Straight From the Smokehouse
Cooking Questions
Quick, straight answers about cooking, storing and serving smoked sausage and thick-cut bacon. Tap any question for the full answer.
How to Cook Smoked Sausage
Read the Guide Is smoked sausage already cooked? Not always. Some smoked sausage is fully cooked and some is only smoked, so check the label: “Fully Cooked” means it can be eaten after reheating, and “Not Fully Cooked” or “Cook Thoroughly” means it must be cooked to a safe temperature first. Is Monroe smoked sausage fully cooked? No. Monroe sausage is slow smoked over real hickory but not fully cooked, and the package says “Not Fully Cooked.” Cook it to an internal temperature of 160°F before eating. Can you eat smoked sausage cold or without cooking it? Only if the label says “Fully Cooked.” Smoked sausage labeled “Not Fully Cooked,” including Monroe, has to be cooked to 160°F every time, even if it looks ready. What temperature should smoked sausage be cooked to? Cook uncooked pork or beef sausage to 160°F, and sausage made with chicken or turkey to 165°F, according to the USDA. Check with an instant-read thermometer pushed into the center of the thickest link. How long do you cook smoked sausage in a skillet? Whole links take about 12 to 16 minutes over medium heat. Add ¼ inch of water, cover and cook 6 to 8 minutes, then uncover and brown them 6 to 8 more minutes, turning often, until they reach 160°F. How do you cook smoked sausage in the oven? Bake whole links on a sheet pan at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes, turning them halfway, until browned and 160°F inside. How long do you cook smoked sausage in an air fryer? Cook whole links at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway, until they reach 160°F. Baby links usually take 8 to 10 minutes. How do you grill smoked sausage? Grill links over medium heat (about 350 to 400°F) for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every few minutes, until they’re browned and 160°F inside. Can you boil smoked sausage? Yes, but simmer it instead of boiling hard. Simmer links in water or beer for 10 to 12 minutes, then brown them in a skillet or on the grill for 3 to 4 minutes until they reach 160°F. Should you poke holes in sausage before cooking? No. Poking holes lets the juices run out and leaves the sausage dry. Keep the casing whole and cook over medium heat instead. Why does sausage split, and how do you stop it? Sausage splits when the inside heats faster than the casing can stretch, usually from high heat or a hard boil. Cook over medium heat, start covered with a little water in a skillet, and turn the links often. What are baby links, and how do you cook them? Baby links are the same Monroe smoked sausage in smaller, bite-size links. Cook them like regular links for less time: about 8 to 10 minutes in a skillet over medium heat, turning often, until they reach 160°F. Do you need to cook sausage before adding it to gumbo or beans? Browning it first is best for flavor, but it doesn’t have to be fully cooked before it goes in. Sausage that simmers in gumbo, red beans or soup for 30 minutes or more will be well past 160°F by the time it’s served.
How to Cook Sausage in an Air Fryer
Read the Guide How long do you cook smoked sausage in an air fryer? Cook whole smoked sausage links at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes, turning them halfway, until they reach 160°F inside. What temperature do you air fry sausage at? 375°F is the sweet spot for smoked sausage. It browns the outside without splitting the casing before the middle reaches 160°F. How do you air fry sliced smoked sausage? Slice it into ½-inch rounds and air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until browned and 160°F inside. How long do you air fry baby links? Air fry Monroe baby links at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until they reach 160°F. Can you air fry cheddar sausage? Yes. Air fry Kickin’ Cheddar links at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes like regular links, and expect a little cheese to bubble out at the ends. Line the basket with a perforated parchment liner for easy cleanup. Can you cook frozen sausage in an air fryer? Yes. Air fry frozen links at 350°F for about 8 minutes to thaw the outside, separate them, then turn it up to 375°F for 10 to 12 more minutes until they reach 160°F. Should you poke holes in sausage before air frying? No. Poking holes lets the juices drip out and dries the sausage. If links tend to burst in your air fryer, lower the temperature to 350°F and add a couple of minutes instead. Do you need to preheat the air fryer for sausage? It helps. Preheating for 3 to 5 minutes gives a better sear and more even timing. If you skip it, add 2 to 3 minutes and still cook to 160°F. How do you know air fryer sausage is done? Use an instant-read thermometer: smoked pork sausage is done at 160°F in the center of the thickest link. Browning on the outside isn’t a reliable sign, because air fryers brown fast. Can you cook thick-cut bacon in the air fryer too? Yes. Cook thick-cut bacon at 375°F for 10 to 14 minutes in a single layer, turning once halfway, until crisp. How do you reheat cooked sausage in the air fryer? Reheat cooked sausage at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes, until hot all the way through (165°F for leftovers). Eat leftovers within 3 to 4 days of cooking.
How to Cook Thick-Cut Bacon
Read the Guide What is the best way to cook thick-cut bacon? The oven. Lay the slices on a foil-lined sheet pan and bake at 400°F for 18 to 25 minutes, with no flipping, until they’re as crisp as you like. How do you cook thick-cut bacon in a skillet? Start the slices in a cold skillet, then cook over medium heat for 10 to 14 minutes, turning every couple of minutes, until browned and crisp. How long do you cook thick-cut bacon in an air fryer? Cook it at 375°F for 10 to 14 minutes in a single layer, turning once halfway, until crisp. Is bacon raw? Yes. Bacon is cured and smoked, but it’s still raw pork, so always cook it until it’s crisp or the fat is fully rendered before eating. How do you get thick-cut bacon crispy without burning it? Use medium heat, give it time, and pull it just before it looks done. Bacon keeps crisping for a minute or two on a paper towel after it leaves the heat. What is the difference between hickory and applewood smoked bacon? Hickory smoked bacon has a bold, classic smokehouse flavor. Applewood smoked bacon is milder and a little sweeter, from the fruitwood smoke. Can you cook bacon from frozen? Yes. Cook frozen bacon in a skillet over medium-low heat and pull the slices apart as they thaw, or bake the frozen block on a sheet pan at 400°F and separate it after a few minutes. Expect it to take about half again as long. What can you do with leftover bacon grease? Strain it through a paper towel or fine strainer into a jar, keep it in the refrigerator, and use it to cook eggs, greens, cornbread, beans and potatoes. Never pour it down the drain.
How Long Do Sausage and Bacon Last?
Read the Guide How long does uncooked smoked sausage last in the refrigerator? Unopened, follow the use-by date on the package. Once it’s opened, cook it within 1 to 2 days, which is the USDA guideline for uncooked sausage. Can you freeze smoked sausage? Yes. Freeze it in its original sealed package or wrapped airtight, and use it within 1 to 2 months for the best quality. How do you thaw frozen sausage or bacon safely? Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. For faster thawing, seal it in a bag and submerge it in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes, or use the microwave, then cook it right away. Can you refreeze sausage after it thaws? Yes, if it was thawed in the refrigerator and hasn’t been left out. Sausage thawed in cold water or the microwave should be cooked before you freeze it again. How long does cooked sausage last in the refrigerator? Cooked sausage and dishes made with it, like gumbo or red beans, keep 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, or 2 to 3 months in the freezer. How long does bacon last in the refrigerator? Uncooked bacon keeps about 7 days in the refrigerator, or until the use-by date on an unopened package. Once opened, use it within a week. Can you freeze bacon? Yes. Uncooked bacon is best used within 1 month of freezing. Wrap it tightly, or freeze slices flat on a sheet pan and then bag them so you can pull out just what you need. How long does cooked bacon last? Refrigerate cooked bacon within 2 hours and use it within 3 to 4 days, like other cooked leftovers. How long can cooked sausage or bacon sit out? No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour when it’s above 90°F, like at a summer cookout or tailgate. After that, throw it out.
Smoked Sausage vs. Andouille vs. Kielbasa vs. Hot Links
Read the Guide What is smoked sausage? Smoked sausage is ground, seasoned meat, usually pork, stuffed into a casing and smoked over wood. Southern smoked sausage is typically seasoned with black pepper, garlic and spices and smoked over hickory. What is andouille sausage? Andouille is a Cajun and Creole smoked pork sausage, coarsely ground and heavily seasoned with garlic, pepper and spices. It’s the classic choice for gumbo and jambalaya. What is kielbasa? Kielbasa is Polish sausage, usually seasoned with garlic and marjoram. Most kielbasa sold in U.S. grocery stores is smoked and fully cooked, with a milder, garlicky flavor. What are hot links? Hot links are spicy smoked sausages seasoned with red pepper and paprika, a Southern barbecue staple usually served off the grill on a bun or with sauce. Can you use smoked sausage instead of andouille? Yes. Smoked sausage works in any recipe that calls for andouille; it’s a little milder. For more of andouille’s kick, use a hot smoked sausage or add a pinch of cayenne to the pot. What’s the difference between The Original, Hot and Kickin’ Cheddar? The Original is our classic hickory smoked recipe from 1959. Hot is the same hickory smoked sausage turned up with heat. Kickin’ Cheddar is The Original loaded with cheddar for a rich, cheesy bite.
What Sausage Do You Use for Gumbo, Red Beans and Jambalaya?
Read the Guide What sausage is best for gumbo? A well-seasoned smoked pork sausage, like andouille or a Southern hickory smoked sausage. Slice it into rounds and brown it before the roux so its smoky fat flavors the whole pot. What sausage goes in red beans and rice? Smoked sausage is the classic. Brown the rounds first, cook the vegetables in the rendered fat, then simmer the sausage with the beans so its smoke seasons them as they turn creamy. What sausage do you use in jambalaya? Smoked sausage or andouille. A hot smoked sausage adds the kick jambalaya is known for, so you need less cayenne. What sausage is used in a Low Country boil? Smoked sausage cut into 2-inch pieces. Add it with the potatoes so it simmers at least 15 to 20 minutes and is fully cooked to 160°F by the time the shrimp are done. How do you cut smoked sausage for gumbo or beans? Slice it into ¼- to ½-inch rounds, or cut the link in half lengthwise and then into half-moons. Cutting on a slight diagonal gives more surface to brown. How much sausage do you need per person? Plan about ¼ to ⅓ pound per person when sausage is the main dish, like at a cookout, and about ⅛ pound per person in gumbo, beans or jambalaya. A 1 lb pack feeds about 3 to 4 on its own, or 8 in a big pot. What do you serve with smoked sausage? Southern favorites like red beans and rice, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, collard greens, cornbread, grilled peppers and onions, and macaroni and cheese.
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