Hot Italian sausage is a flavorful addition to many classic dishes. Its spicy, garlicky taste takes sandwiches, pasta, and more to the next level. While you can cook sausage on the stovetop or grill, using an electric roaster oven is a great hands-off way to prepare large batches for a crowd.
In this article, we’ll explain how to cook hot sausage to juicy, flavorful perfection using an electric roaster. Whether you’re making sausage and peppers, pasta with sausage, or just want to pre-cook sausage for later, we’ve got you covered.
Benefits of Using an Electric Roaster Oven
Electric roaster ovens are rectangular countertop appliances that are ideal for cooking large quantities of food Here are some key benefits for cooking sausage
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Holds more sausage links than a skillet Great for feeding a crowd
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Cooks food evenly with consistent heat No cold or hot spots
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Lets you cook hands-free once ingredients are prepped and loaded.
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Keeps cooked food warm for serving without drying out.
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Nonstick interior and removable pan simplifies cleanup.
For effortless, crowd-sized batches of perfectly cooked sausage, an electric roaster oven can’t be beat!
Selecting an Electric Roaster Oven
There are a few features to consider when selecting an electric roaster oven:
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Size: Consider capacity based on your needs. Average is 18-22 quarts.
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Wattage: Higher wattage heats faster. Opt for at least 1,400 watts.
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Temperature settings: Look for a wide range from warm up to 450°F.
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Timer: Helpful for unattended cooking.
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Removable pan: Nonstick coating; shallow depth.
Quality brands like Oster, Rival, and Hamilton Beach offer excellent electric roaster oven options.
How to Cook Hot Sausage in an Electric Roaster Oven
Preparing spicy Italian sausage in an electric roaster lets you walk away while it cooks to perfection. Here’s a simple step-by-step method:
1. Preheat Roaster Oven
Preheat empty roaster to 375°F which takes around 15 minutes. This high temp helps render fat and brown the sausages.
2. Add Sausage Links
Place raw sausage links in a single layer in the preheated roaster if they’re fully thawed. Try not to overcrowd.
3. Brown the Sausages
Cook for 15-20 minutes, occasionally rotating the sausages until evenly browned on all sides.
4. Finish Cooking
Reduce heat to 300°F and continue cooking for another 15-25 minutes until sausages reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
5. Rest and Serve
Turn off roaster and let sausages rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
It’s that easy to cook up a dozen or more sausage links at once. Adjust times based on quantity. Resting allows juices to reabsorb for maximum flavor.
Tips for Roaster Oven Sausage Perfection
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking sausage in your electric roaster:
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Use fully thawed sausages. Partially frozen links may not cook evenly.
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Resist overcrowding. Sausage needs room to brown properly.
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Rotate sausages while browning to prevent scorching in spots.
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Use meat thermometer to confirm safe 160°F internal temperature.
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Let sausages rest before slicing for juicier meat.
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Clean roaster well after each use since sausage is fatty.
With some experimenting in your own electric roaster oven, you’ll easily master cooking moist, flavorful sausage every time!
Flavorful Roaster Oven Sausage Recipes
Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s fun to roast up sausage with other ingredients. Here are some crowd-pleasing recipes:
Sausage and Peppers
Sauté onions and peppers in the roaster before adding sausages. Italian seasoning gives extra flavor.
Sausage with Potatoes and Veggies
Roast garlic butter potatoes, carrots, onion, and sausage together for a hearty meal.
Sausage Lasagna
Pre-cook sausage along with ground beef before assembling lasagna layers in the roaster.
Sausage Cornbread Stuffing
Mix pre-cooked sausage with cornbread stuffing and roast with broth for Thanksgiving.
Smoked Sausage Jambalaya
Sauté Trinity veggies, then add pre-cooked smoked sausage and rice to roast.
The wide interior and set-and-forget functionality of an electric roaster oven makes it easy to create one-dish sausage meals.
Helpful Electric Roaster Accessories
A few handy accessories can make roasting sausage even easier:
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A roasting rack elevates sausages letting air circulate underneath for even cooking.
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Meat claws or a carving fork help rotate and transfer cooked sausages.
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An instant read thermometer confirms sausages reach food safe temperature.
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Roasting pans or disposable foil pans provide extra juice catching.
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Heat-resistant gloves protect hands when handling the hot roaster.
Safety Tips for Cooking Raw Sausage
When cooking any raw pork product, following safety guidelines prevents possible illness:
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Wash hands and prep tools thoroughly before and after handling raw sausage.
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Don’t let raw sausage or its juices touch cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination.
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Cook sausage to 160°F internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer.
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Refrigerate cooked sausage within 2 hours; divide into smaller containers for fast chilling.
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When reheating cooked sausage, heat to 165°F.
With proper handling and thorough cooking, you can safely enjoy delicious sausage dishes.
Enjoy Tasty Roaster Oven Sausage Creations
With its set-and-forget ease, an electric roaster oven lets you effortlessly cook up crowd-sized batches of spicy Italian sausage. Adjust times based on quantity, and let the sausage rest once cooked for maximum juiciness.
From appetizers to casseroles and more, pre-cooked sausage can be used in endless recipes. We hope these tips help you master roasting sausage to perfection. Now go create some mouthwatering sausage dishes in your electric roaster oven!
Why I Love This Recipe
6 pkg. 8 links of hot Italian sausage, 6 large sweet onions, 4 green peppers, 3 red peppers, paprika, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper. 2 large jars of Ragu Traditional Spaghetti Sauce.
In a skillet, prepare your sausage (takes about 4 #10 skillets)
While cooking sausage, halve and slice peppers and onions, set aside. When sausage is finished, SAVE THE GREASE. Place sausage and sauce in electric roaster set @ 250 – 275°. Peppers and onions should be cooked down in the grease. Add about 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of crushed red pepper to each pan and mix well. Liberally sprinkle paprika over peppers and onions, mix well. This will give the veggies a nice orangish-red color as they cook down. Add veggies and grease mixture to roaster and mix with sausage and sauce.
Serve out of roaster onto sausage rolls and enjoy!!
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FAQ
What is the best temperature to roast sausages?
How long to cook sausage on high heat?
What temperature is sausage cooked at?
How long does it take to cook sausage in the oven?
While sausage is cooking, chop your peppers and onions. When sausage is browned and cooked completely, pour your onions and peppers over the top of sausage. Add tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Return to oven and cook for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until peppers and onions are soft.
Is sausage casing healthier option to eat?
Cellulose casings and some natural casings are perfectly fine to eat. Sausage casings are used to hold and shape filling inside so that it can be cooked. There are natural sausage casings and synthetic varieties, and most of them are edible. The healthiest way to cook them is by boiling or baking. Sausages provide high levels of vitamin B12 and iron, both of which are essential for healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin production.
How to cook sausage & peppers in the oven?
When preparing sausage and peppers in the oven you will find it is really easy. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, add one tablespoon olive oil to your roasting pan and then add sausage links. Once you have your roasting pan of sausage ready, you will place it in the oven. Cook sausage for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
How do you cook a Ham in an electric roaster?
Turn on the electric roaster oven to 325°F. Place a small amount of liquid such as water or broth on the bottom of the electric roaster. Place the ham on the oven rack. Season the surface of the ham with your favorite seasonings. My family loves simple seasonings such as pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.