Pigs in blankets cook quickly in an air fryer, giving you crispy bacon and heated sausages without turning on the big oven. So how long does pigs in blankets take in air fryer? For most standard sizes, you’re looking at 10 to 14 minutes at 180C (360F).
That short window is why the air fryer has become such a popular way to make them. You get the same crisp result as a oven, but in less time and with less cleanup. Below is a full breakdown of timing, temperatures, and the small details that change the result.
How Long Does Pigs In Blankets Take In Air Fryer
The honest answer is that it depends on a few things. Size of the sausage, thickness of the bacon, and whether your air fryer runs hot or cool all matter. But you can use a simple range as your starting point.
Standard Cooking Time At A Glance
- Small cocktail sausages: 8 to 10 minutes
- Standard chipolata or medium sausage: 10 to 14 minutes
- Thick butcher-style sausages: 14 to 18 minutes
- Pre-cooked sausages wrapped in bacon: 8 to 12 minutes
- Frozen pigs in blankets (raw): 14 to 18 minutes
Use 180C (360F) as your default temperature. If your air fryer tends to run hot, drop it to 170C (340F) and add a minute or two.
Why The Air Fryer Is Faster Than The Oven
An air fryer moves hot air around the food at high speed. That means the bacon crisps up fast and the sausage heats through at the same time. A regular oven takes longer to preheat and cooks more slowly because the air isn’t as concentrated.
You also don’t need to wait 15 minutes for a big oven to reach temperature. Most air fryers are ready in 2 to 3 minutes.
How To Cook Pigs In Blankets In An Air Fryer
Follow these steps and you’ll get a reliable result every time. The method is simple, but the order matters.
- Preheat your air fryer to 180C (360F) for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Wrap each sausage in one slice of streaky bacon. Stretch the bacon slightly as you wrap so it stays put.
- If the bacon keeps unrolling, secure it with a wooden toothpick.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil to stop sticking.
- Place the pigs in blankets in a single layer. Do not stack them.
- Cook for 10 minutes, then check.
- Turn them over halfway through so both sides crisp evenly.
- Add 2 to 4 more minutes if the bacon isn’t crisp yet.
- Rest for 1 to 2 minutes before serving.
If you crowd the basket, the bacon steams instead of crisps. Cook in batches if you need to. It’s better to do two rounds than to end up with soggy bacon.
Do You Need To Preheat?
You don’t have to, but it helps. A preheated basket starts the crisping process right away. If you skip it, add about 2 minutes to the total cook time.
Should You Prick The Sausages?
Yes, a small prick with a fork or knife tip helps. It lets some fat escape so the sausage doesn’t split. It also stops the bacon from getting greasy underneath.
Tips For Crispy Bacon And Juicy Sausages
Getting both parts right at the same time is the main challenge. Here’s how to balance it.
- Use thin-cut streaky bacon. Thick cuts take longer than the sausage and can burn outside while staying raw inside.
- Don’t overlap the wraps. Air needs to reach every surface.
- Pat the sausages dry before wrapping. Moisture stops the bacon from crisping.
- Brush the bacon with a little maple syrup or honey in the last 2 minutes for a sticky glaze.
- Shake the basket once during cooking to stop sticking.
A light dusting of black pepper or smoked paprika before cooking adds flavor without extra work. Just avoid adding salt, since bacon is already salty.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Overfilling the basket so the food steams
- Cooking at too high a heat, which burns the bacon before the sausage cooks
- Using raw sausages straight from frozen without adding time
- Forgetting to turn them halfway
- Not spraying the basket, which leads to torn bacon
Frozen Vs Fresh Pigs In Blankets In The Air Fryer
Frozen ones need more time, but not as much as you might think. The air fryer handles them well because the fan circulates heat evenly.
Frozen Cooking Times
- Frozen raw pigs in blankets: 14 to 18 minutes at 180C
- Frozen pre-cooked pigs in blankets: 10 to 14 minutes at 180C
Add 2 to 3 minutes if your freezer runs very cold or the sausages are large. Always check the middle of the sausage is piping hot before serving.
Fresh Cooking Times
Fresh ones cook in 10 to 14 minutes. If you made them ahead and chilled them in the fridge, add 1 to 2 minutes to account for the cold center.
How Many Can You Fit In One Batch
It depends on your air fryer size. A 4 to 5 liter model fits around 8 to 10 standard pigs in blankets in one layer. A smaller 2 liter model fits 4 to 6.
Never stack them. If you have more than one layer, cook in batches. The second batch usually cooks slightly faster because the basket is already hot, so check it 1 to 2 minutes earlier.
How To Tell When They’re Done
You want the bacon dark and crisp at the edges and the sausage firm and hot all the way through. Here are the signs to look for.
- Bacon is shrunken and deep golden brown
- Edges look slightly curled and crisp
- Sausage feels firm when pressed
- Internal temperature of the sausage hits 75C (167F)
- No pink in the middle when you cut one open
If the bacon looks done but the sausage feels soft, lower the heat to 160C and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. This lets the middle catch up without burning the outside.
Reheating And Making Ahead
You can cook these a day ahead and reheat them in the air fryer. It works better than a microwave, which makes the bacon soft.
- Cook and cool completely, then store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat at 160C (320F) for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Turn once halfway through.
- Check the middle is hot before serving.
Reheating at a lower temperature stops the bacon from burning while the inside warms up. If you’re reheating from frozen, add 3 to 4 minutes.
Final Timing Cheat Sheet
- Small cocktail size, fresh: 8 to 10 minutes
- Standard size, fresh: 10 to 14 minutes
- Thick sausages, fresh: 14 to 18 minutes
- Frozen raw: 14 to 18 minutes
- Frozen pre-cooked: 10 to 14 minutes
- Reheating cooked: 5 to 7 minutes at 160C
Set your air fryer to 180C, cook in a single layer, turn halfway, and check at the 10 minute mark. That’s the whole method. Once you’ve made them a couple of times, you’ll know exactly how your model behaves and you can fine tune the time to suit your taste.