The air fryer is an incredibly useful kitchen gadget for preparing breakfast, yet cooking sausages in one can prove somewhat difficult to master. Air fryers circulate intense heat evenly around food, which can cause sausage casings to expand too rapidly and become overcooked.

This can result in sausages splitting open and drying out, leaving a tough, shrivelled mess that is far from appetising. However, cook and Sew White founder Sisley White has revealed that you can ensure your sausages come out from the air fryer perfectly crispy, provided you take five seconds to carry out one straightforward step. Sisley said: "You keep sausages from bursting in an air fryer by pricking them with a fork or sharp knife first.

"This helps to release the pressure as they cook and expand. If you don't prick your sausages, they may burst and stick to the bottom or sides of your air fryer."

Some cooks pierce sausages prior to air frying to allow excess fat to escape and prevent them from splitting during cooking, much like piercing a baked potato to let out steam.

If desired, line your air fryer tray or basket with baking paper before placing the sausages inside, making clearing up afterwards considerably simpler.

Next, make a few shallow punctures in the sausage casing, taking care not to pierce too deeply, then coat them lightly with a little cooking oil.

Sisley said: "This will help them brown evenly. You can use any oil you like, I used vegetable oil, but olive oil or sunflower oil work well too."

Avoid piercing the sausages too deeply into the skin, as this can allow too much of the natural juices to seep out, leaving them dry on the inside.

Once your sausages are ready to go, pop them in the air fryer at 180°C and cook for 15 minutes. Should you be cooking from frozen, you may need to add an extra five to 10 minutes to the overall cooking time.

With five minutes remaining on the clock, flip the sausages over to ensure all sides are evenly browned.

The end result will be gloriously tasty sausages boasting a perfectly crispy skin, all achieved with minimal time and effort.