cinnamon and raisins, these apples are mouthwatering!
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Instant Pot Italian Sausage
Instant Pot Italian sausage is ready in 15 minutes! The sausages are so tender and juicy, amazing! Once you try cooking Italian sausage in your Instant Pot, you'll never make it any other way!
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Instructions
Pour water in the Instant Pot, then put sausages in the Instant Pot in a single layer.
Close the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the valve to Sealing position.
Press the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button and set the time for 15 minutes.
When the Instant Pot is done cooking, quick release (QR) the steam.
Remove the Italian sausages from the Instant Pot using tongs and serve.
Notes
If using frozen Italian sausage, the cooking time is 20 minutes.
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FAQs
Yes, you can use the oven to cook frozen Italian sausage. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the frozen sausages on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, turning them halfway through, until they are cooked through and browned.
Do you cook sausage frozen or thawed? ›
These will have to be thawed out to separate them, but not because you cannot cook from frozen, just make sure the core temperature reaches 70°C for at least 2 minutes. Typically frozen sausages will take about 10-15 minutes to cook through in a frying pan, BBQ or grill but different thicknesses will vary the time.
Are fresh sausages better than frozen? ›
There is study out there on this very topic. I think it was done by Cook's country or American Test Kitchen. Cooked sausage that was then frozen and packaged tasted better and has better consistency.
Why not cook sausages from frozen? ›
Can you cook sausages from frozen? Yes you can cook most sausages from frozen, and this applies to most types of meat sausages and meat-free sausages. Always check the packaging or with the butcher, as they will give instructions on whether the sausages will need to be defrosted fully before cooking.
Does it take longer to cook frozen meat in Instant Pot? ›
Do Expect Cook Times to Vary: A frozen piece of meat will not only take longer to cook, but it will also take longer for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. Because of this, be prepared to add a few extra minutes to your overall cook time.
Can I cook impossible Italian sausage from frozen? ›
How to Cook Impossible Sausage. Because Impossible Sausage comes in convenient, fully cooked and pre-seasoned patties, they work well in any breakfast menu item. You can cook Impossible Sausage patties from a thawed or frozen state, but since they are pre-cooked, we recommend reheating each one to no more than 140°F.
What happens if you don't defrost sausages? ›
If food is still frozen or partially frozen, it will take longer to cook. The outside of the food could be cooked, but the centre might not be, which means it could contain harmful bacteria. Do you check food is thoroughly defrosted before cooking?
Can you cook ground Italian sausage from frozen? ›
The best method to cook frozen ground sausage is to brown it in a skillet. Start by heating a skillet over medium-high heat, add a little oil, and then add the frozen sausage. Break it up with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until the sausage is browned and cooked through, typically between 10-15 minutes.
How soon do you have to cook sausages after defrosting? ›
Freezing and defrosting sausages
They should be defrosted in the fridge and only cooked after they are thoroughly defrosted. Sausages that have been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for up to two days in the refrigerator before cooking.
Should you cook Italian sausage before freezing it? ›
The Italian sausage will freeze well for up to 6 months, either raw or cooked. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before cooking or reheating.
Typically, fresh sausage is fried in a skillet or grilled and can be made with or without casings. On the other hand, Cured Sausage is cooked at low temperatures for long periods time. The term “Cured” refers to a product called Cure that is added to the meat before cooking.
What's the difference between fresh and frozen meat? ›
Initially, fresh meat has a higher nutrient count than frozen. However, fresh meat loses its vitamins and minerals as time passes. So, if you freeze your cuts and thaw them properly, or buy products that have been professionally prepared, you can retain those valuable nutrients as well as the delicious flavour.
Should frozen sausage be thawed before cooking? ›
The bottom line on frozen sausage
Frozen sausage is easy to thaw, but it's not something you even have to do. If you want to start cooking immediately, just bring them up to a boil in a pot of water, drop them in the oven, or even use an Instant Pot.
How to thaw frozen Italian sausage? ›
Thawing in a Bowl of Water
- Remove the wrapping from the sausages and place them in a bowl. ...
- Fill the bowl with lukewarm water. ...
- Put the bowl in a sink below a dripping faucet. ...
- Keep the bowl under the faucet until the sausages have fully thawed. ...
- Wash the bowl and your sink with bleach.
Oven cook - From Frozen - 23-28 mins Preheat oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas Mark 7. Add 1 tbsp of oil to a baking tray and add the sausages, ensuring they are coated with the oil. Place tray in the middle of the oven and cook, turning occasionally.
Can I cook ground Italian sausage from frozen? ›
The best method to cook frozen ground sausage is to brown it in a skillet. Start by heating a skillet over medium-high heat, add a little oil, and then add the frozen sausage. Break it up with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until the sausage is browned and cooked through, typically between 10-15 minutes.
How long to cook sausages from frozen in an air fryer? ›
Air fryer frozen sausages will defrost on their own during cooking. How long does it take to cook frozen sausages in an airfryer? Air fry frozen sausages for 12- 15 minutes or less.
How to quickly defrost Italian sausage? ›
You can let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator, for an hour or so on the counter, for 15 min or so in hot water, or a few minutes in a microwave oven. You can cook it frozen in some cases, such as over the grill or in a pan with a little water added.
Can you cook sausages from frozen in a slow cooker? ›
Slow-cooker: Frozen sausages can be cooked in a slow cooker. To cook in a slow-cooked, leave them cooking thoroughly for an hour.
