Altengartz, LLC 503-699-4962
19363 Willamette Dr. #237 / West Linn, OR 97068

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COOKING SUGGESTIONS

Fresh sausage requires special care when cooking, but usually tastes better than pre-cooked sausage. These sausages are meant to be fried and should never be boiled. Boiling the uncooked bratwurst will boil out the spices and destroy the flavor. Oven cooking (as with pellet "barbecues" which are actually ovens) is acceptable but yields a dryer sausage.

GAS BARBECUE GRILL

Start with a cool grill and use medium-low flame. Use tongs to turn links frequently until there is a golden brown stripe on each side and the link is firm to the touch. The grill lid may be closed briefly between turnings. Keep a pan of water handy. Douse flare-ups from dripping juice with a handful of water, or use a spray bottle. If links tend to burst, use lower heat, turn more frequently, and spray with water occasionally. Takes ~ 40 minutes.

CHARCOAL GRILL

Charcoal should be allowed to burn down to white, glowing embers before placing links on grill. Then follow instructions for gas grilling. Adjust height of rack or douse coals with water to achieve 40 minute grilling time. With charcoal the brats are best cooked uncovered to avoid ash coating the links.

SKILLET

Cook brats in 1 inch of water with 2 Tablespoons butter or oil on medium heat. Turn occasionally. Add water as needed to result in a 40 minute cooking time. Allow water to boil away, turn heat down to medium low and brown brats on both sides (cover or use splatter screen during browning).

STORING AFTER COOKING

Cooked links may be frozen or refrigerated. They will keep frozen for 2-4 months, depending on the temperature of the freezer. Cooked links will keep from 7-14 days in th refrigerator.

When it's time to reheat a link, simmer in 1⁄2 inch of water in a covered skillet for 7 minutes. Reheating in the microwave oven works, but the brat will be dryer.

REFINEMENTS

Some people like to parboil (a brief plunge into boiling liquid) the bratwurst in beer and / or sauerkraut before grilling. This is okay if it is done carefully. However, with the many delicately balanced spices in Altengartz bratwurst it is not necessary and will degrade the flavor profile if the brats are completely covered by liquid and boiled longer than 30 seconds.

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