Pre-cooked Breakfast Sausage Links

What's your favorite pre-cooked brown 'n serve breakfast sausage links ?

I like Armour Beef sausage links- only slightly spiced and enough fat for a good flavor. Their pork sausage links are pretty good too but more spicier. America Test Kitchen (PBS) rated Farmland precooked links the best but they are unavailable here in Ohio.

I was surprised to see the Test Kitchen rate the pre-cooked ... I guess I'll try some someday.

I see that Farmland products are carried in some stores in Ohio, although they might not have available a particular product, according to the Farmland website. Among those listed as carrying Farmland brand are Kroger, Meijer and Wal-Mart Super Centers.

The only product of this type I ever remember eating was something called a brown and serve sausage, but that was years ago, and I don't recall who made it. I'm not much of a fan of link sausage, so I guess that's why.

quote:

Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

I was surprised to see the Test Kitchen rate the pre-cooked ... I guess I'll try some someday.

I saw that test on the show. They had included it in a test with fresh sausage, figuring it would be the worst. They were surprised when it came in at the top. Wondering why, they did some checking & found the the precooked sausages didn't have the preservatives that the fresh sausage needed to maintain the shelf life for the store shelf!

Z-Cat,

The simple truth is they are all horrible. Every single one. All are high in fat and sodium, most are tasteless and do not resemble sausage in any significant way. Avoid them at all costs.

That being said, I too have succumbed to a sale on these nasty bits, as an exercise of nostalgia. They were big in the 50's and 60's when everyone was afraid of undercooking pork.
The major brand then was Brown & Serve and it is still around. If you must try this sort of thing go for the turkey sausage as it has the least fat and best flavor.

I still do not recommend eating any of this stuff. When I buy a box, I know I am not buying sausage, I am buying nostalgia. Believe me, real sausage tastes a lot better than nostalgia.

If you must do precooked sausage, I suggest Johnsonville Stadium Brats. They are large well seasoned sausages that you can sink your teeth into. Yes, they are fatty but in this case the taste merits the fat. I usually have them for lunch as one would do a hot dog, but they can cover breakfast as well.

By all means, buy real breakfast sausage. They cook about as fast as the frozen crud and are so much better in every way. Just don't cook them to death. Pork is safe at as little as 140 degrees, so use a light touch and you will have a very juicy and tasty result.

Bob Evans precooked sausage links are not bad:

http://www.bobevans.com/website/homepage.nsf/pages/Fully+Cooked+Sausage?OpenDocument

All the precooked sausages are a heart surgeon's dream

quote:

Originally posted by Greyghost

Z-Cat,

The simple truth is they are all horrible. Every single one. All are high in fat and sodium, most are tasteless and do not resemble sausage in any significant way. Avoid them at all costs.

That being said, I too have succumbed to a sale on these nasty bits, as an exercise of nostalgia. They were big in the 50's and 60's when everyone was afraid of undercooking pork.
The major brand then was Brown & Serve and it is still around. If you must try this sort of thing go for the turkey sausage as it has the least fat and best flavor.

I still do not recommend eating any of this stuff. When I buy a box, I know I am not buying sausage, I am buying nostalgia. Believe me, real sausage tastes a lot better than nostalgia.

If you must do precooked sausage, I suggest Johnsonville Stadium Brats. They are large well seasoned sausages that you can sink your teeth into. Yes, they are fatty but in this case the taste merits the fat. I usually have them for lunch as one would do a hot dog, but they can cover breakfast as well.

By all means, buy real breakfast sausage. They cook about as fast as the frozen crud and are so much better in every way. Just don't cook them to death. Pork is safe at as little as 140 degrees, so use a light touch and you will have a very juicy and tasty result.

It is interesting how "nostalgia" is such a relative term. Not that long ago, someone talking about nostalgia and sausage would probably be talking about some form of traditional or homemade sausage. Now, nostalgia means having fond memories for brown and serve.

Brown and Serve is pretty good if baked in an oven as opposed to being heated on a grill.

Wally

I've been eating Jimmy Dean pre-cooked TURKEY sausage patties. Very good if one is in a hurry. The turkey is much, much lower in fat and cholesterol than the pork and tastes just the same.
They are in sealed packets and kept in the fridge not the freezer. I usually pan fry 2 for breakfast in a very small amount of olive oil. I recommend them. Especially, if your on a "Atkin's" type diet.

These are the best I have ever had.
Dwight Yokams Lanky Links.
(what a corny name, eh?)

I only found them in Hannafords while I lived in Freeport, Maine.
I cannot find them here, despite the fact that the home company emailed me and told me that Wallyworld carried them.
They really are very good.

http://www.modernfoods.net/html/lanky_links_description.html

They don't even carry Dwight Yoakam stuff around here, and Columbus is his hometown.

Brown & Serve makes these "healthy" links now that contain RICE along with the pig snouts etal. My kid loves them, but I like the texture/taste myself.

U like Boudin Kenny?

My Grandzillas love those johnsonvilles but they like the brats w/ cheese, and wraped in a flour tortilla.

Someone makes some pre cooked patties that are not bad, Old Folks maybe???
Joe

No No No...brown and serves even look funny. Bob Evans is ok..or Jimmy Dean...but how much time is REALLY saved not taking a good sausage a frying it up quickly. reminds me of the types who would by those microwave hotdogs!!!!

Lee, try telling my granzillas that when the get a hunger urge. With the pre cooked they just nuke em for 1 min and their done. Nuke a tortilla for 20 sec and it's done. Then just wrap and go.

Don't get me wrong. I like the uncooked better too.

The Johnsonvilles don't look funny to me.
Joe
Joe

I hear you,PapaJoe,and understand...and sympathize!

Jones microwave precooked sausage links or patties are good. Jimmy Dean's precooked patties are also good. I just tried Jimmy Dean's pancake & sausage minis. They are in the frozen section. They are sausage links dipped in pancake batter. They look like little corn dogs. Very tasty(maybe too tasty).

I love Jones sausage,but not the precooked as well.If I can find their regular link sausage, thats what I buy.

Lee, sorrrry! This is about breakfast links. Someone got me talkin about those pre cooked brats. Yep, the breakfast links look funny to me to. But, they have their purpose I guess. My zillas also like the pre cooked patties, and they are fast and easy, again just nuke em. I can nuke a whole plate and sit em on the counter and they slowly disapear. My zillas will eat almost anything... with the exception of something really good that I cook from scratch!
Joe

Ann, I totally agree on Jones links but I start work at 6:00am and I like my kids to have easy things to heat up for breakfast. I even buy the microwave bacon for them which they only use on a school morning.

Bob Evans B&S are good

IGA carries farmalsnd in Ohio.
britt

Jones....

quote:

Originally posted by ZekeTheCat

What's your favorite pre-cooked brown 'n serve breakfast sausage links ?

I like Armour Beef sausage links- only slightly spiced and enough fat for a good flavor. Their pork sausage links are pretty good too but more spicier. America Test Kitchen (PBS) rated Farmland precooked links the best but they are unavailable here in Ohio.

I went to check for myself, and you have the right of it!

BEST OVERALL SAUSAGE: FARMLAND Pork Sausage Links, Fully Cooked

RECOMMENDED (without reservations): FARMLAND Original Pork Sausage Links

Everything else was either "recommended with reservations" or "not recommended".

I only cook sausages for breakfast once or twice per year, for dietary concerns, but I am going to try to find the Farmland.

Miami Don,Thanks for the links....get it...joke....ooohh well......

Farmland link for their winning sausage:

http://www.farmlandfoods.com/products/fully-cooked-pork-sausage-links.html

Wal Mart here locally carries the Farmland fresh raw sausage links and rolls and occasionally their bacon but not the pre cooked links.

Alternatively, I like the Armour pre cooked links which came in 2nd place at ATK - The regular, maple and beef links all taste good and are not spiced too much. Kroger's carries them locally and so they're easy to get.

How bout the pre cooked patties. I don't think we need a whole new thread for those. Anyone had them? As said earlier, I bought some that were good, but not sure whar brand, Old Folks maybe?
Joe

I usually buy the jimmy dean turkey sausage patties to have with my pancakes and i love em so does my hubby :)

The local supermarket here in NH started carrying Hebrew National sausage links-plain and maple flavor. We have tried both. I had never seen these before-only their hot dogs. I really enjoyed the maple flavored, the plain was pretty good too.
I don't know if they are better than Johnsonville which I really like but just figured I mention as they are a new product(at least up here)

Nicolem

Yes, Hebrew National,they answer to a higher authority!

But, but, where's the PORK?

http://www.hebrewnational.com/pages/products/breakfast/index.jsp

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiDon

But, but, where's the PORK?

http://www.hebrewnational.com/pages/products/breakfast/index.jsp

I know I thought someone might bring that up
I generally eat pork sausage but gave these a try when they showed up in the local supermarket. I thought they were tasty. Will I eat them everytime?-no but they were yummy to me

Nicole

I wouldnt waste my time. The main attraction to link sausage is the "snap" and the juices that low out. Only in a frsh link sausage. Even the coooked ahead ones they served us in the mess hall blew the brown and serve away!
The best link I ever had was at a place in Middletown, Oh. Itwas almost hotdog sized and held enough juice to drown you (It was 2 links still tied together)! The only similar ones I saw were in Niagra Falls at a Dennys.
Anyone do a little exploring on Smithfield after the post on the beef buy-out? I couldnt believe the prouct range.
For ham they own Smithfields, Armour, Cooks, Cumberland and cudddahay.
Also Butter Ball and a ton of regional favorites. WOW!

britt

Has anyone said Jimmy Dean?

When I have a house full of carpet monkeys I can nuke a pack of these and sit them on the counter, with pleanty of napkins. They are gone in a flash.

I know... not such a healthy breakfast! Try the same thing with a plate of broccoli and it will just sit there.
Joe

Jimmy Dean has always been a class company.All their sausage is a nice blend of spices

Lee, like heard Jimmy once say "You might not like my singin but... you can't beat my meat!". That was at the Desert Inn, 1970 something.
Joe

I like Wellshire's chicken & apple precooked breakfast sausages, which are available at Whole Foods.

LJM

Jones...Jimmy Dean

Baah, you are most times way over my head. What does that mean???
Joe

Well I was on a recent trip to Illinois and was able to finally try the pre cook Farmland links recommended on ATK and liked them very much . They taste similar to the fresh Farmland links sold in WalMart and have a mildly spicy somewhat fatty flavor.

Recently I've tried Jones Mild Pre Cooked Breakfast Links and really like them a lot - even more so than the Farmland or the Armour brand. They're plump and juicy ,very mild and nicely browned. I'm not sure if they're available in supermarkets or not as I got these at local midwest restaurant food supplier (GFS).

Not a big fan of the pre-cooked. Admittedly, I haven't tried out more than 3-4 of them, but I keep coming back to fresh sausage. It's just not that big a hassle to start from raw.

I never really had any that were worth eating. Cooking from regular only takes 10-15 minutes; plus for any leftovers, the homecooked reheats better, with less grease.

just my .02

quote:

Originally posted by WarToad

Not a big fan of the pre-cooked. Admittedly, I haven't tried out more than 3-4 of them, but I keep coming back to fresh sausage. It's just not that big a hassle to start from raw.

I agree...for our family a quick ten minutes is no big deal...but for those with demanding feed me now kids,I can see the need...then I'd pick quality...Jinny Dean or Jones....never those that look flat and unlike a real link!!!!

I agree 10 minutes is not too long to wait when the difference in taste is so much.

I did use Brown&serve last week though. It was as an appetizer in a retro type party. Took 1/2 sausage, slice of Jarslberg cheese, and wrapped them in a crescent roll that was spread with a little Hoison sauce. Folks seemed to like them

They are all bad.

When my kids were in school, I'd buy the raw breakfast sausages at the farmers' market and cook them on the weekend. After cooling, I'd pack them in a plastic container and put them in the refrigerator. Then we could pop them in the microwave for breakfast during the early part of the school week.

My favorite brand of pre-cooked breakfast sausage links? It's definitely the " Non-Existant " brand ( available in supermarkets everywhere. ) 

WalMart Super centers around here recently started carrying Farmland Premium precooked sausage links and patties and I find them better tasting and flavor than their standard links.  They're mildly spiced just right with the right amount of fat to taste real good.

Its either fresh sausage from Liehs and Steigerwalds in Syracuse, or I make it fresh myself. I don't eat pre-cooked unless someone slips it in a buffet I may be attending...

I don't understand why its difficult to cook fresh sausage, unless of course you can't find it...Also I try to follow my sausage law: don't eat sausage unless you know who made it...personally.

Leania_1stone


I usually buy the jimmy dean turkey sausage patties to have with my pancakes and i love em so does my hubby :)

I'm also a fan of these. They have a lot of taste to them, yet one patty has only 60 calories & 3.5 grams of fat. I pair it with one of the frozen Pillsbury Grands Southern Style bicuits to get a breakfast sandwich of only 240 calories. (As an aside, the biscuit has more than twice the fat content of the biscuit.)

Turkey sausages...Sacreligious!  They are illigitimate sausages! 

I know that turkey has made in roads into the manufacturing of snausages, hot dogs, meat loaf and other gound proteins.  I just like the real deal...Pork, the other white meat and beef. 

I am subjected to turkey meat loaf and turkey meat balls at home.  They are ok.  But, they lack that richness that you get from beef and/or pork.  You have to add so much seasoning to boost up the blandness of it all.  Yes, it is much healthier.  Depends on how long you envision yourself living I guess.

For me, the only decent pre-cooked breakfast pork sausage is made by Jones and Jimmy Dean in that order.  I'd much rather use the fresh sausage and spend a few more minutes and getting the best possible product.  

Cavendre - Trust me Rex eats pork sausages..Not turkey sausages!  GO JETS!

Cosmos


Its either fresh sausage from Liehs and Steigerwalds in Syracuse, or I make it fresh myself. I don't eat pre-cooked unless someone slips it in a buffet I may be attending...

I never remember to stop in there when I'm close by, I really need to.
 
Living in Syracuse myself, it's Giannelli's breakfast links (uncooked and not frozen) that I usually get. I can be lazy in the morning, so they usually go on the Foreman grill. Great stuff.
 
I got some frozen uncooked sausages last week as Wegmans was out of Giannelli, can't remember the name but they turned out really good. Really juicy with a good snappy skin.

SeamusD

Cosmos


Its either fresh sausage from Liehs and Steigerwalds in Syracuse, or I make it fresh myself. I don't eat pre-cooked unless someone slips it in a buffet I may be attending...

I never remember to stop in there when I'm close by, I really need to.
 
Living in Syracuse myself, it's Giannelli's breakfast links (uncooked and not frozen) that I usually get. I can be lazy in the morning, so they usually go on the Foreman grill. Great stuff.
 
I got some frozen uncooked sausages last week as Wegmans was out of Giannelli, can't remember the name but they turned out really good. Really juicy with a good snappy skin.

First time I cooked L&S links, I put the lid on the pan like I used to see my mother do when cooking 'brown and serve' links (spitting fat)...I realized they weren't sizzling, open the lid to see them simmering in their own juices (not fat)...I had to jack the heat up to get some carmelization..They have a great flavor too..

Haven't tried Giannellis' though they make a good italian sausage

Cosmos

SeamusD

Cosmos


Its either fresh sausage from Liehs and Steigerwalds in Syracuse, or I make it fresh myself. I don't eat pre-cooked unless someone slips it in a buffet I may be attending...

I never remember to stop in there when I'm close by, I really need to.

Living in Syracuse myself, it's Giannelli's breakfast links (uncooked and not frozen) that I usually get. I can be lazy in the morning, so they usually go on the Foreman grill. Great stuff.

I got some frozen uncooked sausages last week as Wegmans was out of Giannelli, can't remember the name but they turned out really good. Really juicy with a good snappy skin.

First time I cooked L&S links, I put the lid on the pan like I used to see my mother do when cooking 'brown and serve' links (spitting fat)...I realized they weren't sizzling, open the lid to see them simmering in their own juices (not fat)...I had to jack the heat up to get some carmelization..They have a great flavor too..

Haven't tried Giannellis' though they make a good italian sausage

Definitely going to have to plan a special trip there (not like it's only a mile or so from my office) otherwise I won't remember to stop!
 
Stopped by Wegmans at lunch, it was Jones sausages that I got. I'd get them again in a pinch.