Is Andouille Sausage Cooked? (Answered!)
When purchasing andouille sausage, you’ll find that it’s usually pre-cooked. However, it’s also possible to get raw andouille sausage and cook it yourself.
Andouille sausage is typically cooked in a smoker at a packing house. Other sausages cooked in this fashion include hot dogs and kielbasa (a type of Polish sausage).
In this article, I’ll be exploring the question – is andouille sausage cooked? I’ll discuss the various ways in which andouille sausage can be prepared, from pan-frying to cooking in the oven.
Plus, I’ll give my recommendations on how to cook both pre-cooked and raw andouille sausage. Keep on reading to find out more.
Is Andouille Sausage Pre-Cooked?
Andouille sausage found in grocery stores is usually pre-cooked (which includes smoking), so you just have to heat it up before eating it (or, because it’s pre-cooked, you can eat it cold).
Ultimately, the packaging will always tell you whether it’s pre-cooked and how to prepare it.
On the more seldom occasion, you can find andouille sausage raw. This will most likely be at butcher shops or the deli counter at your grocery store. And of course, you can make it yourself from scratch at home!
Can You Buy Raw Andouille Sausage?
While not as commercially available as its pre-cooked counterpart, getting your hands on raw andouille is still possible.
Usually, it can be found at butcher shops, meat markets, or even a farmer’s market.
But again, you’re not going to find it raw as often as say, Italian sausage.
How Do You Know When Andouille Sausage Is Cooked?
Cooking andouille involves a similar process, whether you’re using pre-cooked or raw sausages.
Pre-Cooked Andouille Sausage
When heating pre-cooked andouille sausage, you can tell that the sausage is done by either using a meat thermometer or conducting a pressure test.
When using a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should be at a minimum of 160°F.
Furthermore, the tell-tale sign of cooked andouille sausage is that it’s firm when touched. It should not be shriveled.
Additionally, avoid cutting the sausage, as you risk losing juices that help keep the meat moist.
Raw Andouille Sausage
When cooking raw andouille sausage, the same rules apply for checking when it is done.
Only because it’s entirely raw, the process may take slightly longer than its pre-cooked counterpart.
How to Cook Andouille Sausage on the Stove
Cooking andouille sausages on the stove is a relatively straightforward process.
The amount of time it takes to cook on the stove all depends on whether you’re using pre-cooked sausages or raw ones.
Pre-Cooked Andouille Sausage
One way to cook pre-cooked andouille sausages on the stove is to pan-fry them.
For the best results, cut the pre-cooked sausages in half, then place them on a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
Cook them for roughly 8 minutes (give or take), consistently turning them to not overcook on either side.
Raw Andouille Sausage
It’s best to let raw andouille sausage simmer on the stove.
To do so, place some cooking oil into a skillet, then add the sausages over medium to high heat.
Be sure to turn them regularly until the sausages start to turn a brown color.
Next, you’ll need to add half a cup of water to the skillet. If possible, cover the skillet and let it sit like that for roughly twelve minutes.
Then, using a meat thermometer, check to ensure that the temperature is at 160°F.
How to Cook Andouille Sausage in the Oven
Cooking in the oven is perhaps one of the more straightforward ways of preparing andouille sausage.
Start by pre-heating the oven to 350°F. Then place the sausage on a full-sized sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for at least 30 minutes, ensuring that the sausages are turned at each 10-minute mark.
While the same technique can be applied to both pre-cooked and raw sausages, boiling the raw sausages for 15 minutes before putting them in the oven ensures that they’re thoroughly cooked.
As always, the sausages are properly cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
How to Grill Andouille Sausage
Another way of preparing andouille sausage is to grill it. This is a quick and easy method of preparing these Louisiana favorites.
To do this with the pre-cooked version, simply place the sausages over medium heat for 10 minutes while frequently turning them.
Cooking raw sausages can also be done in this way. Only this time, cook them for 15 minutes over medium to high heat.
Again, ensure that you are turning the meat over frequently as you go.
Using a meat thermometer, check to make sure the sausages reach 160°F before eating.
How Long to Boil Andouille Sausage?
Another effective way of cooking raw andouille sausages is to let them simmer in boiling water. Between 2-3 inches of water should do the trick.
Once added, let the sausages simmer for roughly 12 minutes. Then, conduct the pressure test using a knife or fork to check if it is ready.
You can also check the temperature by using the meat thermometer (the goal internal temperature is 160°F).
For pre-cooked andouille, follow the same process, but instead of 12 minutes, the sausages can be completed in half that time at 6 minutes.
How to Cook Andouille Sausage in the Air Fryer
Air frying speeds up cooking time by implementing rapid air circulation technology and cuts out pre-heating.
You can place both pre-cooked and raw andouille sausages in the air fryer.
It’s worth noting that the pre-cooked sausages will be ready in half the time it takes for the raw sausages to be complete.
Set the air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit. You’ll then want to arrange the sausages in the air fryer basket.
In total, cooking in the air fryer should take a maximum amount of 12 minutes for raw sausages and 6 minutes for pre-cooked ones.
In Summary
No matter how you decide to cook them, there’s no doubt that andouille sausages are a delicious addition to a meal.
Typically served in Cajun-style dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya, these sausages can be cooked in many ways.
While pre-cooked andouille sausages are, technically speaking, safe to eat straight from the package, many people prefer to heat them.
In doing so, you’ll enjoy the benefit of eating a warm meal and release more of an aroma in the air from the mix of spices.
Additionally, cooking raw andouille may take slightly longer but gives you more leeway to add extra seasoning that may not already be there.
Ultimately, how you choose to cook your andouille sausages is entirely down to personal preference.
