How Long to Boil Brats in Beer Before Grilling

Sausages and brats are a great delight for many, but some of us find it hard to differentiate one from the other. Sausages are made from ground or minced beef. They can be made from chicken, pork, or veal as well. Additionally, they are prepared with herbs and spices to give it a nice taste. There are different types, including fresh sausages, dried sausages, and smoked sausages.

Brats, also known as bratwurst for some, is a type of sausage from Germany that made its way through America and became very popular all around us. There’s actually a variation of brats born in Wisconsin, called Sheboygan-style bratwurst. In most cases, they are made with pork meat, but sometimes veal can be used, too. The taste of brats comes from its seasoning with coriander, ginger, caraway, and nutmeg.

Now you know the difference between regular sausages and brats, let’s move ahead. You will find in this article very precise instructions on how to boil brats in beer. So, if you’re choosing a German-style brat, consider now buying some German beer to boil and enjoy the process.

How to boil brats in beer, step by step

There are many ways to cook brats, including the oven, the grill, and the stove. But boiled or simmered brats are not as popular, though they are definitely more healthy. The majority of people who boil brats do it in beer because it gives a special taste and combines perfectly with the spices in bratwurst. However, you need to know how to boil brats in beer, and especially how long to boil if you don’t want your guests to eat uncooked meat.

In some cases, you may also want to grill your brats after boiling if you want them to get that crispy appearance we all know bratsworth usually have. But boiling brats in beer as a first step increases the moist of the meat, making it more juicy and tasty.

So, without much further due, let us review how to boil brats in beer in a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Cut vegetables and brown them on a pot

Start by cutting some vegetables. One onion and one carrot are fine, but you can also add red bell pepper or any other you have around. Once you’re done, prepare a pot where you can keep your veggies and the number of brats you’re about to boil. Pour some vegetable oil on the pot and the vegetable cut in very small pieces. Smaller pieces will enhance the taste of your brats more easily, and browning them will make sure you get the right flavor. Once they are all in the cooking pot, make sure you stir them thoroughly to avoid overcooking on one side.

Step 2: Add your brats to the pot

Once your vegetables finish browning for one minute or less, you will be ready to add your brats to the cooking pot. We recommend including 4 or 5 brats for each onion and carrot, and for each liter of beer.

Step 3: Add one liter of beer

You don’t need to move, stir or start browning your brats. Go ahead and directly pour one liter of beer, or the volume required to cover your veggies and bratsworth for one or two inches. For this purpose, we recommend choosing carefully your cooking pot before starting to cook. Pour gently to avoid excess foam formation and stir.

Step 4: Add salt, pepper, and spices

Once you’re done, and before letting it boil, add salt, pepper and spices to the mix. Recommended spices for this opportunity include 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 tablespoon of red pepper, and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder for each liter of beer.You can add others to your taste, and may also want to pierce your brats with a fork to facilitate moist absorption and improve the final flavor.

Step 5: Stir and let it boil

When you’re done adding the spices, it is time to stir the mix, cover your pot, and let it boil for 6 to 10 minutes. However, as you will see in the section below, how long to boil brats in beer depends on whether or not you’re planning to eat them right away or grill them before serving. After this step, you’re done boiling your bratsworth, and they are ready for grilling or serving.

How long to boil brats in beer

Now you know how to boil brats in beer, you may also wonder how long to boil to get the right texture and taste. This particular aspect is very important, especially if you’re planning to grill afterwards. Surely, you will require a longer boiling time if you’re planning to eat your brats right away.

Preparation	Boiling time	Recommendation
Grilling first	5-10 minutes	It is not the most common preparation, but useful to increase moist in case the meat ended up too dry. It is also useful as an alternative way to reheat brats
Boiling, then grilling	10 minutes	This preparation is useful to obtain more juicy bratsworth. Be sure to start counting when beet starts boiling
No grilling	20 minutes	If you’re not planning to grill, boiling time should be increased to 20 minutes
Simmering instead of boiling	20-30 minutes	If you decide to simmer instead of boiling, use 20 minutes if plan to grill after simmering, and 30 minutes if youre eating right away.