Vienna sausages are relatively cheap canned sausages. Vienna sausages were much more popular in the 1940s to 1970s but are still very well-heard today! You can add these conveniently canned sausages to a recipe or eat them as a simple snack!
In any case of what and why you would use Vienna sausages, you can be sure these sausages can give you a savory and salty flavor with hints of sweetness. They are great for almost any recipe! What is your favorite way to use Vienna sausages? Do you have a favorite? You may find your favorite way to use them today!
Are Vienna Sausages Supposed to be Cooked?
Vienna sausages have been thoroughly cooked prior to packaging. It is optional that you need to cook them before consuming them. However, you should cook your Vienna sausages for safety purposes; this can make for a portion of more palatable food and eliminate anything that could be harmful.
That said, you can entirely eat Vienna sausages without cooking them first. Though they may be cold and distasteful, so warming them up for a few minutes prior to consumption would be in your best interests. Whether you decide to eat Vienna sausages straight from the can, cooked, or incorporated in a dish, they can make for a perfect and moderately healthy snack in moderation.
How Long Do You Cook Vienna Sausages?
Basically, you do not need to “cook” Vienna sausages; you only need to heat them up. So placing your Vienna sausages in a pan for 3 to 5 minutes or microwaving for 1 to 2 minutes will work. You are solely looking to warm the Vienna sausage for your eating pleasure rather than cooking the wurst.
A few different heating methods cook time could include:
- Microwave.
- One to two minutes on medium to high heat.
- Frying.
- At medium heat for approximately 5 minutes.
- Airfryer.
- Around 8 to 10 minutes at 350°F or 167°C.
- Oven.
- About 15 minutes at 350°F or 167°C.
- Boiling.
- 4 to 5 minutes in boiling water at around 210° F or 98°C to 215°F or 102°C.
As you can see above, warming times can vary from method to method. What way you want to use to warm your Vienna sausages determines your “cook” time.
How to Cook Vienna Sausages Properly
There are numerous ways to heat your Vienna sausages, and there’s almost no wrong way to do it! Whether you air-fry, pan-fry, or microwave your Vienna sausages, whichever method you choose from this list will work ideally.
Warm up your Vienna sausages in the microwave.
- Pour your Vienna sausages with about half of the broth from the can into a microwave-safe bowl.
- Cover your bowl with a moist paper towel and set it in your microwave.
- Set your microwave to high heat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, keeping an eye on it.
- If your Vienna sausage cracks in the microwave, it is likely done warming up.
Fry your Vienna sausages in a frying pan.
- Place a small skillet or pan over medium heat.
- Open your can of Vienna sausages, and pull the wursts from the chicken broth.
- Slice your Vienna sausages lengthwise or in chunks resembling circles.
- Place your Vienna sausages flat and broth or water, if you’d like, in the skillet or pan.
- Cook and mix around for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Once the links are a light brown color, take them off the heat!
- Serve as a side or the main course, with a dipping sauce of your choice, like mustard or horseradish; enjoy!
OR
- Place a small skillet or pan over medium heat.
- Open your can of Vienna sausages, and pull your links out of the brine.
- Slice your Vienna sausages into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Place your sliced Vienna sausages in your skillet or frying pan, and add a bit of water, broth, or the brine from the links to give a bit of moisture.
- Stir and fry for roughly 3 to 4 minutes.
- Once you have lightly browned your sausages, remove them from the heat.
- You could serve these as a side or the main course with your favorite dipping sauces!
Bake your Vienna sausages in your oven.
- Preheat your oven to 350° or 167°C.
- First, lubricate your pan with a bit of oil to control sticking if you cook your Vienna sausages alone.
- If you intend to add your Vienna sausages to a dish like a casserole, simply toss them in before you bake the dish.
- Let your Vienna sausages bake for no more than 15 minutes.
- When you pull your links, you can enrich their flavor by adding a bit of salt and pepper.
- Serve on a bun with your favored dipping condiments!
Fry your Vienna sausages in the Air fryer.
- First, add just a dab of oil to the bottom of your air fryer to prevent your sausages from sticking.
- Preheat your air fryer and heat it to medium, roughly 350°F or 167°C.
- While your air fryer preheats, pierce the sausages with a fork to aid in the cooking process.
- Place your Vienna sausages in your air fryer for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
- Avoid cooking large batches of Vienna sausages; large batches are more likely to cook unevenly.
- Serve with your favorite dipping condiments!
Boiling your Vienna sausages is the least recommended method of warming your sausages, as they can split and get waterlogged.
- Fill a stockpot 2/3 with water.
- Bring your water to a boil.
- Once your water is boiling, add your Vienna sausages to your water.
- Boil for roughly 4 to 5 minutes, no longer, as your sausages are prone to splitting and getting waterlogged.
- Remove from the water.
- Enjoy your boiled Vienna sausages!
Vienna Sausage Recipes That You Can Try
The list of recipes you could make using Viena sausages is endless. Whether you choose to prepare Vienna pigs in a blanket or Vienna sausage with tomato sauce, you will not be disappointed using Vienna sausages. Whether you want to eat Vienna sausages plain or in a dish, they can be a perfect addition to your meal plan.
Vienna pigs in a blanket.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F or 191°C.
- Carefully wrap all of your Vienna sausages in croissant roll dough triangles.
- In a small bowl, beat one egg to make an egg wash.
- Roll the sausages, place them on a baking sheet and brush them with egg wash
- Sprinkle with a speck of sea salt or sesame seeds.
- Bake for around 15 minutes or until the croissants are golden brown in color.
Vienna sausages with tomato sauce.
- Place a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic to your large pan or skillet and saute.
- Add sauce, beans, salt, and pepper, and cook for an additional 5 minutes
- Place sliced sausage in your large pan or skillet, slather with soy sauce and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Your Vienna sausage with tomato sauce is ready! Serve with bread or toast.
A few other recipes that you could attempt are as follows:
- Sausage and macaroni casserole.
- Filipino Style Spaghetti.
- Embutido.
- Jalapeno popper pigs in a blanket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vienna sausage taste like?
Many people swear up and down that they do not enjoy Vienna sausages, but they’ve never actually tried them! Vienna sausage can give you a flavor similar to the American hot dog, with a typically thinner, lengthier, and edible casing than a hot dog.
Although tasting very similar to the American hotdog, Vienna sausages have a milder flavor with salty, savory, and sweet notes. Think of a cheap, canned chicken hot dog. That’s how most describe a Vienna sausage, though some go above and beyond for Vienna sausages. It is ultimately up to personal preference.
Can you eat Vienna sausages out of the can?
Canning Vienna sausages involves thoroughly cooking the sausages before placing them in cans. So, you do not have to cook Vienna sausage before consumption. Many people eat Vienna straight from the can and claim it as a delicacy!
However, you must be aware of Vienna sausages being covered in brine when you eat them straight from the can. The brine surrounding Vienna sausages can be very salty and unpalatable, transferring to the Vienna sausage.
Eating straight from the can is not recommended, as botulism and other illnesses could occur. Heating shortly before consumption can eliminate any risks.
How do you eat canned Vienna sausage?
You can eat canned Vienna sausages however you wish! Raw, cooked, baked, fried, or in a recipe. The choice is yours! You can warm them up quickly in the microwave for a quick snack or fry them in a skillet on the stove if you have a bit more time.
Conclusion
Are you one that considers Vienna sausages straight from the can a delicacy? Or are you prefer to microwave, fry, or bake the Vienna sausages first? To conclude, you can cook Vienna sausages before consuming them, but you do not have to; however, warming them briefly prior to consumption is recommended for palatability and safety precautions.
