Sausages are a true staple. Whether they’re served in the morning alongside eggs and bacon or dished up in the evening with mash and gravy. But, cooking them takes a while so can you microwave sausages and do they microwave well?
To microwave sausages, microwave them on high. It will take approximately 3 minutes to cook 2 sausages in the microwave. This time increases with the more sausages you want to microwave.
How to Microwave Sausages
Microwaving sausages isn’t too complicated, but there are a few steps you will want to follow before tossing them in:
- Cut Up and Prick
If the sausages are attached to one another, use scissors or a knife to split them. Then prick the sausages several times using a fork. - Place Into Microwave-Safe Dish
Lay the sausages into a microwave-safe dish, ensuring they remain in a single layer. Try to limit the number of sausages you microwave to 6 at a time. - Cover
Cover the sausages in the dish with a lid, cling film or kitchen towel. - Microwave on High
Microwave on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes for two sausages, 4 to 5 minutes for four sausages or 6 to 8 minutes for six sausages. Check the sausages are cooked through after this time. - Peel Skins
The skins will peel from the sausages and be soft and chewy. It’s a good idea to remove the skins at this point. - Serve
Serve as you usually would alongside your standard breakfast fare or a good helping of mash for dinner.
How to Microwave Sausages Successfully
If you’re going to cook sausages in the microwave, then these are the 3 tips you’ll want to follow:
- Prick Sausages – Pricking sausages before microwaving can prevent them from bursting and allows excess liquid to seep out. The last thing you want is a sausage exploding.
- Brown Quickly Afterwards – Unfortunately, sausages cooked in the microwave will lack colour and texture. Once they are cooked, it’s a good idea to quickly toss them into a hot pan to brown. Be careful, however, as the lack of skin will make them fragile.
- Drain – Liquid will drain from the sausages as they cook, so make sure you drain this liquid off. The liquid will be greasy, fatty and unpleasant to eat.
Why You Should Microwave Sausages
When cooking sausages with a microwave, there are some obvious advantages:
Quick
It takes just a couple of minutes to cook sausages entirely.
This would take 10 minutes or so in a frying pan and up to 30 minutes in the oven. If you’re pushed for time, this is the method to opt for.
Mess-Free
As is often the case with microwaving, there is far less mess and a significant reduction in the amount of washing up.
Be warned, however, that your microwave will still smell of sausages when cooking them. There is a chance that the sausages will explode if you do not prick them enough too. This is will leave you far from a mess!
Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Sausages
Unfortunately, when it comes to sausages, it does feel like the disadvantages can outweigh the benefits:
No Colouring
Sausages cooked in the microwave have no direct heat, so they will not brown.
This lack of colour can be quite unappetising, so you will have to grab a pan and brown them. This isn’t time-consuming, but it does add to the washing up you were trying to avoid.
Peeling Skins
When cooking in the microwave, you will also find that the skin peels away from the meat, so you must discard it. This can be strange if you’re used to having sausages with skins.
The skins can also be slimy or tough when cooked in the microwave because of the lack of direct heat.
Lack of Meaty Flavour
The liquid will seep out as you have to prick the sausages to prevent them from bursting. That loss of liquid will lead to a loss of flavour.
Unfortunately, these sausages lack meat flavour and often taste predominately of pepper and flavouring.
Microwaving Sausages FAQs
If you still have queries about microwaving sausages, then perhaps these FAQs will help you out a little:
You can defrost sausages in the microwave easily. Place the frozen sausages onto a microwave-safe plate and use the defrost setting for a couple of minutes. Spread the sausages apart so they are no longer touching and microwave for a further minute until defrosted through.
Yes, sausages can be reheated in the oven or the microwave. Pop them into the microwave for just 60 seconds to hot through. Sausages reheat better in the oven, however.
Yes, Italian sausage can be cooked in the microwave like many other sausage varieties. Be warned, however, that the flavour will be a little bland. Italian sausages are usually cooked for their strong flavour, but this will be lacking when microwaved. 
Yes, it is possible to cook breakfast sausages in the microwave. Microwave them on high for 1 minute per sausage you’re cooking. If you’re cooking six sausages, microwave them for around 6 minutes.
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.
