Bratwursts, also known as brats, are one of the most popular sausages around. They’re a German favorite that has become a staple in American cuisine. It’s not hard to see why: brats are delicious, versatile, and easy to cook. With their savory flavor and juicy texture, a well-cooked brat is truly a thing of beauty.
One way to ensure your brats come out perfect every time is by cooking them on a griddle. A griddle provides even heating and plenty of surface area for cooking up multiple brats at once. But can you really cook brats on a griddle? The short answer is yes – read on to discover everything you need to know about cooking brats on your trusty kitchen tool.
Understanding Bratwursts
Before we delve into how to cook them, let’s first explore what bratwursts are all about. In essence, they’re ground pork sausages with mild seasoning like salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Although these days you can find many variations of the traditional recipe such as adding cheese or jalapeños.
When it comes to preparing and serving brats there are many ways to enjoy them whether boiled then grilled or just grilled for that perfect crispy bite! As beloved tradition says “the only condiment necessary is the bun.”
It’s essential always to keep health risks in mind when cooking pork products like brats because of the risk of foodborne illness such as salmonella or E.coli.
Types Of Bratwurst
There are several types of bratwursts available today; here are some of the most common varieties:
- Classic Style Bratwurst: Incorporates meat from different parts of the hog like shoulder meat or belly fat.
- Beer Bratwurst: Adds beer directly to the meat mixture as well as in the cooking process.
- Cheddar Bratwurst: Incorporates cheddar cheese into the mixture for added flavor and texture.
- Jalapeño Bratwurst: adds extra heat by incorporating jalapeño peppers within the sausage mixture.
Using A Griddle
Griddle cooking has become a popular method of cookery due to its even heating surface, large enough to cook an entire meal on one surface, and non-stick surface. When choosing a griddle ensure that it can fit enough brats comfortably and provide adequate heating.
Benefits Of Cooking On A Griddle
Cooking brats on a griddle allows for:
- Even Heating: The flat surface of a griddle ensures that heat is distributed evenly across the whole cooking surface.
- Large Surface Area: You can cook up a whole batch of brats at once thanks to plenty of room for multiple sausages.
- Non-stick Surface: A quality griddle will have a non-stick surface which makes it ideal for cooking juicy meats like brats without having them stick.
How To Cook Brats On A Griddle
Preparing delicious brats on a griddle is easy when you follow these five steps:
Procedure
- Preheat the Griddle: Make sure your griddle is thoroughly heated before you begin cooking.
- Heat Up The Brats: Place your bratwursts on your hot griddle whilst ensuring they’re spaced out equally, this will allow each one adequate space to brown perfectly.
- Place The Meat on The Grill: Cook each side until they become golden brown (between 10-15 minutes) Don’t forget to flip them over halfway through cooking!
- Flip Them Over Until Both Sides are Browned: This ensures all sides are nicely cooked with golden-brown goodness to ensure adequate delight with every bite!!
- Check For Doneness; Internal Temperature Should Reach At Least 160ºF: This applies regardless of the cooking method employed, always ensure your meat has reached an appropriate temperature to protect against illness.
Tips For Perfectly Cooked Brats On A Griddle
If you want your brats to come out perfect every time, here are some tips for enhancing flavor and texture.
Methods
- Adding Liquid While Cooking: Add beer or broth (a popular alternative) to add extra moisture and flavor while cooking bratwursts on your griddle.
- Use A Meat Thermometer: Even after a visual inspection of the brat that it’s cooked perfectly golden-brown must still inspect carefully if done right by utilizing a meat thermometer.
- Keeping The Juices Intact: Slice small slits through the skin intermittently or pricking the casing which releases steam from within the sausage thus allowing certain flavors to be released with less pressure changing the taste.
Serving Brats Cooked On A Griddle
There are many ways you can enjoy glistening, perfectly cooked brats-from traditional buns to toppings and side dishes!
Ideas:
- Classic Bun with Ketchup- Nothing is better than a classic “hot dog” type bun and ketchup
- Add Mustard and Pickles Along with The Bun – Try adding Dijon mustard for an amended acidic element alongside some crunchy dill pickles to cool down any spicy component.
- Adding Cheese To Top The Juices – Cheddar or cheese sauce is great complementing how cheese is also incorporated into some recipes at the outset.
Alternatives To Cooking Brats On A Griddle
Griddles at times may not be available making it necessary to cook on alternate equipment like grills, ovens or even sautéing!
Grilling Bratwurst: This method usually includes boiling brats first to minimize cooking time, then grilling for a crispy exterior which can take slightly less time than using griddles; about 5-8 minutes on each side.
Sautéing Bratwurst: You can also saute your brats in a frying pan for 2-5 mins on each side. Although this method doesn’t allow the sausage to get as crispy with as much caramelization. It’s still an easy and missed option.
Conclusion
Cooking Brats on a griddle is ultimately an incredibly efficient and convenient way of quickly cooking large batches of brats at once resulting in that perfect juicy bite. Keeping in mind basic food safety procedures alongside allowing yourself the possibility of experimentation truly makes it apparent that apart from diversity in consumption, there’s also so much diversity when choosing unique combinations of rich earthy flavor profiles.
Q&A
- Q: Is it possible to cook brats on a griddle? A: Absolutely! Cooking brats on a griddle is actually one of the easiest and most convenient ways to prepare them.
- Q: Do I need to preheat my griddle before cooking brats? A: Yes, it’s important to preheat your griddle before adding the brats. This will ensure they cook evenly and prevent sticking.
- Q: What temperature should I set my griddle to when cooking brats? A: You’ll want to set your griddle to medium-high heat (around 375-400°F) for best results when cooking brats.
- Q: Are there any special tips or tricks for cooking brats on a griddle? A: One tip is to add a little bit of oil or butter to the griddle before placing the brats on it, as this can help enhance their flavor and prevent sticking. Additionally, poking small holes in the skin of the brats with a fork while they’re cooking can help release excess fat and moisture.
