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Conecuh sausage (pronounced Cah-nek-ah) is a sausage made by the Conecuh Sausage Company and named after Conecuh County, Alabama, United States. The sausages are available in six flavors, including original, hickory, all-natural hickory (no MSG), spicy & hot hickory, cajun, and cracked black pepper.
The smoked sausage is made using a blend of pork and spices and is known for its smoky and savory flavor.
Cook Conecuh sausages thoroughly before eating them because, even though the links are lightly smoked before they’re packaged, the meat is still raw. These sausages contain no preservatives, so store the meat in the fridge or freezer.
How to Cook Conecuh Sausage in the Oven
Cooking Conecuh sausage in the oven is easy and makes the sausage crispy and evenly cooked. Cooking in the oven will take 25 to 30 minutes if the link is cooked from raw, and 35 to 40 minutes from frozen.
Ingredients and Materials:
- Defrosted or frozen Conecuh sausages
- Nonstick baking sheet or a large cast iron skillet
- Kitchen tongs
- Oven mitts
- Meat thermometer
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the baking pan, covered with the baking sheet or parchment paper, onto the middle oven rack
- Remove the sausages from the packaging and poke a hole in each inch of sausage using a fork or a knife. This will render the fat quicker, resulting in a tastier cooked sausage
- Cut the sausages into 4-inch pieces for a shorter cooking time, or leave them as they are before placing them onto the pan and in the oven
- After 10-15 minutes (raw) or 20-25 minutes (frozen), remove the sausages from the oven using oven mitts, and turn the sausages using kitchen tongs to brown the bottom sides
- Place the sausages back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes (raw) or 20-25 minutes (frozen), while keeping an eye on them to ensure they don’t burn. Remove them from the oven when the internal temperature of each sausage reaches 165°F (measured with a meat thermometer) and serve immediately with a dipping sauce of choice
Conecuh sausage can be included in popular baked dishes such as cornbread, baked beans, pizza, hash brown casserole, and macaroni and cheese. The link can also be used in appetizers such as bacon-wrapped sausage, Conecuh wontons, or as pigs in a blanket.
How to Grill Conecuh Sausage
Grilling Conecuh sausages is easy and gives crispy, smoky results. Grilling takes between 10 and 12 minutes to cook raw sausages and up to 15 minutes for frozen sausages. Increase grilling time for an electric grill and decrease the total time if using a gas grill.
When using a charcoal grill, wait until the charcoal is ashed over before placing the sausages on the grill. Grilling Conecuh sausages requires constant attention to ensure the sausages don’t burn.
Ingredients and Materials:
- Defrosted or frozen Conecuh sausages
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- Kitchen tongs
Instructions:
- Light the charcoal, gas, or electric grill, and set to medium to high heat. Add a layer of cooking oil to the grill grates and leave to preheat for 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 275°F
- Cut the Conecuh sausages into 6-inch chunks, prick the sausage casings with a fork or knife, and place the sausages on the grill plates with space between each sausage
- Use the kitchen tongs to turn the sausages every two to four minutes to ensure an even sear
- Remove the sausages from the grill when they are golden brown on all sides and have reached an internal temperature of 165°F
- Allow the sausages to rest for 10 minutes before serving
The grilled sausage can be used in many popular grilled dishes, such as hotdogs and sausage kebabs. The links go well with grilled veggies like onions and peppers and are delicious when marinated.
How to Cook Conecuh Sausage on the Stove
Pan-frying or boiling on the stovetop is one of the most popular ways to cook Conecuh sausage because it’s fast, easy, and only requires a pot or skillet. Pan-fried sausage can be added to many dishes and only takes 9 to 15 minutes, depending on the method used.
Ingredients and Materials:
- Conecuh sausage
- 2–3 cups of water (for boiled sausages)
- 1 tablespoon of cooking oil (for pan-fried sausages)
- Kitchen tongs
- A large cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan (for pan-frying), or pot (for boiling)
- Meat thermometer
Instructions:
Pan-fried sausages:
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and warm over medium-high heat
- Cut the sausage into 4- or 6-inch pieces and poke the sides a few times with a fork or knife
- Add the sausages to the heated pan, and fry for 9 to 12 minutes, turning them every 2 to 3 minutes with kitchen tongs
- Test the internal temperature of each sausage using the meat thermometer after at least 6 minutes, and remove the sausages when the internal temperatures reach 165°F and the outsides are golden brown
Boiled sausages:
- Bring the water to a boil and add cut 4- or 6-inch sausage pieces to the pot (don’t prick holes in them as the flavors will be lost in the water), cover the pot with a lid, and heat over medium to high heat
- Ensure the sausages remain covered by about 1 inch of water, and keep the pot covered with a lid. Rotate the sausages bottom-side-up after five minutes, replacing the lid after rotating them
- Cook the sausages for another 10 minutes, turning twice more during this time to ensure an even cook
- Remove the sausages when they are golden brown, and the internal temperature is 165°F
Pan-fried Conecuh sausage can be added to several popular dishes such as hash browns, breakfast burritos, pasta, stir-fries, and stews. Boiled sausage can be added to jambalaya, gumbo, and soups. Several Conecuh sausage recipes are on their website, including Conecuh sausage cornbread!
Cooking Conecuh Sausage: Tips & Tricks
The stove-top, pan-frying method is the fastest way to cook Conecuh sausages, and the grilling method brings out the most flavor from the links. Boiling the Conecuh sausage is the healthiest way to prepare it, and the oven-bake method is the easiest. Simmering the sausages at medium heat, with any technique, will extract the most flavor.
Cook sausages to an internal temperature of 165°F before eating them. Links that don’t reach this temperature are unsafe to eat. Test the temperature with a meat thermometer, or cut the sausage open and check that it’s fully cooked — firm, not runny, and dark or pale in color rather than bright pink.