sausage sizzle
{{short description|Sausage on bread}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Sausage sizzle
| image = Sausage Sizzle - Snowy Valley Resort AUD3.50.jpg
| caption = A sausage in bread served with onions and tomato sauce
| alternate_name =
| place_of_origin = Australia{{cite web|title = The unauthorised history of the sausage sizzle|url = https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-history-listen/the-unauthorised-history-of-the-sausage-sizzle/11101692|website =Radio National| date=14 May 2019 |access-date = 2019-10-20}}{{cite web|title = The Evolution Of The Holy Sausage Sizzle|url = https://www.gq.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/the-evolution-of-the-holy-sausage-sizzle/image-gallery/ec603b89fe7d25f5c107e14c256a5d76?|website =GQ|access-date = 2019-10-20}}
| associated_cuisine = Australia, New Zealand
| region =
| creator =
| course = Snack
| served =
| main_ingredient = Sausage, sliced bread
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
A sausage sizzle is a community event in Australia and New Zealand to cook and serve sausages in bread (also referred to as sausage sandwiches or sausage sizzles){{Cite web|date=2015-06-05|title=Sizzle, sandwich or sausage in bread? Australian language mapped|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/sizzle,-sandwich-or-sausage-in-bread-australian-language-mapped/6966668|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Radio National|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|date=2015-11-24|title=Mapping Words Around Australia|url=https://lingroadshow.com/all-about-language/englishes-in-australia/vocabulary/mapping-words-around-australia/|access-date=2024-08-24|website=Linguistics Roadshow|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824123330/https://lingroadshow.com/all-about-language/englishes-in-australia/vocabulary/mapping-words-around-australia/|archive-date=2024-08-24|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2015-11-24|title=Words Around Australia|url=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D2j-v8LXn_QiNTJOsmAspxClnVW2evUCe895_P7EV9c/viewanalytics|access-date=2024-08-24|website=Linguistics Roadshow|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824111744/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D2j-v8LXn_QiNTJOsmAspxClnVW2evUCe895_P7EV9c/viewanalytics|archive-date=2024-08-24|url-status=live}} which are grilled or barbecued sausages (most commonly beef or pork) served in sliced bread or a bun with grilled onions and various condiments, most commonly tomato sauce, barbecue sauce or mustard. The term "sausage sizzle" came into common use in the 1980s and is used primarily to refer to the barbecuing event, but also to the sausage itself, mostly in Western Australia.{{cite book|last1=Santich|first1=Barbara|title=Bold Palates: Australia's Gastronomic Heritage|date=2012|publisher=Wakefield Press|location=Kent Town, South Australia|isbn=978-1-74305-094-1|page=148|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RkHKFAzc_5AC&dq=sausage+sizzle&pg=PA148|accessdate=12 March 2017}}{{Cite web|date=2015-11-24|title=What do you call a barbecued sausage, served in a single slice of bread?|url=https://rbil.carto.com/viz/7a1376c8-84a4-11e5-9ffe-0e5db1731f59/embed_map|access-date=2024-08-24|website=Linguistics Roadshow|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824123001/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://rbil.carto.com/viz/7a1376c8-84a4-11e5-9ffe-0e5db1731f59/public_map|archive-date=2024-08-24|url-status=live}}
Sausage sizzles are generally held either as free community events or as fundraisers for charities, schools, sports clubs and other organisations. As such, ingredients and equipment are cheaply purchased or donated by suppliers. Fundraising sausage sizzles have become particularly associated with elections in Australia and the hardware chain Bunnings.
Format
Most commonly, the main sale item at a sausage sizzle is a pork or beef sausage (often colloquially referred to as a "snag"), cooked on a grill or barbecue and served on a single slice of white sandwich bread,{{cite web|title = Straight or diagonal? The Sausage Sizzle debate Australia has to have|url = http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/straight-or-diagonal-the-sausage-sizzle-debate-australia-has-to-have/story-fneuz8wn-1226806705979|website =News.com.au|access-date = 2016-02-07}} or a hot dog roll in Western Australia.{{cite news |last1=Liaw |first1=Adam |title=Adam Liaw on the sausage in bread outcry and his favourite summer barbecue hacks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/dec/28/adam-liaw-on-the-sausage-in-bread-outcry-and-his-favourite-summer-barbecue-hacks |website=The Guardian|date=27 December 2019 |access-date=22 June 2021}}{{cite web |title=East v West: WA Bunnings Sausage Sizzle For The Win |url=https://soperth.com.au/east-v-west-wa-bunnings-sausage-sizzle-for-the-win-24103 |website=SoPerth |date=13 November 2018 |access-date=22 June 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Gavin |title=Inside the Complex and Secret World of Bunnings Sausage Sizzles |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-the-complex-and-secret-world-of-bunnings-sausage-sizzles/ |website=Vice |access-date=22 June 2021}} Tomato sauce is the most common accompaniment, and is usually available for no extra cost, although other condiments such as barbecue sauce and American mustard are regularly available. Grilled onions are often available, for free or at extra cost.
Some sausage sizzles also offer the option of a white bread roll as an alternative to sliced bread. Vegetarian or gluten-free options are infrequently available, but they are often sold at events with more extensive menus, including hamburgers or complete meals.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Cans of soft drink or bottled water may also be available for purchase, especially to maximise fundraising.{{cite web|title = Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser|url = http://howtofundraise.com.au/fundraiser/sausage-sizzle-2/|website = How to Fundraise|access-date = 2016-02-07|language = en-US}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1691923/Sausage-sizzles-and-multicultural-Australia |title=Australia Day pPay | Australia Day Play | SBS World News |access-date=2013-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219081429/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1691923/Sausage-sizzles-and-multicultural-Australia |archive-date=2013-02-19 |url-status=dead }}
Prevalence
= Australian elections =
{{main|Democracy sausage}}
File:Democracy sausages being barbecued at Kenmore State School in the electoral district of Moggill at the 2017 Queensland state election.jpg at the 2017 Queensland state election]]Sausage sizzles have become a recognised and expected addition to polling booths at Australian elections, with sausages at these stations nicknamed 'Democracy Sausages'.{{cite news |title=Australia takes its democracy with a side of sausage |work=BBC News|date=2 July 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36692402 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Bourke |first1=Latika |title=Aussie voters in London taste first democracy sausage |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-election-2019/federal-election-2019-aussie-voters-in-london-taste-first-democracy-sausage-20190512-p51mff.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 May 2019 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Kate |title=Australia election: who are the candidates, and what's a democracy sausage? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/may/16/australia-election-who-are-the-candidates-and-whats-a-democracy-sausage |website=The Guardian |date=16 May 2019 |accessdate=20 June 2020}} There was widespread media coverage of this in the 2013 and 2016 Australian federal elections, with the hashtag "#democracysausage" trending on Twitter.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-36692402|title=Australia takes its democracy with a side of sausage|work=BBC News |date=2 July 2016 |access-date=2016-07-02}} Twitter also added a sausage-in-bread emoji to the '#ausvotes' hashtag on the day of the 2016 election; it was the most widely used emoji in relation to the election under that hashtag.{{cite web |last1=Sivasubramanian |first1=Shami |title=Twitter releases 10 most-tweeted emojis this election day |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/twitter-releases-10-most-tweeted-emojis-this-election-day |website=SBS |accessdate=20 June 2020 |date=2 July 2016}} During the 2016 election, the leader of the Australian Labor Party, Bill Shorten, came under scrutiny for the way in which he consumed his sausage in bread.{{Cite web|title=Bill Shorten forgot how to eat a sausage and no one can cope.|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/bill-shorten-forgot-how-to-eat-a-sausage-and-no-one-can-cope|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Feed|language=en}}
= Bunnings Warehouse =
File:Bunnings Sausage sizzle.jpg]]
Australian hardware chain Bunnings offers barbecue facilities at all of its stores for hire to community groups. Sausage sizzles at these locations usually occur on weekends and have become associated with the Bunnings brand.{{cite web|title = 49 Thoughts Everyone Has While Shopping At Bunnings|url = https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/shopping-at-bunnings-warehous#.wvEj5zPXZ|website = BuzzFeed|access-date = 2016-02-07}} In 2016, when Bunnings expanded to the United Kingdom, it brought the sausage sizzle there as well, resulting in considerable media coverage.{{cite web |title=An Aussie reviews the first UK Bunnings' snags |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/an-aussie-reviews-the-first-uk-bunnings-snags/news-story/7d1584e38f4b0b50215e3602283dbc32 |website=Herald Sun|accessdate=20 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Nick |title=Lost in translation: Bunnings UK customers split on the Australian invasion |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/lost-in-translation-bunnings-uk-customers-split-on-the-australian-invasion-20180206-p4yzgg.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald |date=6 February 2018 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Lansdown |first1=Sarah |title=Britain's First Bunnings Just Opened And Everyone's Confused About The Sausage Sizzle |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/01/britains-first-bunnings-just-opened-and-everyones-confused-abo_a_21705339/ |website=Huffington Post|date=February 2017 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}