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As a lot as I am keen on cooking on the range—with spices and fireplace and persistence—you’ll additionally catch me flipping on my air fryer at the very least 3 times per week. It’s quick, and it makes meals crunchy. And by golly, I like texture. Whereas I may be utterly, embarrassingly behind the curve on this one, I simply began air frying kielbasa and achieved actually stellar, crisp-edged outcomes. All it’s a must to do is ensure you rating it proper.
I’ve fond recollections of snacking on kid-sized kielbasa rounds at my neighbor’s home rising up. They should have cherished it too as a result of it appeared to at all times find yourself on the desk. These days, I can solely handle a number of slices as a result of I get adult-sized heartburn and kielbasa will be too greasy. Whereas the richness generally is a deal with, I bought bored with it quick. However as quickly as I threw it within the air fryer, every little thing modified.
Kielbasa, like most sausages, is a seasoned meat combination that’s encased. The casing provides the sausage form and in addition holds within the fat and juices when it’s heated. Holding this casing intact will protect that juiciness and also you’ll have a plump kielbasa. My technique is to methodically slice openings into the casing to launch a few of this fats and in doing so, create a number of crispy edges. Anybody who loves how juicy kielbasa is will in all probability not like this technique a lot. However should you love a little bit of texture, come alongside.
Scoring kielbasa “proper” is actually simply scoring it quite a bit and in an everyday style so it crisps evenly. This elevated floor space will likely be uncovered to the high-velocity winds of the air fryer’s convection heating system, rendering extra fats out of the meat, and rewarding you with fantastically browned and crunchy edges. Make no mistake, the inside of the kielbasa will nonetheless be loads juicy and flavorful, you’ll simply get a gloriously craggly crust on the surface too.
The best way to make air-fried kielbasa
I attempted two completely different scoring methods: spiral-cut, and an x-cut. Kielbasa is already cooked, so scoring it in any style is simple and also you don’t should be fearful about uncooked meat. To spiral minimize it, use a pointy paring knife to slash a diagonal line all the best way down the size of the kielbasa. Solely minimize a couple of quarter-inch in, you don’t wish to slice by way of it utterly. This primary minimize ought to have about an inch, to an inch and a half-width between the following parallel line on the sausage. When you’ve accomplished that line, repeat with one other spiral down the size of the kielbasa, in the identical course, subsequent to the primary minimize.
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
To x-cut your kielbasa (my favourite one), use a pointy paring knife and minimize a collection of x-shapes subsequent to one another in a straight line down one aspect. Solely go a couple of quarter-inch deep. You’ll do that 3 times. Flip the sausage a 3rd of the best way over. Repeat with one other collection of x-cuts. Flip the sausage yet one more time and repeat the identical collection of cuts. The kielbasa could have a type of argyle sample on its floor.
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Put the scored kielbasa into the air fryer basket and set it to the “air fry” setting at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes. I used my Ninja DoubleStack for this batch they usually got here out excellent, however should you’ve seen that your air fryer browns faster than others, verify on it sooner. My Instantaneous Vortex browns a bit quicker, so I’d verify on that after eight minutes or so. Flip the sausage midway by way of the cooking time. The kielbasa needs to be separating on the slice marks, browning on the sides and scorching throughout.
Since kielbasa is mainly a large scorching canine, I figured the favored spiral-cut could be a positive winner, however I most well-liked the x-cut sample ultimately. I’d say spiral-cutting the sausage leaves you with a great center floor between un-scored kielbasa, and the crispy, crunchy bark on the x-cut model. Relaxation assured, there’s no improper alternative right here.
