How Long to Boil Kielbasa: A Complete Guide

Kielbasa is a type of sausage traditionally made in Poland and surrounding areas. The word kielbasa can be used to describe nearly any smoked sausage from Poland, but most associate it with a long, U-shaped, smoked sausage. Kielbasa can be made from almost any kind of meat, including beef, chicken, pork and lamb.

To cook kielbasa, you’ll need to know how long to boil it. Read through this guide on boiling kielbasa to learn how to cook it and how long kielbasa should be boiled in different scenarios.

How to Boil Kielbasa

1. Fill a medium or large pot with water or a cooking liquid of your choice (both broth and beer are acceptable options). Place it on the stovetop, and turn the heat to medium-high.
2. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare the kielbasa. Cut it into your desired size or leave it whole. Using a fork to pierce through the skin, poke the kielbasa a few times in different areas.
3. Once the water boils, add the kielbasa, allowing it to boil for the appropriate amount of time (see below for details).
4. Once the kielbasa is fully cooked, carefully remove it from the hot water using tongs or drain the pot into a colander in the sink.

How Long to Boil Kielbasa by Type

• Boil fresh kielbasa for 25-30 minutes on a low simmer.
• Boil previously-frozen kielbasa (allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight) according to the instructions for fresh kielbasa. Alternatively, boil it straight from the freezer for 15-20 minutes, as long as it’s been previously cooked.
• Boil fresh Polish kielbasa for 25-30 minutes (the same amount of time as regular fresh kielbasa).

Table: How Long to Boil Kielbasa by Type

How Long to Boil Kielbasa by Cut

• Boil whole kielbasa sausages 15-30 minutes to ensure they’re fully cooked.
• Boil kielbasa that has been cut up beforehand for 10-15 minutes.
• Boil chopped kielbasa for 10-15 minutes.

Table: How Long to Boil Kielbasa by Cut

How Long to Boil Kielbasa by Dish

• For kielbasa that you plan to grill, you don’t always need to boil it beforehand. If you’d like to boil it before grilling, however, you can boil it for 5-10 minutes.
• Boil kielbasa in beer for 20-25minutes.
• Boil kielbasa for soup for 45-60 minutes on low heat.
• Boil smoked kielbasa for 20-30 minutes or until heated all the way through to 160℉.

Table: How Long to Boil Kielbasa by Dish