How to Cook Kielbasa

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Kiełbasa (keeyehw-BAH-sah) is a seasoned Polish sausage. There are three main types of kiełbasa: white, regular, and dried. Dried kiełbasa is a deli type meat and does not need to be cooked or heated at all. Regular kiełbasa does not need to be cooked, but many people like to heat it up as a safety measure and to further enhance its flavor. The one type of kiełbasa that does need to be cooked, however, is white kiełbasa, because it is raw. Once cooked, you can bake it, fry it, or grill it to enhance its flavor.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Cooking Biała Kiełbasa

1
Buy some "biała" or white kiełbasa. Biała kiełbasa (BEEYAH-wah keeyehw-BAH-sah) is usually white in color. Because it is raw, it needs to be cooked first. After it is cooked, you can serve it as is, or you can bake, grill, or fry it to further improve its flavor.
- If you have dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos, you do not need to cook it. Simply slice it up, and eat it on its own, or add it to a sandwich.
- If you have kiełbasa zwyczajna (keeyehw-BAH-sah zvih-CHAI-nah), or "regular" kiełbasa, you do not need to cook it, although it is highly recommended that you do to kill off any potential bacteria. You can bake it, fry it, or grill it.
2
Place the kiełbasa in a large pot. The pot needs to be wide enough to comfortably fit the kiełbasa without cramming it in. If you are cooking a lot of kiełbasa, it might be a good idea to cook it in several batches. Store your extra kiełbasa in the fridge while you cook it.

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3
Pour enough water into the pot to cover the kiełbasa. How much water you use depends on the size of your saucepan and the thickness of the kiełbasa.
4
Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce it to a simmer. Let the water simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the kiełbasa's temperature reaches between 168 and 174°F (76 and 79°C). You can test the temperature with a meat thermometer
5
Consider browning or grilling your cooked biała kiełbasa. Once your kiełbasa is cooked, you can toss it into żurek (a popular soup served during Easter in Poland), or you can heat it up by baking, frying, or grilling.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Baking Kiełbasa

1
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Make sure that the rack is positioned in the center of the oven.
2
Place the kiełbasa into a baking dish. The kiełbasa should fit comfortably in the dish. If it is too big and presses up against the sides, cut it in half or into thirds. Do not slice the kiełbasa; if your recipe calls for sliced kiełbasa, wait until it is done cooking before slicing it.
- The types of kiełbasa that work best for baking are cooked biała (white) kiełbasa and zwyczajna (regular) kiełbasa. You do not need to bake dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos.
- If you wish to bake biała (white) kiełbasa, you should cook it first.
3
Bake the kiełbasa, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature; it needs to read at least 160°F (72°C). To help the kiełbasa cook more evenly, use a pair of tongs to turn it every 5 minutes or so.
- Consider adding other tasty extras, such as sliced onions, potatoes, carrots, or other vegetables.
4
Let the kiełbasa rest for 3 minutes before serving it or using it in your recipe. You can serve the kiełbasa as is, or use it in other traditional Polish dishes, such as bigos or żurek. You can also serve it alongside some "kapusta" or sauerkraut.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Frying Kiełbasa

1
Cut the kiełbasa into 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) thick slices and place it into a skillet. The types of kiełbasa that work best for this method are cooked biała (white) kiełbasa and zwyczajna (regular) kiełbasa. You do not need to fry dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos.
- If you wish to fry biała (white) kiełbasa, you should cook it first.
2
Add some oil, then turn the heat up to medium. The oil will help the kiełbasa brown nicely, and prevent it from sticking to the pan. You do not need to add a lot of oil, however, as the kiełbasa will release its own oils as it heats.
3
Fry the kiełbasa for 6 to 9 minutes. Use a spatula to turn the pieces often so that they don't burn. If you have any onions or cooked potatoes, consider slicing them up and adding them to the pan as well for a delicious meal.
4
Serve the kiełbasa. You can serve the fried pieces straight from the pan. If they are too oily for you, you can let them sit on some folded paper towels for a few minutes to drain.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Grilling Kiełbasa

1
Light and preheat your grill to medium-low heat. The types of kiełbasa that work best for this grilling are cooked biała (white) kiełbasa and zwyczajna (regular) kiełbasa. You do not need to grill dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos.
- If you wish to grill biała (white) kiełbasa, you should cook it first.
2
Place the kiełbasa on the grill. Do not cut slits into it, as this may cause the juices to leak out and result in overly-dry meat.
3
Cook the kiełbasa for 8 to 12 minutes, turning once. Grill the kiełbasa for 4 to 6 minutes, turn it using a pair of tongs, and cook it for 4 to 6 minutes more.
4
Serve the kiełbasa. If you'd like, you can cut it into ½ to 1-inch (1.27 to 2.54-centimeter) thick slices. For a real treat, serve it alongside some "kapusta" or sauerkraut.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I cool kielbasa in a toaster oven?

Community Answer

A toaster oven wouldn't be the best to cook kielbasa (by itself), because it could release fat as it cooks. Try a lower heat setting and keep an eye on it. Since it's already fully cooked, check after a few minutes to ensure it's warmed through.