Despite the fact that traditional British sausages have been enjoying a resurgence over the last few decades, there are still plenty of choices to be made when looking for good quality sausages to cook at home. Whether it be in a roll, with toast, with chips, or boiled in the morning, the British food scene offers a variety of tasty options that are sure to please.
The Cumberland sausage, a local speciality in the county of Cumberland for over 500 years, maybe the most popular of British saucers. The Cumberland sausage is distinct since the meat is sliced and not minced, giving it a meaty feel. Their sausage recipes are still a closely guarded secret.
Some of the best-known British sausages are local-specific, and the UK has several historical regions, for example, Cumberland, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire in England and Glamorgan in Wales.
Other traditional styles of sausage include Black Country, with a red colouring to the pork belly and a milder taste, and Northumberland, which has a slightly bitter taste and a chunky texture. Traditional sausage styles from other regions include St. David’s leek and the West Country, made with several herbs and spices including cinnamon and nutmeg, among others.
I have reviewed the best quality sausages available to buy in the UK. If you have any question, then please do not hesitate to comment.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Sausages UK
1. Speldhurst Quality Cumberland Pork Sausage
Packed in the classic tight and plump style the British love, these mouth-watering sausages will draw attention at any kitchen. Throw a couple of these on a charcoal grill, and your backyard turns into a party scene! They come so juicily when you cook or fry, it runs, releasing a whiff of its delicious aroma as it touches the hot cooking surface.
The balance between pork and rusk is also quite impressive. Of course, I expect nothing less from the product, as Cumberland sausages are known for their attractive, fresh look and their juicy meat.
Features
- 80% pork
- Packed with herbs and spices
- Cumberland style
- No MSG
- No artificial colours or flavours
2. Herta FrankfurtersChicken Hot Dogs
If you love chicken and enjoy great quality frankfurters, then this product was made for you. This pack of 10 delicious chicken hot dog sausages is loaded with enough juicy goodness to make anyone salivate in anticipation. They come out great, not just grill, but in casseroles and other recipes as well. Even without grilling, the taste has a strong hint of smokiness, giving you that familiar natural beechwood flavour.
Features
- Chicken frankfurter
- Smoked with natural beechwood
- 64% less saturated fat
- High protein, zero artificial colours
- Pack of 10 sausages
3. Booths Pork Apple and Cider Sausages
Looking for a unique tasting treat to dazzle your guests at a party? Then this is the best option to go for. The product combines the very best of British cuisine into one yummy, mouth-watering package. The meat is derived from the top-quality prime cuts of outdoor bred UK pork. To give you this incredibly unique flavour, it is combined with Yorkshire apple cider from Pure North cider press. All of these are rounded up with a dash of seasoning ingredients which include sage, marjoram, black pepper extract, flour variants and gluten-free bread crumbs.
Features
- 78% pork
- Made from outdoor bred UK pork
- Yorkshire apple cider flavour
- Gluten-free
- Pack of 6
Read More: Best Beef Joint For Roasting UK
4. MeatLess Wiener Sausage
Perfect for fans of the hot and spicy, this product comes with great taste and alluring thickness. I must warn that it is not for the faint-hearted, as it comes with lots of hot pepper. But if you can tolerate the super levels of spice, you come to enjoy an impressive blend of British chicken, with traditional Spanish paprika and red peppers. The sausage is packed with calories and deliciousness and satisfies every bite.
This great-tasting pack of chipolatas are made in small batches but are densely packed with flavours waiting to explode in your mouth. Gluten-sensitive people are not left out on this one as it attends to their particular need.
Features
- British chicken Chipolatas
- Spanish paprika and red pepper flavours
- Suitable for coeliacs
- Dairy-free and gluten-free
- Pack of 10
5. Morrisons The Best Lincolnshire Thick Sausages
Fresh, thick and utterly delicious, this product is a classic representation of British cuisine. It comes packed in the standard sausage style, with thin pork skin casings that allow easy roasting, barbecuing, boiling or frying. The sausage is made from 85% pork, which explains its tender and plump outlook. The meat is richly mixed with pea flour and generously spiced with sage, marjoram, thyme and other herbs and spices.
Features
- 85% pork
- British Cumberland sausages
- Seasoned with thyme, sage and marjoram
- Contains pea flour
- 6 thick pork sausages
6. Taifun Organic Frankfurters Sausages
This is a vegan sausage made from 75% tofu, with no cholesterol or artificial colours and with a great meaty taste. It is suitable for home freezing and is adequately packed nutritional benefits. It includes a host of other vegan-friendly ingredients, like sunflower oil, sweet paprika, white and black pepper, garlic, oatmeal coriander and fenugreek. Guar gum is the ultimate thickening agent used for this product and it also includes beechwood smoke, to give you that same feel as classic barbecued sausage does.
Features
- 75% tofu
- Purely organic
- Contains sunflower oil and oatmeal
- Pack of 4
- Suitable for vegetarians
7. Lidgate’s Gluten-Free Beef Sausages
This high-quality meat product is created especially for beef lovers. It is made from the highest quality HRH Highgrove estate shoulder cuts; portions that speak highly of class. The flavour is further enhanced with the addition of external sirloin fat gotten from dry-aged beef. This gives it a taste so marvellous; you never want to stop at one. And the sausages are supplied fresh, seasoned with tasty herbs and spices like parsley chives, garlic powder, white pepper and sea salt.
Features
- Made from HRH Highgrove shoulder cuts
- Contains extra sirloin fat from dry-aged beef
- Gluten-free
- Seasoned with chives, garlic powder, parsley, white pepper and sea salt
- Fresh form
8. Linda McCartney’s 6 Vegetarian Red Onion & Rosemary Sausages
This product is another great and tasty alternative for vegetarians and those on a meat-free diet. It includes 6 high-protein and low-fat sausages packed and frozen to perfection, for your immediate use. The sausages combine some amazing vegetarian-friendly ingredients, including soy protein, red onion, rosemary, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil. The addition of spices like white pepper and ginger kicks the flavour up a notch, giving you a tasty experience with every bite. For non-vegans, it is an adventurous option you would be glad you tried.
Features
- 100% vegan
- Contains red onion and rosemary
- Pack of 6 frozen sausages
- 62% soy protein
- 270 grams
9. Helen Browning’s Organic Hot Dogs
The best thing about this product is the meat is fed purely on organic materials, giving you an incredibly tasting batch of pork unlike any other. The source pigs were bred exclusively outdoors in the free ranges of the UK. The product comprises of 6 plump and tasty pork sausages, seasoned with a range of organic spices, including pepper, nutmeg and caraway. And the meat is tied in natural pork casings, giving you an attractive, fast-cooking piece of paradise.
Features
- Organic British hot dogs
- Made from UK Free Range outbred pigs
- 97% pork
- Gluten-free
- Suitable for carnivores
10. Gilbert’s Kosher Pure Beef American Hot Dogs
An amazing product made purely from the highest quality beef, this hot dog sausage pack is a great option for barbecues and beef parties. It combines the best of two worlds- 100% Irish farm managed beef, cured, smoked and fully cooked in the traditional American style. The meat is further seasoned with paprika, salt, sugar, garlic powder and other spice extracts. And the result is offered in a pack of 10 deliciously tasting hot dogs that turn you to a grill god at any backyard barbecue hangout.
Features
- 100% Irish farm managed beef
- American style beef hot dogs
- Gluten-free
- Halal and Kosher
- Pack of 10
Sausages UK Product Guide
Barbecue season is fast approaching, and I can see neighbours and friends dusting their grills. And I can already foretell the future; there will be a boom in sausage sales in the UK. The question everyone should ask though is, are you sure you know how to pick sausages? It would surprise you that a lot of people will hesitate before giving you an answer.
Most people in the UK have a common mindset towards this food; they think sausages are all the same. This is far from the truth and is why they miss out on its many benefits- flexible flavours and meat alternatives. Luckily, I will address these on my review and include a list of what I consider the best sausages UK grilling enthusiasts should buy.
I have included a product guide containing tons of information about the subject. The guide will contain the essential considerations you need to make in order to get the best out of these delicious products. Combined with the review list, you stand to enjoy a memorable experience every time you shop for these juicy meat treats.
When it comes to eating sausages, there are two schools of thought, according to Daniel Traynor, food writer and author of the book British A La Carte: A Tale of Sausage, Curry, and Salami. The first school of thought is to stuff your sausage with mustard and onions or chilli flakes, and the second school is to make your own sausage at home and incorporate the ingredients that you enjoy into the sausage rather than buying pre-packaged sausages. Traynor believes that both of these styles are fine but he prefers to make his own because “you can get better quality of meat if you are making it at home”. This is particularly the case for a lot of traditional sausages, where the recipes themselves have been passed down through the generations.
Enjoying a good sausage rests solely on what you like. But if you do not know what to look out for, the various options on the market may overwhelm you. But sausages come in multiple shapes and sizes, as well as contain varying materials. Knowing your preference and where to look helps you get the best product for your money’s worth.
Meat Type
Most people believe all sausages are made with pork, and this is a common notion. This is probably why vegetarians completely write off sausages as a die option. While there are sausages made with pork, others are made with different meats as well. Beef, chicken, mutton, lamb are other popular alternatives. Wheat and soy are even used plainly for vegetarian sausages.
Meat Percentage
Meat percentage in sausages may vary from 40% (fatty) to 90% (lean). The higher the meat percentage of a sausage, the more challenging and chewier it will be. Though many like their sausages are leaner, others like me prefer a balanced combination of meat and fat. This allows room for more additives like spices and herbs.
Flavour
Some sausages come plain; with a primary taste that goes for a wide range of dishes. Others though are more adventurous, offering you a wide variety of flavours. These exhibit intensity in specific flavours borne out of herbs, nuts, oils and spices. Others give you a combination of flavours in one batch.
Special Diet
Sausages have fillings and additives made of herbs, spices, and sometimes, nuts. For allergic people, it is essential to check the ingredients for active allergens. Many products indicate possible allergens in their recipes, for you to note. And there are other products that indicate being kosher and halal, while some indicate the presence of sulphites for people who cannot tolerate such substances.
FAQs
How can I tell that sausage is fully cooked?
Sausages generally cook thoroughly within 15 to 20 minutes. To be sure, however, a cooked sausage has a deep golden brown outside, and a pale inside. No pink or blood is found on the inside, and the juice running off the meat is clear.
How long can sausages be stored?
While every product comes with specific expiration dates, the shelf life for sausages varies with the type and condition. In the freezer, most sausages will last for up to two months, whether opened or not. In the refrigerator, however, the durations differ.
Fresh sausages cannot stay in the fridge for long and must be eaten between 1 to 2 days after purchase. But after cooking, they can keep for up to 4 days. Dry sausages can be stored for as long as you want in the fridge, but on the pantry, they last up to 6 weeks unopened. Once opened, they have a shelf life of 3 weeks.
Precooked sausages are only viable for a maximum of 5 days after opening. Unopened, they can last up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. As for semi-dry summer sausages, shelf life ranges from 3 weeks (opened) to 3 months (unopened).
How do you fry sausages without bursting them?
Put a few tablespoons of your preferred frying oil in a heated pan, allow to heat up for a bit and add your sausages. Brown them lightly on all sides, and when satisfied, turn down the heat and cook the sausages for about 20 minutes. Be sure to turn them frequently while you cook.
Conclusion
The barbecue season is fast approaching, and we cannot wait to try out the juiciest and tastiest sausages. If you wish to be part of this, you can pick from any of the products I have listed above. Of course, a barbecue is not the only reason to consider sausages, as they also make great dishes for breakfast, lunch and supper. So, combine the list with the buying guide, and have fun shopping.
Still, you may be anxious to know the best sausage UKmeat stores can offer, so I will make three suggestions. I highly recommend Speldhurst Quality Cumberland Pork Sausages my overall best pick. It is the tastiest and most price-balanced product on the list. Helen Browning’s Organic Hot Dogs is the best choice to pay more money for. And if you cannot afford enough for both, Herta Frankfurters Chicken Hot Dogs is still a superb option at the lowest price.
