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How to Cook Chipolatas: Every Method, Step by Step
Chipolatas are thinner than a standard sausage, which means they cook faster and catch more easily if you treat them the same way. Here’s how to get them right every time, whichever method you’re using, using our Old English Breakfast Chipolata Sausages or any chipolata from the fridge.
Quick answer: Chipolatas take 15 to 18 minutes in the oven at 180°C fan (200°C conventional), 10 to 12 minutes in a frying pan, or 8 to 10 minutes in an air fryer at 180°C. They’re ready when piping hot throughout with no pink meat.
In the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan (200°C conventional, gas mark 6).
- Place the chipolatas on a baking tray, leaving space between each one so they colour rather than steam.
- Cook for 15 to 18 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Check the thickest sausage is piping hot all the way through before serving.
In a Frying Pan
- Heat a small splash of oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the chipolatas and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning every couple of minutes so they brown evenly on all sides.
- Lower the heat slightly if they’re colouring too fast on the outside before the centre is cooked.
In an Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C.
- Arrange the chipolatas in a single layer in the basket, without overlapping.
- Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
On the BBQ or Grill
- Heat the BBQ or grill to medium, not high. Chipolatas are thin enough to burn on the outside before they’re cooked through on high heat.
- Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning often.
- Move to a cooler part of the BBQ if they’re browning too quickly.
Can You Cook Chipolatas From Frozen?
It’s safer and gives a more even result to defrost chipolatas fully in the fridge overnight before cooking. If you do need to cook from frozen, add roughly 50% more time to whichever method you’re using, and check thoroughly before serving.
How to Tell When Chipolatas Are Cooked
Cut into the thickest sausage. It should be piping hot throughout, with no pink meat and clear juices rather than pink ones. If in doubt, give it another few minutes rather than serving it underdone. The Food Standards Agency’s guidance on cooking food safely has more detail on safe cooking temperatures for meat if you want the full picture.
What to Do With Them Next
Once they’re cooked, chipolatas are a blank canvas. Toss them in honey and mustard, wrap them in bacon, or build a full 15 chipolata recipe ideas worth of dinners around them, from a Sunday traybake to a quick weeknight pasta bake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do chipolatas take to cook?
15 to 18 minutes in the oven, 10 to 12 minutes in a frying pan or on the BBQ, or 8 to 10 minutes in an air fryer, depending on the method.
Can you cook chipolatas from frozen?
Yes, but it’s better to defrost them in the fridge first for a more even result. If cooking from frozen, add extra time and check they’re piping hot throughout before serving.
What temperature should chipolatas be cooked to?
They should be piping hot all the way through, with no pink meat and clear juices, before serving.
Ready to cook? Shop our Old English Breakfast Chipolata Sausages or browse the full Speciality Sausages range.
