Updated on July 6th, 2022
Kielbasa is one of Poland’s most well-known foods, adored by people worldwide. There’s no need to wonder why; the reason is simple. Kielbasa is delicious, filling, and always made using the best beef available, and if you tried it, you would definitely love it too.
It’s quite understandable if you’ve never heard the word “kielbasa,” let alone cook up the recipe. No need to worry, though; if you need all the basics of cooking Kielbasa, we’ve got you covered. Simply pay close attention to our recommendations and timing guidelines for the best results.
Kielbasa Nutrition Facts
Cooking Kielbasa on the Stove
When cooking Kielbasa on the stove, you can adopt one of two methods, boiling or frying. We have outlined the steps for both processes below:
Frying Kielbasa on the Stove
Follow these easy steps to fry Kielbasa on the stovetop:
- Adjust the flame to medium and place the pan on the stove.
- Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil on top. (Only one teaspoon is needed because sausage releases oil during frying.) Slice the sausage into medium-thick slices while the oil is heated.
- Cook the kielbasa slices in the pan for 7-9 minutes, or until they turn brown, turning them every minute to prevent them from burning.
- Drain the extra oil from the perfectly browned brown sausage slices on a paper towel. For a complete meal, cut up some vegetables and fry them alongside the Kielbasa.
Boiling Kielbasa on the Stove
If your Kielbasa is white, it means you’re using fresh Kielbasa, which means it’s uncooked and needs to be boiled before eating. Follow these easy steps to boil Kielbasa on the stovetop:
- First, place the fresh Kielbasa in a big pot and cover with just enough boiling water to cover the sausage.
- Cook for 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 168 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the level of water and add water as needed regularly.
- Finally, remove the sausage with tongs and dry it. You can slice the boiled Kielbasa and add it to your soup, or you can fry/roast/grill the pieces for a more flavorful result.
There are other ways to cook kielbasas, such as grilling, oven-roasting, or air frying. It all depends on your individual preference.
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Cooking Time for Kielbasa
The time taken for stovetop cooking of Kielbasa depends on the method you choose to employ. Generally, you can follow the timing guidelines in the table below:
| Cooking method | Cooking time |
| Boiling kielbasa | 30 minutes |
| Frying Kielbasa | 7 to 9 minutes |
INGREDIENTS
PrintKielbasa – Polish Sausage (4 Servings)
Ingredients
Instructions
Boiling Polish sausages:
- Place the sausage (or sausages) in the pot.
- Pour the cold water over the sausages until they are completely submerged.
- Put a lid on the pot (optional).
- Warm it up (using medium heat). The water with the kielbasa should be carefully heated. Do not bring the water to a boil.
- The kielbasa is ready to eat after around 10 minutes. You can turn off the heat and wait a few minutes before starting to eat when you realize the water is about to boil.
- With ketchup, mustard, and toast, serve and enjoy the boiled Polish sausages.
Grilling Polish sausages:
- Cut the surface of the sausages (about 1/4 inch across). This aids in crisping the skin and preventing the kielbasa from rupturing.
- Preheat the grill and place the sausage on it. Season with your preferred herbs and spices (optional)
- Polish sausages should be grilled for 5-15 minutes on each side, depending on the temperature.
Cooking Polish sausages in a skillet:
- You can slice the kielbasa into rings or just cut the surface (approximately a 1/4 inch across the surface). Alternatively, you can mince, chop, or dice the Kielbasa and set it aside in smaller pieces.
- If you want sides with your kielbasa, cook them first in oil or lard. (It’s ideal to eat Polish sausage with onions.)
- Add the sausages when the add-ons are cooked (typically after 3-5 minutes of medium-heat frying).
- If you’re having it plain, just pour the oil into the skillet, heat it up, and then add the sausages.
- On medium heat, fry for about 5 minutes on each side.
Cooking Polish sausages in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the surface of the sausages (about 1/4″ across).
- Add-ons such as raw potato slices, chopped pepper, onion, or any other vegetable can be baked with it.
- On the bottom of the oven dish, pour the oil or place the baking paper. This is not necessary when using a glass heatproof dish.
- In a serving plate, arrange the sausages and toppings.
- Pour a small amount of oil on top of the food (about 1 tablespoon for every 4 sausages you cook).
- Bake the sausages on the stove for a total of 45 minutes.
Cooking Polish Sausages in a bonfire:
- Make a fairly big fire .
- Look for a long stick and place the sausage on it.
- Keep the stick with the sausage for 15 minutes above the fire until it’s ready to eat.
Cooking Polish sausages with distilled spirits (95% and above)
- Pour one shot of distilled spirit (95 percent and above) over the kielbasa on a plate.
- Set the kielbasa on fire and wait for the fire to burn out.
- The kielbasa is ready to eat.
Serving Suggestions:
- The best way to eat boiled Polish sausages is with ketchup, mustard, and bread.
- While grilling sausages, make a 1/4-inch cut across the surface of the sausages. It will crisp up the skin and ensure that the kielbasa does not break apart while grilling.
- The best way to eat pan-fried sausage is with mustard or ketchup. It’s also great dinner meat to serve with mashed potatoes, bread, and a salad of your choice.
- Kielbasa cooked over an open fire is ideally served sandwiched between two slices of bread with mayonnaise, mustard, or ketchup, and eaten like a hot dog.
This recipe describes five amazing ways to cook kielbasa, so explore as many methods as you want and enjoy these delicious Polish sausages with your family. If you need more great ideas on how to cook kielbasa, watch this video recipe.
