Sausages are a staple of British cuisine. They lend themselves to almost occasion, whether sizzling away on a barbecue in the sunshine or warming you on a cold winter’s day in a hearty pie or casserole. In the UK, we buy 175,000 tonnes of pork sausages every year. However, 1.5 million sausages are wasted daily. Follow our tips on safely storing, freezing and reheating sausages to prevent waste. We have 35 fantastic recipes to inspire you to use up your leftover bangers, too.
Cooking and storing sausages
Chilled sausages should be kept in the fridge between 1-4C and should be eaten by the use-by date on the packaging.
When cooking sausages, make sure the internal temperature reaches 70C and holds that temperature for at least 2 minutes. Once cooked, sausages should be cooled, then chilled between 1-4C, where they can be kept for up to two days (but not past the use-by date). To reheat, cook until the internal temp reaches 70C again.
Freezing and defrosting sausages
Raw sausages can be frozen for up to two months. They should be defrosted in the fridge and only cooked after they are thoroughly defrosted.
Sausages that have been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for up to two days in the refrigerator before cooking.
We recommend only defrosting the sausages you intend to use in each recipe to ensure minimal waste.
35 ways to use up leftover sausages
Hot dogs
Hot dogs are a great way to use up sausages. We recommend cooking your sausages on the barbecue in batches and leaving the remainders raw in the fridge to be used later. Spice up your everyday hot dog with our American inspirations, such as our Philly-style cheese dogs loaded with onions, green peppers and a ready-made cheese sauce. Or, our sloppy sausage chilli cheese dogs made with sausagemeat, beans and a spicy tomato sauce. You could also try our delicious hoisin hot dogs. Grill some sausages, brush with hoisin sauce and top with cucumber and spring onion for added freshness and crunch.
Find more inspiration for hot dog recipes.
Traybakes
Traybakes are really convenient and easy for a midweek meal. All our options can be prepped in under 20 minutes, so all you need to do is pop them in the oven and enjoy.
Our oven-baked ratatouille & sausages are incredibly juicy and flavoursome. Drizzle your veg with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, fry sausages for 5 minutes until browned, then put in the tray with the vegetables and bake for a further 20 minutes until cooked through. Or, for something even heartier, try our cauli-kale sausage bake. It’s simple, freezable and oozing with cheesy goodness. Try our tasty sausage & maple swede traybake for a colourful, seasonal option. You’ll forget all about dull old bangers and mash as the addition of an apple enhances this dish. Finally, try our sausage, sweet potato & sweetcorn bake for the simplest family-friendly bake. With only 5 minutes of prep and two steps, this is the recipe to reach for after a long day’s work.
Find more hearty and straightforward traybake recipes.
Toad-in-the-hole
Toad-in-the-hole is a great British classic. The combination of a fluffy Yorkshire pudding with a juicy sausage is close to unbeatable. Our ultimate toad-in-the-hole with caramelised onion gravy is a posh version of this classic dish. Wrap chunky sausages in bacon for extra salty extravagance. Or, our Catherine wheel toad-in-the-hole with honey & mustard onions makes a gorgeous centrepiece, as the spiral design makes it all the more appetising. For a quick fix, our sausage, gherkin & pickled onion toad-in-the-hole can be prepped in only 5 minutes.
For other variations on this classic, look at our tasty toad-in-the-hole recipes.
Casseroles
Casseroles are a great way of feeding the family without needing too many fresh ingredients. Our sausage & white bean casserole uses a can of white beans, tomatoes and other storecupboard and freezer vegetables, such as carrots, red onions and frozen peas. Our recipe suggests using a fresh pepper, but feel free to add any leftover vegetables. For an incredibly fragrant casserole, try our Moroccan sausage stew. Ras el hanout works perfectly with the tomato sauce, dates and onions. And, for an elevated casserole worthy of a dinner party, try our one-pot sausage casserole with garlic breadcrumbs.
Try our family casserole recipes for more hearty stews to serve the family.
Picnic
A picnic is a great time to use leftover sausages, as they can be used in pastries, on skewers or in rolls. Our cheesy sausage & bean pies are a great picnic snack, as they are easy to make and freezable. Using ready-made pastry means that they take only 25 minutes to prep, and most of the ingredients are from the cupboard, which makes them budget-friendly too. Our super sausage rolls also use ready-made pastry and can be frozen for later. To bake from frozen, add 10 minutes to the baking time. While our char siu-style sausage puffs use a homemade rough puff pastry, you can make the pastry up to two days in advance, so there will be no extra stress on the day. Or, make sausages into a herby kebab with our sausage & pancetta skewers.
Look at our picnic snack recipes for more portable sweet and savoury snacks.
Ragu
Transform sausages into our veg-packed sausage & mushroom ragu. Great for a family dinner, serve it with couscous, mash or pasta. It’s also freezable, so no leftovers will go to waste. Or, try our fantastic sausage & hazelnut ragu with celeriac mash – this easy budget-friendly recipe will soon become one of the family’s favourites. Try our cheesy polenta with sausage ragout, too – creamy and hearty polenta is a great alternative to mash or pasta. Bring out the flavours with a sprinkling of rosemary.
Find even more rich and flavoursome ragu recipes to serve in dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and moussaka.
Rice
Rice is an excellent base for any meal, as it’s so versatile. Dig into our sausage & prawn jambalaya, a spicy rice one-pot. It’s inspired by Cajun and Creole cooking and has a bit of a kick, plus sweet and smoky paprika. Or, try one of our comforting risottos. Our sausage & butternut squash risotto is ideal for sneaking more vegetables into your child’s diet and takes just 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook. Our sausage & fennel risotto another great option, as sausage and fennel is an extremely popular flavour pairing.
Find more inspiration for sausage and rice recipes in our collection.
Pasta
Our bucatini with mushrooms & sausage pays homage to the delicious pasta dishes from Umbria – the dried porcini mushrooms pair excellently with the juicy sausages. Our speedy sausage stroganoff tagliatelle is not only quick, but budget-friendly too – it costs just £1.23 per serving. For a comforting pasta bake for two, try our courgette, sausage & rigatoni bakes. Made with punchy garlic and chilli tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella, they ooze with flavour. For a variation on classic lasagne, try our pea, pesto & sausage lasagne – made with pesto, broccoli, mascarpone and sausage, this dish is rich in calcium, folate, fibre and vitamin C.
For more thrifty meals, try our budget-friendly pasta recipes.
Hash
A hash makes a great breakfast or brunch and uses up leftover ingredients. Our sausage & leek hash is an excellent way to use up Sunday roast leftovers. Or, try our sausage & kale hash topped with a fried egg – there’s nothing quite as satisfying as splitting open a perfectly runny yolk. Our sausage, mustard & apple hash is another tasty variation, plus it’s budget-friendly, gluten-free and healthy.
For big ideas for weekend feasting and indulgent mornings, try our breakfast and brunch recipes.
Pie
Nothing can beat a hearty pie on a cold day. Our sausage & mash pie is an ingenious take on a family favourite that can be frozen to reheat on busier weeknights. Or, try our sausage & leek mash pie, which takes just 5 minutes to prepare before baking.
Easy to make and seriously comforting, these sausage pie recipes are winners.
One-pots
One-pots are a fantastic midweek dinner as they are quick and fuss-free. Our sausage, roasted veg & puy lentil one-pot delivers three of your five-a-day, and lentils are a great source of fibre and protein. Our spicy sausage & bean one-pot is warming and made with storecupboard ingredients, so it’s budget-friendly. And, our sausage, kale & gnocchi one-pot can be ready to eat in just 20 minutes.
Browse more of our comforting one-pot recipes.
