An Italian sausage offers a unique style of pork. Most Italian sausages are seasoned using fennel and a range of other herbs and spices at the discretion of the sausage maker.
There are many different varieties of Italian sausages available in today’s markets which include endless variations of sweet, hot, and mild flavors. We’ll be taking you through a look at two of the most commonly confused Italian sausages.
Here is a mild vs. sweet Italian sausage comparison.
Mild vs. Sweet Italian Sausage Comparison
| Mild Italian Sausage | Sweet Italian Sausage | |
|---|---|---|
| Spiciness | Black Pepper Spiciness, No Chili/Pepper Heat, Medium Boldness Well-Balanced | Subdued Black Pepper Spiciness, Zero Chili Heat, Prominent Herbaceous Notes |
| Seasoning | Fennel, Black Pepper, Garlic, Paprika | Some Recipes Add Oregano, Marjoram, Sage, Thyme, Coriander, Onion Powder | Fennel, Black Pepper, Garlic, Paprika, Sweet Basil |
| Common Ingredients | Ground Boneless Pork Butt, Ground Pork Belly, Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic, Parsley, Red Wine, Paprika, Fennel | Ground Boneless Pork Butt, Ground Pork Belly, Sweet Basil, Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic, Parsley, Red Wine, Paprika, Fennel |
| Best Uses | As Is, All-Purpose Versatility | As Is, Suits Sweet & Herbaceous Flavor Profiles |
| Interchangeability | Interchangeable With Sweet Or Hot Italian Sausage | Interchangeable With Mild Or Hot Italian Sausage But Suits Mild Flavor Profile Better |
| Substitutions | Sweet Italian Sausage, Hot Italian Sausage, Pork Sausage, Toulouse Sausage | Mild Italian Sausage, Hot Italian Sausage, Breakfast Bangers, Longaniza |
Mild vs Sweet Italian Sausage
We have been seeing a number of people make a comparison between these two common categories of Italian sausages. So, what is the difference between mild vs. sweet Italian sausage?
We’ll be taking you through a look at all the similarities and differences so that you always know which is the right pick for your next meal.
Mild Italian Sausage
With just the right degree of spiciness for all people to enjoy its flavor, mild Italian sausage is indeed a versatile favorite.
Let’s take a closer look at the style of cooking that typically calls for a mild sausage, what mild Italian sausage tastes like, and all the defining characteristics of this must-have for meat-eaters.
Spiciness
Mild Italian sausage has a mild degree of black pepper spiciness and a well-balanced flavor. There is no burn to speak of, and the overall balance of flavor is of medium intensity.
Seasoning
No additional seasoning is added to mild Italian sausage varieties. The core ingredients grant the classic authentic fennel-based flavor you’re looking for.
Americanized recipes, however, do at times include additional herbs like oregano, thyme, marjoram, and sage, while infrequently also adding coriander and onion powder.
Common Ingredients
Boneless pork butt and pork belly are ground and then combined with salt, black pepper, garlic, parsley, red wine, paprika, and fennel to create mild Italian sausage. It is important to keep in mind that all Italian sausages do feature the same core recipe.
This means that all these sausages are made using the very same basic ingredients. The difference is only noticeable due to the addition of extra ingredients to add flavor like spice or sweetness to the sausage.
Best Uses
Pick mild Italian sausage as your sausage of choice when you’re looking for the most balanced, versatile flavor profile possible.
Without the heat of hot sausages and while lacking the herby sweetness of the sweet variety, mild Italian sausages are a middle-of-the-road choice that just about anyone will fall in love with.
If you’re not certain of the exact taste once you get to the end result of any given recipe, select mild Italian sausages as your first pairing. Otherwise, opt for the type that suits the meal’s taste better.
Interchangeability
Mild Italian sausage is a suitable substitute for both sweet and hot Italian sausage. We advise that you add extra basil to your recipe if swapping sweet for mild, while those using mild Italian sausage as an alternative to hot Italian sausage should add dried or fresh red chili.
Substitutions
When seeking out an alternative for mild Italian sausage, you’re looking for a variety that’s made from pork but without any overly strong spices other than, perhaps, fennel and a medley of pepper.
Any regular pork sausage will do but just make sure that the recipe isn’t too focused on another strong taste such as coriander. A balanced, original pork sausage is best.
While lacking the herbs and spices, Saucisse de Toulouse, or Toulouse Sausage, is a French delicacy that matches the texture and underlying flavor of mild Italian sausage well.
Sweet Italian Sausage
Don’t expect a sweet taste from sweet Italian sausages but rather a medley of flavors that veers away from burniness. All the core tastes are there, with just as much versatility to be found. Here’s a breakdown of sweet Italian sausage, how to use it, what exactly it tastes like, and more.
Spiciness
There’s absolutely no degree of heat to a sweet Italian sausage. There is savory spice and the taste of herbs, but there’s no true spiciness detectable. Some may interpret the sweet pepper’s pungency as chili without the burn, but it’s actually a lingering, smoky, savory sweetness.
Seasoning
Even though the primary flavor is the same as mild Italian sausage, the sweet version gains a herbaceous sweetness from the sweet basil that is at times accentuated by adding extra sugar. It’s not quite a boldly sweet profile at all but rather a savory blend with lingering piquant sweetness.
Common Ingredients
Just like mild Italian sausage, sweet Italian sausage contains boneless pork butt, pork belly, salt, black pepper, garlic, parsley, red wine, paprika, and fennel. The only extra ingredient added is sweet basil which grants the sausage its ‘sweet’ denomination.
Certain Italian recipes also include pepperoncini peppers which are sweet Italian peppers with the slightest degree of heat that’s barely detectable. They’re added for their tangy sweetness.
Best Uses
Sweet Italian sausage is the ideal variety to snack on, no matter how you plan to enjoy it. When selecting a sausage type for use in another meal, select sweet Italian sausage when you’ve got a selection of flavors that is lacking and in no need of the heat and flavor from chili.
You’ll find that the sweet basil and fennel that fuse into the predominant flavor pair extremely well with other herbs, especially bolder tastes.
Interchangeability
Sweet Italian sausage can be used in any recipe that calls for mild Italian sausage. Just keep in mind that the overall flavor profile will be more herbaceous with a lingering sweetness that simply isn’t there when using mild Italian sausage.
One can also use the sweet variety in place of hot Italian sausage, but additionally, chili will need to be added as well if you’re trying to match the spiciness and heat.
Substitutions
Those who can’t get hold of sweet Italian sausage should opt for mild instead. The next best would be hot Italian sausage but keep in mind the palettes of your diners. Happen to be feeding kids, but all out of mild and sweet sausage?
A basic breakfast banger will do the trick in terms of pork flavor and slight sweetness but lacks the fennel. Although cured, the flavor of the Spanish sausage Longaniza comes pretty similar to sweet Italian sausage.
Both added paprika and the flavor of ground anise bring it close to a sweet Italian blend, especially when you’re cooking the sausage into a meal instead of serving it alone.
Is Sweet Italian Sausage The Same As Mild?
No, sweet Italian sausages aren’t the same as mild. Mild Italian sausages have neither added herbaceous sweetness like sweet Italian sausages nor the spicy burn of hot Italian sausages, which include red pepper flakes.
However, when comparing sweet Italian sausage with mild, most people profess that there really isn’t that big of a difference between these two sausages.
As a matter of fact, most people regard sweet Italian sausage as mild Italian sausage due to the flavor being so similar particularly when cooked into stews and the like.
Why Do They Call It Sweet Italian Sausage?
Peppers are described to have a sweet taste, whereas chilis are hot. Sweet Italian sausage isn’t a reference to sugar or other sweeteners, even though a source of sweetness is typically added.
It is actually referring to the sweet peppers that are included, peppers that differentiate Italian sausages free from burniness/heat from their hot Italian sausage counterparts.
Mild Vs. Sweet Italian Sausage, The Bottom Line
Ever wonder the difference between a mild vs. sweet Italian sausage? After reading our wrap-up, now you know. The better sausage all depends on your personal sense of taste.
We find it easier to agree that all Italian sausages are among the best the world has to offer and that the sausage of the day is determined by what you are cooking, or more accurately even, what you feel like.
