How Long to Air Fry Precooked Brats

What You’ll Need for Fully Cooked Brats in an Air Fryer:

• 2-4 Precooked Bratwurst Sausages: Choose your favorite brand. You can cook more if your air fryer basket allows for a single layer.
• 2 Hot Dog Buns: Soft, fresh buns complement the brats perfectly.
• Optional Toppings: Enhance your brats with classic condiments like mustard, tangy sauerkraut, caramelized onions, or get creative with other additions.

A key advantage of cooking precooked brats in the air fryer is that you won’t need any cooking spray. Pork brats are naturally rich in fat, preventing them from sticking to the air fryer tray or basket, and allowing excess fat to render off for a leaner finish.

While this guide focuses on convenience, if you’re feeling adventurous and have extra time, consider making your own brats from scratch. Recipes for homemade chicken bratwurst with pork can be a rewarding culinary project. Remember that raw brats will require a significantly longer air frying time and must reach a safe internal temperature.

Virtually any air fryer model can be used for this recipe, whether you own a Ninja Foodi, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Cosori, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, or Power Air Fryer. Cooking times may vary slightly between models, so always monitor your brats and adjust as needed to achieve your desired level of crispness and warmth.

Step 1: Prepare and Air Fry the Brats

Remove the precooked brats from their packaging. Arrange them in a single layer within your air fryer basket. If using an air fryer oven, position them on the top rack for optimal results. Air fry the brats for 6-8 minutes at 350°F (177°C). There’s no need to preheat your air fryer or flip the brats during this initial cooking phase. The goal is to heat them through and achieve a beautiful, browned exterior.

Step 2: Warm the Buns and Serve

Once the brats are heated, carefully place them into your hot dog buns. Return the assembled brats to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 350°F (177°C). This step gently warms the buns, making them soft and inviting. After cooking, let the brats rest for 3-5 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and ensures they are perfectly juicy. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy your effortlessly delicious meal!

Since precooked brats are already fully cooked, the primary objective of air frying them is to reheat them thoroughly and achieve a golden-brown, slightly crispy exterior. For comparison, raw brats must be cooked to a minimum safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), or 165°F (74°C) if they contain poultry. Always use a meat thermometer when cooking raw meats to ensure food safety.

How to Make Frozen Brats in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen brats in an air fryer is incredibly simple. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C) and place the frozen brats directly in the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through for even cooking. Always verify they’ve reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) before serving.

How to Cook Raw Brats in the Air Fryer

For raw brats, such as large refrigerated Johnsonville brats or other favorite brands, air frying takes approximately 13-15 minutes at 375°F (190°C). It is crucial to ensure the sausages reach a minimum safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) using a meat thermometer. Flip them occasionally during cooking to achieve an even brown and crisp texture.

🌡️ How to Reheat Brats in Air Fryer

If you have leftover air-fried brats, they can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat them to perfection, place them back in your air fryer and cook at 350°F (177°C) for 3-5 minutes. This method quickly brings them back to a delicious, warm state with a pleasant texture.

Elevate your air fryer brats with classic accompaniments like a generous dollop of mustard and a mound of tangy sauerkraut. For those eager to explore homemade flavors, consider these delightful DIY recipes:

• Homemade Vegan Honey Mustard: A sweet and savory twist for your brats.
• Fermented Red Cabbage Sauerkraut: Adds a vibrant color and a punchy flavor.
• Lebanese Pickles Recipe: Offers a unique, zesty crunch.

Beyond the traditional, consider adding a slice of melted Swiss cheese or sharp cheddar cheese directly onto your brats during the last minute of air frying for a gooey, savory treat. And for an undeniable flavor boost, sprinkle a little crumbled bacon on top. Bacon always has a way of making everything taste even better, adding a smoky, salty crispness that perfectly complements the rich bratwurst.

Precooked Brats in Air Fryer (Quick & Easy)

This simple guide shows you how to air fry precooked brats to juicy, robust perfection in minutes, skipping the traditional beer bath for maximum convenience and flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 precooked bratwurst sausages
• 2 hot dog buns
• Optional sausage toppings (e.g., mustard, sauerkraut, onions, cheese, bacon)

Instructions:

1. Remove precooked brats from their packaging. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket (use the top rack if you have an air fryer oven). Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 6-8 minutes. There’s no need to preheat or flip them.
2. Carefully place the brats into their buns. Return them to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 350°F (177°C) to warm the buns.
3. Allow the brats to rest for 3-5 minutes before adding your favorite toppings and serving. Enjoy!

Equipment:

• Air Fryer

Notes:

💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule

This recipe is ideal for weight maintenance and active lifestyles. Air frying is an excellent method for cooking bratwurst, especially raw varieties, as it allows a significant amount of fat to render off, resulting in a leaner sausage compared to traditional cooking methods like simmering in a buttery beer bath. When air frying, you avoid adding extra fats, focusing on the natural deliciousness of the meat.

If you experience your air fryer smoking when cooking fatty meats, a common issue with some models, try placing a small amount of water or a slice of bread directly under the air fryer basket or in the drip pan. This can help absorb the dripping fat and prevent smoke. Results may vary depending on your specific air fryer model.

Nutritional information provided is an estimate and can vary based on the specific brands of brats and buns you choose. Calorie information on food labels can sometimes be approximate, so focus on the overall healthy cooking method rather than precise numbers.

Please remember that “to taste” in recipes refers to your personal preference, but always ensure food safety rules are followed, particularly regarding internal temperatures for raw meats. Do not consume undercooked food.

Nutrition:

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 14.1g | Fat: 20.3g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 4% DV | Calcium: 6% DV | Iron: 2% DV

Keywords:

air fryer brats fully cooked, air fryer precooked brats, precooked brats in air fryer

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