Are You Supposed to Cook Vienna Sausages? How to Do It?
Vienna Sausages are little hot dogs that are canned in brine or chicken broth and are fully cooked. So, you may wonder are you supposed to cook Vienna Sausages before eating them?
Well, You can eat them directly from the can. However, cooking them before you eat them is recommended for safety purposes because they are mostly industrial products.
These sausages are versatile and can be heated up in simple ways. Just boil or roast them to heat up and cook them slightly. So adding them to your favorite foods to make them taste even better is just a matter of time.
Oh! Did I mention that they have a long shelf-life? It’s even better!
Easy Methods to Heat Vienna Sausages
1. Using a Microwave
Using a microwave is the simplest, easiest, and fastest way of cooking Vienna.
Step 1: Open the sausage can, and pour all the broth and sausages into a microwave-safe bowl.
Step 2: Place the bowl in the microwave and set the timer for 1-2 minutes
Note: As the power of microwaves varies, if your microwave is stronger, you may not need that much time. Just adjust the time in a way that will cook the sausages the way you want.
2. Using a Saucepan
If you don’t have a microwave or don’t want to use a microwave, you can warm the sausages using the saucepan for a few minutes. And let me tell you, this simple and easy method also works fast.
Step 1: Place your small saucepan on the stovetop and heat the stove on medium-high heat.
Step 2: Open the sausage can and pour the sausages and broth into the saucepan.
Step 3: Start cooking for 3-6 minutes. Stop cooking when you see the broth is gently bubbling.
Note: It’s unnecessary to boil the sausages as they’re already cooked. When the broth starts gently bubbling, the sausages should be warm and ready to enjoy.
3. Using a Skillet
If you want to enjoy little crispy sausages, frying them using a skillet would be a great idea. Though Vienna sausages won’t get super crispy due to nature, no one can stop you from adding a little texture.
Step 1: On your stovetop, place a skillet and keep medium-high heat.
Step 2: Use a fork to pick up the sausages from the opened can and put them in the pan. This time don’t pour in the broth.
Step 3: Cook them for 3-4 minutes.
Step 4: To add an extra texture, flavor, and crunchiness, you can spread a pat of butter on the pan just before placing the sausages.
Step 5: To make sure that sausages are evenly cooked on all sides, flip them occasionally.
Vienna sausages are already properly cooked. So, don’t worry whether you’ve cooked them perfectly or long enough. Cook them to warm up as you want, which should take only a few minutes.
How to Cook Vienna Sausages? 5 Vienna Sausages Recipes
1. A Kid-friendly Meal with Vienna Sausage Recipe
This recipe is very simple. You will need a can of Vienna sausages and a boxed corn muffin mix.
Step 1: As the directions on the box say, mix up the cornbread batter in a bowl.
Step 2: Dip your sausages into the liquid batter. Use a fork or skewer to dip sausage into the batter. Swirl the sausages thoroughly in the batter so that they are evenly coated.
Step 3: You can cook the corn dogs in a deep fryer if you have one. Follow the fryer’s directions. Frying the sausages should take 3-4 minutes on average.
Or, You can also use a frying pan. Be careful with hot oil! Just heat the pan on medium heat with around 1 inch or 25 mm of cooking oil for several minutes. Using a wooden skewer, fry corn dogs for about 5 minutes each, rotating them every minute or so.
Alternatively, you can bake the corn dogs in the oven. Take your corn dogs from the can and place them on a baking sheet. Then, bake them for about 8-10 minutes at 350°F. When they are done, the batter will be golden brown.
2. Recipe for Flavored Rice with Vienna Sausages
If you enjoy Cuban or Spanish rice, adding Vienna sausages will be the cherry on the top because the sausages will add a little extra flavor and make the rice even tastier.
Step 1: Saute 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 diced onion in 1 tbsp of cooking oil at first to add them later to your rice.
Step 2: If you prefer a simpler version, cook rice normally and stir in 236 ml or 8 oz of tomato sauce. Season the rice with cumin or turmeric, and then add the sauteed onions and garlic. You will get a bowl of simple yet flavorful rice.
Step 3: Next, pour 1 tbsp of olive oil into a pan and warm it on medium-high heat.
Step 4: Place the Vienna sausages in the skillet and cook them for around 2-3 minutes. Once they’re hot as you want, remove them from the pan and slice them into little pieces. Finally, mix them into your rice to make a hearty and quick dinner.
Note: If you are in a rush or don’t have all the ingredients in your pantry to make your flavored rice, you can buy one of the many flavored rice boxes mixes available.
In addition, adding Vienna sausages to fried rice would be delicious too!
3. Sausages with Pasta Recipe
Remember to add some Vienna sausages to your favorite pasta meal next time to spice it up.
Step 1: Start by boiling a pot of water on the stove to cook your favorite type of pasta. Follow the guideline given on the pasta package to proceed with your pasta cooking.
You may also like: Is Corn Meal the Same as Corn Starch
Step 2: Heat some sauce in a different saucepan while your pasta cooks. Either use your favorite sauce or make your own.
Step 3: While the sauce is heating up, place the sausages in it. You can leave them whole or slice them into pieces.
Step 4: Toss the pasta, sauce, and sausages on a plate when they are warm and serve everyone.
Tip : Vienna sausages in mac and cheese might be a hit with kids.
4. Scrambled Eggs with Vienna Sausages
Vienna sausages with some scrambled eggs can be a quick and perfect morning breakfast.
Step 1: Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat on the stove. Chop half of the bell pepper and onion while the skillet heats up. And slice the Vienna sausages into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Once the pan is heated, cook vegetables and meat for 2-3 minutes. Set the heat to medium.
Step 3: Break eggs and add them. Now, gently stir them until the sides and bottom begin to set or cook to your liking. Season the scramble with seasonings or vegetables to lift the flavor.
You will get 4 servings from 7 eggs and 1 can of sausages.
Tip : To keep your eggs from sticking to the pan, add some olive oil or cooking spray first.
5. Veggies with Sausages Recipe
Stir-frying sausages with veggies is a great way to make a nutritious and tasty yet quick meal. For this recipe, you can use any vegetable you like, such as broccoli, bell peppers, and onions.
Step 1: Dice up 1 onion and 1 bell pepper and set aside.
Step 2: To begin the stir fry, pour some cooking oil into the pan and warm it up over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Heat the sausages in the skillet for 1-3 minutes over medium-high heat.
Step 3: In the meantime, in a mixing bowl, mix ½ tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp of ketchup, and ½ tbsp of sugar.
Step 4: Add your preferred vegetables to the skillet after the sausages are warm. To ensure that the meat and veggies cook evenly, stir them every minute. Cook the veggies for a couple of minutes till they get crisp.
Step 5: Finally, pour the sauce over the veggies and sausages and let the whole mixture cook on medium heat for 1-2 minutes. You could also use any sauce, such as soy sauce or other ready-made stir fry sauce.
You can serve this delicious dish on its own or pair it with some rice. If you use 1 can of sausages, you will get 4 servings.
Related Questions
What Are Vienna Sausages Made of?
Vienna sausages are thin parboiled sausages composed of beef, pork, and horse in a casing of a sheep’s intestine. They are smoked at a low temperature. Ingredients of Armour Vienna Sausage are mechanically separated chicken, chicken broth, water, corn syrup, salt, dextrose, 2% or less of beef, pork, sodium nitrite, natural flavors, and garlic powder.
Are Vienna Sausages Good for You?
Vienna sausages are highly processed and shouldn’t be consumed often. Also, (i) It is high in sodium. (ii) It contains high fructose corn syrup and dextrose, which are high-carb sweeteners.
What is the Shelf Life of Vienna Sausage
Canned and unopened sausages kept in a cool place will last up to five years. Canned and unopened sausage will last at least two years past their expiration date. Once the jar is opened, if it is refrigerated properly, it will last about 3 weeks.
Can You Eat Vienna Sausages While Pregnant?
During pregnancy, you can eat Vienna sausages in moderation. But it’s best if one keeps it to a minimum. Because they are not very healthy and heavily processed, frequent consumption of these sausages can lead to food poisoning to even worse outcomes.