Cooking sausages in the oven rather than frying them in a pan can produce a juicier and more flavoursome result, according to Matt Rhoades from True Bites, a family-run butcher's shop.
Why frying can ruin sausages
While frying sausages is a long-standing tradition, adding oil to the pan is not necessary, as sausages naturally contain a high fat content. This fat should render by itself to give the skin a satisfying crispness. When oil is introduced, it frequently combines with the sausage fat, causing the casing to cook more rapidly and making the skin far more prone to burning and splitting apart.
Using oil tends to leave the sausage charred on the outside yet undercooked and pink within, while the juices seep out into the pan, ruining the flavour. Frying is also an extremely fast cooking method, making sausages more susceptible to burning and sticking to the pan. The intense heat can cause oil to spit, leaving a greater amount of clearing up to do afterwards.
The oven method explained
Matt said: "Cooking sausages in the oven is one of the easiest ways to get them evenly cooked, nicely browned, and ready to serve without standing over a frying pan."
Oven heat is considerably more gentle, allowing the fat to slowly render out so the sausages cook at a more consistent and even pace. Cooking in their own fat takes a little longer, but it guarantees a more even cook, enabling the skin to brown beautifully while keeping the juices locked in.
This method not only makes sausages crispier and more flavoursome, but it is also more convenient, ensuring they turn out perfectly delicious every time.
How to cook sausages in the oven
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C for a fan oven) or Gas Mark 6. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper or foil to make washing-up easier.
Arrange the sausages on the tray, ensuring they are well spaced and not touching. Resist pricking them with a fork, as piercing the skin will cause the juices to escape, robbing them of flavour.
Once the oven has reached temperature, place the sausages inside. Most sausages require between 25 to 30 minutes to cook through, depending on thickness. After approximately 15 minutes, turn the sausages to ensure even browning. Once cooked, remove them from the oven; they should be piping hot, crispy, and more appetising than fried sausages.
