Why Do Sausages Roll Over While Cooking? Scientific Explanation Needed!

AI Thread Summary
When cooking sausages, the phenomenon of them rolling over after browning one side can be attributed to the physical changes that occur during cooking. As one side cooks, the skin dries and contracts, while the uncooked side remains rounder and may stretch, creating a displacement that causes the sausage to roll. This effect is more pronounced in sausages with a larger surface area. Some participants suggested experimenting with cooking the uncooked side first to see if it mitigates the rolling issue. The discussion also touched on the cooking methods for hot dogs, with some frying them rather than boiling, but the primary focus remained on the scientific explanation for the rolling behavior of sausages during cooking.
wolram
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Why is it that when i cook sausages i can brown them on one side, but, when i turn them over to brown the other side they turn over on there own.
I am sure there must be a scientific reason, maybe steam trapped under the skin, any way the
only way i can cook them all round is by sticking cocktail sticks in them.
Please reply with scientific explanation.
 
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Let's try an experiment. Are your sausages quite cylindrical before you start cooking them? After browning on one side, are they still cylindrical or are they curved?
 
turbo said:
Let's try an experiment. Are your sausages quite cylindrical before you start cooking them? After browning on one side, are they still cylindrical or are they curved?

Yes they are cylindrical and straight not curved.
 
Any bulges?
 
When I cook hot dogs, they turn themselves...
 
turbo said:
When I cook hot dogs, they turn themselves...

I thought hotdogs were boiled?
 
Not mine! They are fried in butter, along with the rolls.
 
When I saw your thread title, I almost didn't click.

Anyway, life's a ... That's all I know.
 
Could it be that the uncooked side is rounder than the cooked side so it tends to role?
 
  • #10
Brown them on the other side first silly.
 
  • #11
Jimmy Snyder said:
Brown them on the other side first silly.
:smile:
 
  • #12
Evo said:
Could it be that the uncooked side is rounder than the cooked side so it tends to role?
I think you almost have it.. As one side cooks, the skin dries and contracts. While the uncooked side either stays the same or stretches to accommodate the contraction. Conceivably, this could provide enough displacement for the sausage to roll. The larger the surface area of the sausage, the larger the displacement. :smile:
 
  • #13
wolram said:
I thought hotdogs were boiled?
Grilled!

Wurst is better.
 
  • #14
Jimmy Snyder said:
Brown them on the other side first silly.
:smile:
 
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