Do you need to cook those sausages that’ve been sitting in your freezer, but they’re frozen rock solid?
I know your pain. Defrosting sausages, especially when you need them quickly, can not only be frustrating, but also time consuming.
If you keep on reading, we will highlight 3 of the best and most effective methods that you can use to defrost your sausages quickly and safely, so you can have them ready to be cooked as soon as possible.
Now, let’s jump right into it.
Thawing Frozen Sausages: The 3 Best Methods to Use
There are several methods that can be used for thawing frozen sausages, each with its own pros and cons.
We recommend the following 3 methods as they provide the best results in terms of speed, convenience and safety.
- Overnight in the Refrigerator
- Cold Water Method
- Microwave
Let’s take a look at each of them in more detail.
How Long to Defrost Sausages?
| Method | Defrosting Time | Storage Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight in the Refrigerator | 8-24 hours | Thawed sausages can be stored up to 2-4 days in the refrigerator. |
| Cold-water Method | 15-60 Mins | Thawed sausages can be stored up to 2-4 days in the refrigerator. |
| Microwave | 5-10 Mins | Cook Immediately. |
How to Defrost Sausages Overnight in the Refrigerator? (Safest Method)
Thawing frozen sausages overnight in the refrigerator is the safest way to defrost them, but it is also the slowest. (If you’re in a rush, skip to the next methods.)
Steps for Defrosting in the Fridge:
- Remove the sausages from the freezer and place them in a container.
- Place the container with the sausages in the refrigerator and leave it overnight.
- Allow the sausages to defrost overnight, or for at least 8-12 hours. This will give the sausages enough time to thaw out completely.
- After the sausages have defrosted, you can cook them immediately or leave them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days before cooking them.
Pros of Thawing Sausages Overnight in The Refrigerator:
- Slow, steady thawing helps to preserve the texture and flavor of the sausages.
- Refrigeration prevents the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
- It is a convenient and safe way to defrost large quantities of sausages.
Cons of Thawing Sausages Overnight In The Refrigerator:
- It can take 8-12 hours or longer to completely defrost the sausages, so it requires planning ahead.
How to Defrost Sausages in the Microwave? (The Quickest Method)
If you’re looking to quickly thaw your sausages, the microwave is probably your best option. Although this is a fast option that will get the job done in less than 10 minutes, there are some potential drawbacks you need to be aware of. (We will explain in a bit.)
Steps for Defrosting in the Microwave:
- Place the frozen sausages on a microwave-safe plate or container. You may also want to put some paper towels in the bottom of the plate to soak up any excess moisture as they thaw.
- Select the “defrost” setting on the microwave and let the it run for 5-7 minutes. The amount of time needed to defrost your sausages will vary based on how many you are thawing at once.
- Continuously check the sausages till they are fully thawed out.
- Once finished, you can cook the sausages immediately or store them in the refrigerator for up to 2-4 days before cooking.
Pros of using the microwave to thaw sausages:
- The quickest way to thaw frozen sausages – usually done within 5-7 minutes.
- It is a convenient and safe way to defrost smaller quantities of sausages.
Cons of using the microwave to thaw sausages:
- If you’re not careful, the microwave can cause food to thaw unevenly. You can end up with some parts of the sausage thawed and some still frozen.
- You also run the risk of “cooking” them instead of thawing them if you leave them in the microwave too long.
How to Defrost Sausages in Cold Water (Another Quick Thaw Method)
The cold water method is another quick way to defrost your frozen sausages. You have 2 options with this particular method. You can let the sausages soak in a bowl of cold water, or run them under cold water in the sink.
We will now look at both methods.
Steps for Defrosting in Cold Water Bath:
- Fill a bowl or container with cold water.
- Place the sausages in the water and let them soak for 10-20 minutes.
- Check on the sausages every 10 minutes, if they’re not fully thawed, replace the cold water with fresh cold water and allow them to soak for another 10 minutes.
- Once the sausages are fully defrosted, cook them immediately or store them in the refrigerator for up to 2-4 days before cooking
Steps for Defrosting Under Running Water:
- Remove the sausages from the package and place them under running cold water from the kitchen faucet.
- Allow the cold water to run over them for about 5-10 minutes.
- Continuously check the sausages till they are fully thawed out.
- Once finished, you can cook the sausages immediately or store them in the refrigerator for up to 2-4 days before cooking.
Pros of using cold water to thaw sausages:
- This method is a safe, convenient and quick way to thaw frozen sausages in just a few minutes.
Cons of using cold water to thaw sausages:
- You waste a lot of water and if you’re not careful, if you are using the running cold water method.
How to Safely Defrost Sausages: What You Need to Know
I have a few words of caution for those of you who plan to defrost sausages by leaving them out at room temperature: though this is a popular method, it can be dangerous.
Leaving the sausages unattended can open them up to the possibility of the ‘Danger Zone’, especially if there temperature drops to a specific level.
So what is the ‘Danger Zone’ and why is this important to know? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Danger Zone occurs between the temperatures 40 ° and 140 °F.
Food such as sausages, when exposed that those temperatures will see a multiplication of harmful bacteria that could lead to different food borne illnesses.
Some people who thaw sausage at room temperature, might leave them expose for a couple of hours and this could make the food inedible as it is full of bacteria.
Related: How to Thaw Hot Dogs?
