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How Long To Boil Brats? – Everything You Need To Know
Are you wondering how long to boil brats? It’s a question that many people have, and the answer can vary depending on who you ask.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the different methods for boiling brats and share our recommended cooking time. We’ll also provide some tips for ensuring that your brats turn out perfectly every time.
So, whether you’re a first-time brat-boiler or an old pro, read on for all you need to know about cooking brats.
Boiling Brats
Why Should You Boil Brats?
Brats, unlike hotdogs, should be boiled before grilling or frying because they are thicker sausage that cooks unevenly.
Boiling brats also cuts down on overall grilling time, which is vital when attempting to serve a hungry audience.
It also guarantees that the whole sausage is fully cooked and that the meaty center remains pleasantly juicy.
Using a flavored bath to boil the brats, such as beer or hard apple cider, has the added bonus of providing some gourmet brat taste.
Finally, the boiling procedure raises the interior temperature of the brats, which aids in the prevention of casing splitting when cooked on a medium-hot grill.
How Long To Boil Brats?
Raw Brats
Raw brats should be cooked for around 20 minutes. Once an instant-read thermometer put into the center of the brat reaches 145°F, the uncooked brats are ready to grill or fry.
Pre-cooked Brats
Pre-cooked brats should be boiled for 5-10 minutes. When the brats are heated, they’re ready to grill or fry. The goal of heating up pre-cooked brats is to guarantee that the casing does not break when it comes into contact with the hot grill.
Frozen Brats
Boiling frozen brats takes roughly 30-45 minutes. If the frozen brats are thawed beforehand, the cooking time can be cut in half. Refrigerate the brats overnight to defrost. Brats should be gently cooked rather than boiled for best results, since excessive heat will drain off the flavors.
Directions
- Pick out your favorite beer (or other liquid) and pour it into the pot until it’s about half full.
- Heat up the pot and begin bringing the liquid to a boil. You want a rolling boil, which doesn’t take long.
- When it comes to a boil, add in your brats.
- Let them simmer until they register 145°F, then turn off the heat and remove them from the pot.
What To Do After Boiling Brats?
Once you’ve boiled your brats, they’re ready to be eaten as is or used in another recipe. There are several possibilities. For example:
- You can give them a quick sear on the grill (or in a skillet) to add some texture and color. That would pair especially well with something like sauerkraut or onions (maybe even both).
- You can slice up the brats, combine them with some sauerkraut and cheese, then stuff the mixture into puff pastry cups or crescent rolls.
- You can cube the sausages and use them as filling for baked potato skins.
- Or you can keep things simple, adding some flavor to your boiled bratwursts by tossing them in your favorite sauce (BBQ sauce is a classic choice).
What To Serve With Brats?
You’re having friends over for a cookout and brats are on the menu. The question is, what to serve them with? Brats are great by themselves, but they really shine when they’re paired with complementary dishes. Here are a few of our favorite options.
Potato Salad
It’s hard to beat the classic combo of brats and potato salad. Bacon-laden potato salads are particularly good choices because the salty bacon goes so well with the smoky flavor of brats.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is another classic side dish to serve with brats. It’s essentially fermented cabbage—the perfect thing to counterbalance a fatty sausage.
Pasta Salad
The lightness of pasta salad helps balance out the heartiness of brats. Plus, pasta salads are great for outdoor parties because you don’t have to worry about them spoiling in the summer heat.
Fruit Salad
Brats can be pretty heavy, so it’s important to balance out their richness with some lighter fare. A fruit salad combines sweetness and lightness in a way that makes it a great choice for any barbecue or cookout.
Recipe Variations
Steaming Brats and Kraut
- In a skillet, heat sauerkraut on medium-low heat. Add raw bratwurst and cover with a lid.
- Steam brats until cooked through, about 12 minutes. In a separate skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat.
- Remove sausages from other pan and brush off any remaining sauerkraut. Sear brats for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Serve with kraut and mustard.
Boil Brats Without Beer?
There are many ways to cook bratwurst, but steaming or boiling them before grilling or pan-frying is a great way to ensure that they are cooked through.
However, if you don’t want to cook them in beer, there are a few alternatives. You can steam or boil them in water, chicken broth, or even apple cider. Just be sure to add some aromatics to the cooking liquid, such as onions, garlic, or peppercorns.
And don’t forget to prick the sausage skins before cooking to prevent them from bursting.
FAQs Related To How Long To Boil Brats
What Do Brats Contain?
A brat is a type of sausage made from pork and other ingredients. They are usually grilled but can be cooked in other ways as well. The word “brat” is short for “bratwurst,” which means “finely ground meat” in German.
The term “brat” can refer to any sausage made with finely ground meats such as chicken or turkey, although brats are most commonly associated with pork.
Brats are typically made from pork and other ingredients like beef, veal, or lamb along with spices such as sage, marjoram, and thyme.
There are many different types of brats available today including those that contain cheese (usual cheddar), chili peppers (usually jalapeno), or even beer (which is added before cooking).
What Is The Difference Between Sausages And Brats?
People often use the words bratwurst and sausage interchangeably, but there is actually a difference.
While a brat (short for bratwurst) is a type of sausage, not all sausages are brats. Brats and sausages can be made from different types of meat, and they can vary in terms of their size and seasoning.
Brats are generally made with pork or veal, which sets them apart from sausages that may be made with turkey or chicken. A brat is also larger than your average sausage, which makes it ideal for serving on a bun.
On the other hand, sausages are typically smaller than brats and have a higher fat content. This makes sausages more suited to frying in a pan as opposed to grilling.
Are Brats Gluten Free or Keto?
Cutting out carbs and gluten has become increasingly popular in recent years, for a variety of reasons. Whether you’re following a keto diet like my husband, or have a food sensitivity, it’s important to know whether brats are keto-friendly.
Bratwurst sausages are pre-seasoned, so they often contain some added seasonings and spices that may include gluten or sugar. However, the key is to check the labels before buying brats, as not all brands will include these hidden ingredients. Some types of sausage such as kielbasa may also contain gluten or other additives.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading our guide on how long to boil brats.
We hope you found it helpful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the section below.
Have a nice day!
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