cooking with frozen sausages in SC

TaBunny

I cook from frozen all the time, casserole, roasting them, frying them it makes no odds as long as they're slow cooked and all the way through

Silaqui

Hi there,
I've got some of the frozen sausages that you buy in bags, we don't particularly like them as cooked normally but I was thinking about using them in a sausage casserole.

Can they go in the slow cooker from frozen (or slightly 'browned' in the pan first) or will this reduce the temperature too much?

Thanks,
Sil

Butterfly_Brain

I would defrost first and then brown them off before putting into the slow cooker.
The reasons are that:
1.Frozen food is full of ice crystals which turn to water which makes the stew watery - you should defrost anything that is frozen before using in a slow cooker.
2.Cooking will take a lot longer because a slow cooker works on the old fashioned hay box so it is actually an insulated pot that keeps food at a certain temperature.

Silaqui

Thanks, I've taken them out of the freezer so they should be defrosted for tomoro!

jcr16

if they are frozen sausges the type you cook from frozen. i would cook them. then once cooled , use them for the recipe.

i often make a sausage casserole by this method.

Pitlanepiglet

I on the other hand being unorganised have frequently chucked frozen sausages into hot liquid in the slow cooker and left for 8 hours and they have been fine...pretty anaemic but absolutely fine.

nikinackyloo

hi all

as the title says really - can you? I am thinking of doing a sausage casserole but my extra special sausages are frozen - will they be ok if I stick them in the SC on low all day with the other ingredients?
TIA

Penelope_Penguin

nikinackyloo wrote: »

hi all

as the title says really - can you? I am thinking of doing a sausage casserole but my extra special sausages are frozen - will they be ok if I stick them in the SC on low all day with the other ingredients?
TIA

It will

Penny. x

nikinackyloo

thanks penny for your prompt reply will stick them in now ready for tonight:j

Mrs_Thrify

No! frozen meat or poultry must be completly thawed before using, otherwise the slow cooker will not reach safe cooking temperatures and food will be under cooked.

Reading the posts - I agree sausages can be cooked from frozen if they were cooked at higher temperatures such as the big oven. In the slow cooker though at the temp of a light bulb, even defrosted sausages in a casserole take approx. 8 hours.