Perfect Frankfurt Sausage Every Time: Quick Cooking Tips From Frankfurt
If you click on my affiliates/advertisers’ links, I will receive a tiny commission. I only advertise products that I believe in. Do your Frankfurters or Wiener sausages taste bland or burst? Oh well, you’re probably cooking them completely wrong. Let me show you how to cook frankfurters the right way. Frankfurt sausages, with their quick preparation, can be a perfect choice for breakfast, lunch, a snack, or dinner. Understanding the correct cooking method can elevate your dishes to new heights. In this guide, I will show you the one and only – traditional method of preparation — gentle boiling. A few words about Frankfurter, Wiener and Hot Dogs Today, we’re tackling one of Germany’s greatest culinary treasures… the mighty Frankfurter Würstchen! However, before we begin, let me clarify what type of sausage I am referring to. Frankfurter Sausages are made from 100% pork, which differentiates them from their counterparts, Wiener Sausages. In Germany, Frankfurt Sausage, by law, must be made in Frankfurt or the surrounding Frankfurt area. In the rest of the world, Frankfurt sausage isn’t protected. Additionally, Frankfurt Sausage is smoked and parboiled. If you don’t have access to real Frankfurter, use Wiener Sausages for this recipe. They will also taste extraordinarily! Frankfurt sausages are distinct from hot dogs. While Frankfurt sausages inspired hot dogs, they differ in terms of seasoning, texture, and preparation. Frankfurt sausages tend to be finer and smokier in flavour. I am not too familiar with hot dog sausage, so if you would like to prepare those, feel free to close this page. Cook Parboiled Sausages German Way Let me show you how we cook Frankfurter Sausage traditionally, here in Frankfurt. The cooking method is particularly special to us, as it has been passed down for centuries. The most authentic and traditional way to prepare Frankfurt sausages is by simmering them. They’re already pre-cooked, after all. The goal here isn’t to cook them through but to heat them gently so they remain juicy and tender. Step 1: Get Your Ingredients All you need are beautiful Frankfurters, 1 litre of water and one tablespoon of salt. Step 2: Prepare the Pot Fill the pot with 1 litre of water and bring it to a boil. Now add a good tablespoon of salt, turn the heat to low (I am using setting 2 out of 10)and drop in the sausages. Why salt?Glad you asked, there are a few reasons for that.First of all, salt prevents the cooking water from drawing out the salt from the sausages. If you skip adding it, your sausage will taste bland and unseasoned. Secondly, adding salt prevents the sausages from bursting, as it increases the water’s density. Step 3: The Gentle Boil Forgive me, you don’t want to boil the sausage! You want the water to simmer — this way, they will warm up gently. The ideal water temperature for simmering the sausages is 75°C (167°F); ensure you don’t exceed 90°C (194°F). High heat might cause your sausages to burst, and nobody wants exploding wurst trauma. Simmering time for parboiled Frankfurters: 10 minutes. Simmering time for frozen Frankfurters: 12-15 minutes. Traditional Serving Ideas and Pairings Frankfurt sausages, with their simplicity and versatility, can be served in a variety of traditional ways. Here are some delicious yet straightforward serving ideas: Simple Way – With fresh, crusty bread rolls, mustard, and maybe a side of sauerkraut.With Potato Salad – A hearty meal pairing that’s popular across Germany. My favourite potato salads that pair well with Frankfurters are Traditional German Potato Salad with Cucumber, Traditional Swabian Salad, and Berliner Potato Salad, which you can find in my Potato Salad video course.With Mashed Potatoes and Sauerkraut – Apple Wine Tavern Classic With Soup – serve perfectly prepared Frankfurters with German Potato Soup, German Split-Pea Soup, and German Lentil Soup. Simple Way – With fresh, crusty bread rolls, mustard, and maybe a side of sauerkraut. With Potato Salad – A hearty meal pairing that’s popular across Germany. My favourite potato salads that pair well with Frankfurters are Traditional German Potato Salad with Cucumber, Traditional Swabian Salad, and Berliner Potato Salad, which you can find in my Potato Salad video course. With Mashed Potatoes and Sauerkraut – Apple Wine Tavern Classic With Soup – serve perfectly prepared Frankfurters with German Potato Soup, German Split-Pea Soup, and German Lentil Soup. Common Mistakes to Avoid To get the best-tasting sausage every time you cook it, remember those few things: Boiling instead of simmering – This can cause the skin to burst. Keep the water below boiling.Cooking for too long – Frankfurters are pre-cooked, overheating them makes them rubbery.Piercing the sausage – This lets the juices escape and dries out the sausage. Boiling instead of simmering – This can cause the skin to burst. Keep the water below boiling. Cooking for too long – Frankfurters are pre-cooked, overheating them makes them rubbery. Piercing the sausage – This lets the juices escape and dries out the sausage. Storage & Reheating Store cooked Frankfurt Sausages for 2-3 days in an air-tight container. Freeze the sausages for up to 6 months. Reheat the frozen sausages by simmering them in hot salty water for 12-15 minutes. FAQ Can you microwave Frankfurt sausages? Yes, but it’s not the best method. If you’re short on time, place the sausages in a microwave-safe dish with a bit of water, cover, and heat for 1–2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook, as they can turn rubbery. How long do cooked Frankfurt sausages last? Once heated, they should be eaten immediately (otherwise they will get cold). If you have leftovers, refrigerate them within 2 hours and consume them within 2–3 days. Reheat gently to prevent them from drying out. Can you eat Frankfurt sausages cold? Yes. Since Frankfurter Sausage is pre-cooked and smoked, Frankfurt sausages are safe to eat cold straight from the package—perfect for picnics or sandwiches. Do Frankfurt sausages need to be peeled? No, the skin is edible. Most supermarket sausages, such as those from Frankfurt, are ready to eat without further preparation. Are Frankfurt sausages the same as hot dogs? Not exactly. Hot dogs were inspired by Frankfurt sausages but are typically slightly different in terms of seasoning, texture, and preparation. Frankfurt sausages tend to be finer and smokier in flavour. Are Frankfurt sausages already cooked? Yes, Frankfurters are already cooked. How long do Frankfurt sausages take to cook? Frankfurt sausage should be simmered in salty water for 10 minutes. More Traditional German Sausage Recipes that you will fall in love with: How to cook German Bratwurst on the Stove?Easy and Quick German Currywurst Recipe How to cook German Bratwurst on the Stove? Easy and Quick German Currywurst Recipe Traditional Frankfurt Sausage Recipe Have you wondered how to cook Frankfurter Sausage without losing its flavour? Check our traditional recipe straight from Frankfurt! No ratings yet Prep Time 3 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Course Snack Cuisine German Servings 2 people Calories 294 kcal EQUIPMENT INGREDIENTS 4 Frankfurters or Wiener1 litere water1 tablespoon salt 4 Frankfurters or Wiener 1 litere water 1 tablespoon salt INSTRUCTIONS Prepare the Pot Fill the pot with 1 litre of water and bring it to a boil. Now add a good tablespoon of salt, turn the heat to low (I am using setting 2 out of 10)and drop in the sausages. Fill the pot with 1 litre of water and bring it to a boil. Now add a good tablespoon of salt, turn the heat to low (I am using setting 2 out of 10)and drop in the sausages. Fill the pot with 1 litre of water and bring it to a boil. Now add a good tablespoon of salt, turn the heat to low (I am using setting 2 out of 10)and drop in the sausages. The Gentle Boil Simmer the sausages for 10 minutes. Simmer the sausages for 10 minutes. Simmer the sausages for 10 minutes. NOTES Once heated, they should be eaten immediately, as they cool quickly. Refrigerate leftovers and consume them within 2–3 days. Reheat gently to prevent them from drying out. Simmering time: 10 minutes. NUTRITION Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 10gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 4461mgPotassium: 118mgSugar: 1gCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg This is it — the traditional way to cook frankfurters in salty water without blowing up your kitchen. I am proud of you. From now on, your sausages will have perfect consistency and be full of flavour! If you enjoyed this recipe, please rate it five stars. This will help other people discover this guide. Feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more German food adventures. Don’t forget to let me know in the comments how you cook your Frankfurters? (I am not judgmental-type ;)) Related Recipes How to cook Bratwurst on the Stove? On of the traditional ways of cooking Bratwurst here in Germany is to pan-fry it. Let me show you how it is done properly! Check out this recipe Traditional German Currywurst Recipe This Currywurst recipe makes very flavorful and thick sauce for everyone who loves Currywurst. A video how to make Bratwurst in a pan is civered in a separate video on my YouTube channel (please find the link below). Check out this recipe