How to cook pigs in blankets in the oven or air fryer

Get evenly cooked pigs in blankets with room around each sausage, careful turning and a reliable centre-temperature check.

Pigs in blankets should have well-coloured bacon and a sausage cooked right through. Because bacon can brown before the centre is ready, colour alone is not a dependable finishing signal.

Before you start

Follow the pack instructions first. Defrost fully in the fridge if supplied frozen unless the label specifically gives a cook-from-frozen method. Do not add salt automatically: bacon already contributes plenty.

Cooking in the oven

As a general starting method for thawed cocktail-sized pigs in blankets, preheat to 180°C fan or 200°C conventional. Arrange in one layer on a shallow tray with space between pieces. Turn during cooking for even colour and begin checking around 20 minutes; size and bacon thickness can mean they need longer.

The tray should fit comfortably alongside other dishes without blocking airflow. If the bacon is colouring too fast, reduce the heat slightly and continue until the sausage is thoroughly cooked.

Cooking in an air fryer

Check your appliance instructions. Arrange a single layer without crowding the basket and use a moderate setting, around 180°C, as a starting point. Turn halfway through and start checking after about 10 minutes. Treat time as a prompt to check, not a guarantee.

Use a clean probe in the centre of the largest sausage. A safe endpoint is 75°C for 30 seconds. Follow stricter packaging instructions where given.

Serving and leftovers

Serve promptly. A little cranberry sauce or mustard makes a good accompaniment, but check allergens before adding sauces. Cool any leftovers promptly and refrigerate them; reheat only once until steaming hot throughout. Small batches are often easier to cook evenly than one packed basket.

Explore the Malpas Farm Shop range
Pigs in Blankets
https://www.malpasfarmshop.co.uk/product-page/pigs-in-blankets

Illustrative serving or preparation suggestion. Presentation and accompaniments may vary.