So many recipes call for sausages, so it’s easy to understand why many people like to keep their freezer stocked with them.
While it is convenient to freeze sausage, it cannot be cooked straight from the freezer.
It needs to be defrosted first. There are many ways to defrost, but microwaving is the easiest.
To defrost your frozen sausages out of their packaging, and put them on a clean microwave-safe tray. Microwave them for 3-4 minutes in defrost mode. Divide your sausages once they’re done. Reheat them in the microwave again for some time.
It’s common practice to defrost sausages at room temperature.
However, just like any other meat, it’s not healthy to do so. Keep reading to avoid potential health hazards.
Is It Safe To Defrost Sausages In Microwaves?
Yes, microwaving frozen sausages to defrost them is something you can definitely do.
You should be fine as long as the sausage is fully cooked immediately after thawing (defrosting).
And while defrosting, make sure the thing you’re putting the sausage on is clean to avoid cross-contamination.
According to the USDA, microwaving is safe, but it can quickly bring meat into the “danger zone.” It is the temperature between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C).
Bacteria’s spread rapidly in this range. Therefore, the safest thing you can do after microwaving your defrosted sausage is to cook it.
Suppose sausages, whether raw or cooked, are left out long enough.
In that instance, the bacterial population can rapidly grow to dangerous levels—from a few dozen to thousands upon thousands—making them inedible.
This is also why frozen sausages should never be left out on the counter to defrost. Doing so can make them end up in the “Danger Zone.”
Another thing to look out for is sausage bursting inside the wave.
Sausages with casings will cause them to explode due to the pressure that builds up within.
This is because steam is created as the water particles heat everything in the sausage. Simply piercing the casing is the easiest way to avoid an explosion.
And always be cautious when microwaving, not because of hazards but because of improving efficiency in terms of cleaning.
Always use a microwaveable container and cover with a lid when microwaving sausages to avoid spatter.
How To Defrost Sausages In Microwave?
There are many ways to defrost sausages. But, microwaving is the quickest method. Defrosting sausages makes them soft and easy to cook.
Defrosting sausages in a microwave is simple. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, if available. If not, use the following guidelines.
Remove the sausages from the freezer. Some of them can be frozen in their original containers, so be sure this is the case.
Otherwise, unpack them and get rid of any plastic. It’s okay if they’re stuck. Once defrosted, they’ll be easily separable.
Put them in a microwave-safe container. Ceramic or glass bowls will work too.
You can also check for a wavy logo printed on the plate as an indicator to know if that plate is microwavable.
Cover the sausage(s) with a kitchen/paper towel. This can help with absorbing excess moisture and oil as the sausage defrosts.
The next step is to set the microwave to “defrost.” Reduce power to 30%- 50% if yours does not have a defrost button.
It can take anywhere from 2 to 7 minutes, depending on how many sausages are being defrosted. If possible, try separating the sausages after a few minutes.
However, if the sausages are not properly defrosted yet, send them back to defrost for 1 minute more. Keep doing this until an appropriate defrost (soft to the touch) is reached.
Remove them from the microwave as the sound goes off. It’s best to cook them immediately after removing them from the oven.
Cooking can take anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes.
That’s all there is to know about defrosting sausages in a microwave. Here are a few tips to consider:
- Don’t use metal containers when microwaving sausages. Make sure your container can handle the heat.
- Continuously monitor the process. Flip the sausages each minute to ensure the best defrosting.
- Always defrost in a clean microwave. This will prevent unwanted smells from getting into your food.
- Wrap the sausage container to avoid splatter or outside contamination.
- If you’re defrosting cooked sausages, make holes to prevent them from exploding.
Considerations Before Defrosting Sausages In The Microwave
It’s essential to know how to defrost your sausages before cooking them.
If you’ve bought a lot of sausages, freezing them is an excellent way to keep them fresh, but you have to defrost them properly.
If you don’t, dangerous bacteria could grow, and you could suffer from food poisoning.
Defrosting food using a microwave is simple. Most microwaves come with a “defrosting” setting.
It is often represented by a snowflake or a snowflake with a water drop symbol. Many even come with options for defrosting various types of food.
The wattage of a microwave is critical for defrosting sausages. You can find it on the device or in the user’s manual.
Most microwaves come in between 700 and 900 watts and can go up to 1200 watts.
Generally, higher wattage means quicker food cooking. But this isn’t what you want when defrosting sausages.
The wattage of your microwave is reduced when you set it to defrost. Alternatively, you can lower the power manually.
A microwave’s power ranges between 30% and 50% when defrosting. This ensures that your sausages thaw thoroughly and evenly without overcooking the outside.
Defrosting on a higher power will start to cook the sausages outside but keep it frozen inside.
Alternative Ways To Defrost Sausages
I’d like you to consider some better ways to defrost sausages before considering the microwave.
Overnight Defrosting
If you are not in a hurry, then you can just plan ahead and move the sausages from the freezer to the refrigerator.
Let them sit there overnight and you will have completely thawed sausages the next morning.
I think this is the best method as you don’t have any chance of overcooking your sausages.
Boiling In Water
For quick defrosting, I’ve found putting the frozen sausages directly into boiling water the best method.
Bring your water up to a boil and then drop the sausages into the boiling water.
Boil them for 10 – 15 minutes or until they are completely soft to the core as thicker sausages might need more time in the hot water.
You can boil them even further if you want boiled sausages. Or you can then directly put them in hot oil to fry.
However, be sure to drain any water that might be on them. Pat them down with a kitchen towel if you can.
This is because if the water comes in contact with the oil, it may cause the oil to pop and burn you.
Why Defrost Sausages Before Cooking?
While you can cook your sausages frozen but defrosted, the sausages turn out better.
Defrosting ensures even cooking and gives it a golden brown colour on the outside. You wouldn’t want your sausages to be blackened.
Cooking frozen sausages takes a lot more time and work, and if you don’t thaw them out correctly, you’ll end up with burned meat or raw inside. This also makes the sausage drier.
So why rush to cook the sausages without defrosting them first? Microwaving for a few minutes will give a much better end product.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.