How long should brats be boiled?

For most recipes, bratwurst requires a boiling time of eight to 10 minutes over medium-high heat. Some recipes recommend adding brats to boiling liquid and then lowering the temperature to medium and simmering them for 10 to 12 minutes.

Brats can be boiled in water, beer, stock or wine. This technique is used before grilling brats to prevent them from cooking unevenly. Adding vegetables, such as onions, garlic and peppers, herbs and spices to the liquid infuses different flavors into the meat. Other methods for cooking brats include steaming in a covered skillet, broiling in the oven or grilling without parboiling over medium-low heat.