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Air Fryer Brats

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Juicy bratwurst cooked in the air fryer with an evenly browned exterior and satisfying snap. Ready in about 15 minutes with no pre-boiling required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 bratwurst links (fresh, pre-cooked, or frozen)
  • Cooking spray or light oil (optional)
  • Brat buns or hoagie rolls
  • Toppings: sauteed onions and peppers, mustard, sauerkraut, or relish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (188°C) for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray if desired. Do not pierce the brat casings.
  2. Place brats in a single layer in the basket without stacking. In a standard 5–6 quart basket, 4–6 links fit comfortably side by side.
  3. Cook fresh brats at 370°F for 12–15 minutes, flipping at the halfway point (6–7 minutes). For pre-cooked brats, cook 8–10 minutes flipping at 4–5 minutes. For frozen raw brats, cook at 350°F for 20–22 minutes flipping at 10 minutes.
  4. Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm doneness: fresh brats must reach 160°F (71°C); pre-cooked brats must reach 165°F (74°C).
  5. Remove brats from the air fryer and rest on a plate for 3–5 minutes before serving. Toast buns in the air fryer at 350°F for 1–2 minutes if desired.

Notes

Do not pierce the casing before cooking — intact casings retain juices and produce the characteristic snap.

For a crispier exterior, score brats with 3–4 shallow diagonal cuts before cooking, but note this will reduce juiciness slightly.

A second batch cooks about 2 minutes faster in an already-hot basket.

Brats can also be cooked alongside sliced peppers and onions in the air fryer basket.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-brats/