A cooking test comparing three sausage preparation methods found that oven-baking delivered the juiciest and most evenly cooked results, scoring 10/10, while pan-frying scored just 4/10. The air fryer achieved a 9/10 rating.
Frying pan method disappoints
The frying pan approach involved setting the hob to medium-low heat, lightly spraying the pan with olive oil, and placing the sausages without touching to prevent sticking. The sausages were cooked completely on one side before turning, avoiding constant flipping or poking.
This method took significantly longer than expected, with some sections of the meat failing to cook through evenly. In total, approximately 25 to 30 minutes were needed to ensure they were fully cooked.
The result was a grease-splattered hob, a scorched pan, and sausages that were unevenly cooked and charred in places. While they retained some moisture and had a pleasant crispness, the burnt flavour proved far too overpowering.
Air fryer offers speed and less grease
Unlike the frying pan, the air fryer required no monitoring, took comparatively little time, and produced sausages with a golden, crispy outer layer while remaining reasonably juicy inside. The sausages were given a light coating of olive oil spray and cooked for 23 minutes at 180 degrees, without being pierced beforehand to avoid juices escaping. The basket was shaken halfway through to prevent sticking.
The sausages looked considerably more evenly cooked than those prepared on the hob. They were succulent and notably less greasy, as the air fryer basket allows excess fat to drain away.
Oven emerges as the winner
Having never cooked sausages in the oven before, the reporter found this method changed their approach. The fan oven was preheated to 180 degrees, a baking tray was lined with foil, and the sausages were cooked for just over 30 minutes, turned halfway through for even cooking.
When removed from the oven, the sausages had cooked far more evenly than those done in the air fryer. While this is the most time-intensive approach, it delivers the juiciest outcome by a considerable margin. The interior was moist and full of flavour, while the skin achieved a pleasing crispness without becoming excessively tough.
This technique also requires almost no washing up afterwards, with only the foil needing to be thrown away and the tray given a quick rinse.
