Sausages

[jadyn]

I bought a pack of their top of the range chilled pork sausages from Aldi a few days ago. This morning I decided to freeze them as I don't anticipate using them before the "use-by date" (three days from today)

On the packaging it says that they can be frozen but I need to defrost the sausages in the bottom of the fridge for 24 hours before cooking them.

Are we now expected to anticipate when we're going to want to eat the sausages 24 hours ahead? Why can't I cook them from frozen as I've done with just about every other sausage over the years chilled or not? Does anyone have any suggestions as to why Aldi put this ludicrous instruction on the packaging?

Thank you.

[EcclesCake]

Controlled environment for defrosting, as opposed to fluctuating temps in a kitchen.

Cooking from frozen is your choice, their recommendation is to ensure the inside is throughly cooked and the outside not charred.

[aelmpvw]

//defrost the sausages in the bottom of the fridge//

heaven help anyone that misses this crucial piece of information

[Eleena]

Just defrost them and cook well jaydn. Aldi are just covering their backs.

[Eleena]

... Meant to say in the microwave, if you have one.

[woofgang]

Its backside covering......many food companies put the same kind of instructions on their products

[jadyn]

Thank you everyone. I was thinking of grilling the sausages straight out of the freezer. Do you think this would be acceptable? I've never defrosted a sausage in a microwave in my life!

[Eleena]

No don't cook from frozen jaydn.

[jadyn]

Thank you Eleena. How long would you suggest I defrost them for before grilling?

[Eleena]

Hard to say jadyn, stick them on for 2 minutes at a time, just keep checking them till thawed. The problem with cooking from frozen, they'll look done on the outside when they're not.

[Buenchico]

Most microwave ovens have two ways of defrosting food. You can either set a time or simply choose a weight. I find that the 'weight' setting works fine for defrosting sausages. (e.g. I'll choose '200g' as the setting and the microwave oven does its own calculation as to how long is required to defrost my sausages. Easy peasy!)

[anthro-nerd]

I have always been told to defrost things (in their packaging or s/w bag) in a bowl of cold water. Means the temperature is controlled and safe, and it only takes a few hours!

[Tilly2]

Why is it so difficult to decide that you want sausages for tomorrow night's dinner? I plan my meals so that I know, today, what I am going to eat tomorrow.

Tomorrow's dinner is beef casserole.

[whiskeryron]

Yet another EU instruction ?

[gingejbee]

Tilly...some people are organised (like you - and me) and some have no idea what "planning/thinking ahead" means!

[Tilly2]

That must be it, Ginge!

[gingejbee]

...and I just knew that somebody would point the finger at the EU.....

[Tilly2]

This is food and drink, not politics.

[Canary42]

I always defrost sausages in a jug of boiling water - only takes a few minutes. I've been doing it for over fifty years and I'm still around to tell the tale.

[jadyn]

Tilly2 and gingejbee, your ability to plan meals is admirable and I do likewise the majority of the time.

However, when I have young family guests who fancy a sausage sandwich served pronto, I cannot neither plan nor predict that eventuality.

Human spontaneity knocks the best laid plans out the window - they want their sausage sandwich today not tomorrow!

[ummmm]

I have a fridge and freezer full of food and still don't know what we're having tomorrow.