Bratwurst Delivery or Pickup

Nothing beats bratwurst — especially when it comes to great taste and food waste reduction. Bratwurst has a fascinating history as it was born out of necessity centuries ago. The name of this delicious treat can be traced back to the Old High German words "brat" and "wurst." The meaning of "brat" is "without waste," and "wurst" translates to "sausage." 

Bratwurst is, quite literally, an unwasteful sausage, and this humble sausage actually served a very important purpose when it was first created. Typically, bratwurst is made by using a thin casing that comes from an animal's intestine. This casing is then employed to hold scraps of meat together. 

This tasty amalgamation of meat kept many German people alive centuries ago during harsh winters when food was scarce. In those frigid months, not a scrap of meat could afford to be wasted. In order to save as much food as possible, every spare bit of meat was encased and preserved in the form of bratwurst sausages. The incredible story of bratwurst origins and wonderful efficiency has earned bratwurst a great deal of affection throughout the years. To this day, many German restaurants still make use of this waste reduction tactic, although quite a few of the cases are synthetic rather than made of intestines.

Where exactly in Germany the bratwurst was born is a matter for debate, as some scholars believe that the people of the Thüringen region developed this ingenious food. Evidence for this claim is a 600-year-old recipe for bratwurst that was discovered there. While it is the oldest recipe for bratwurst to date, the exact origin of this delectable food still remains a mystery.

Its lack of a definite birthplace certainly hasn't stopped bratwurst from gaining popularity all over the world, though. Today, several varieties and sizes of bratwurst exist throughout Europe and the United States. For example, you can fill your cart with Meijer Chicken Sausage that's seasoned with sundried tomato basil and Lone Mountain Wagyu Summer Sausage whenever you shop for groceries through the Instacart app!

Great taste alone isn't the only reason to feast on bratwurst. Low in carbs while rich in protein, bratwurst is a great addition to the menu if you are trying to reduce the number of carbohydrates in your daily diet. Consuming a serving of 85 grams of bratwurst enables you to consume about 17% of vitamin B6, which your body uses to store the energy derived from carbohydrates and proteins. 

You can also get 35% of the daily recommended value of thiamin,  20% of niacin, 11% of B12, and 13% of riboflavin when you chow down on bratwurst. A large amount of selenium, a nutrient that supports your thyroid and enhances your immune system, can also be found in bratwurst.

As you can see, eating bratwurst not only lets you enjoy a wonderful traditional food but also reaps great rewards for your internal systems. Let's take a look at some cooking tips so you can indulge yourself with bratwurst at home.

If you're looking forward to simmering up sausages on your own, try following these simple steps. Put your sausage in a pot and pour enough liquid in to cover it. Water is the best liquid to use; however, you can always use beer instead of cooking with traditional flavors like onion and garlic. 

Feel free to add butter for a more robust flavor as well. Then bring everything in a pot to a boil. Once it reaches that stage, you'll simply reduce the heat so the contents can simmer. Once the sausages are browned, remove them from the liquid, and let them dry. After they've dried out, you can pour yourself a drink and enjoy your succulent meal.