Comments on: When you stuff stuffing inside a cooking turkey?

By: Tonya W

Tonya W — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

You have to cook the stuffing first, then stuff it in an uncooked turkey. After you stuff your turkey, then you put your turkey in the oven.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

I recommend not stuffing the turkey. It takes to long to cook inside the Turkey and will make it dry. If you are going to stuff the turkey cook it first or the turkey will be cooked before the stuffing is even warm.

By: Lou L

Lou L — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

Yes, you should prepare the stuffing first. But most safe food practices say don’t stuff at all because by the time you get the center to safe temp (165F), the outside is dried out. I would prepare the stuffing and serve on the side.

By: mamaflutey

mamaflutey — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

We don’t cook ours first but we make it from White Castle burgers.

By: Sugar Pie

Sugar Pie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

Yes, prepare stuffing as directed on the PF bag… you saute veggies and add to it, along w/ stock. Make sure your veggies and stock are hot, and add HOT stuffing inside the turkey. You want the internal temp of the stuffing to be 165ºF or you risk food poisoning.

I bake my stuffing in a separate dish, and use aromatics (apple, onion, garlic, lemon, carrot) in the cavity of the turkey.

By: Grandma

Grandma — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

Prepare your stuffing in a separate dish/pan! Much safer bacteria-wise! Also it doesn’t get so "mushy"! Smile!

By: maggiemckelvey

maggiemckelvey — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

Im going to agree with the others - stuffing inside - I just learned this from the Food Network Thanksgiving special - when the stuffing is inside the turkey, the raw juices from the turkey get into the stuffing. You will have to cook the turkey longer, potentially causing it to be drier, to raise the temperature to a safe eating point.

I would go for cooking it on the side - and you can cook it in the oven, in safe dish. Cover with tin foil if you want it to be mushier or without a lid if you want it crunchy on the top. You can actually cook it ahead of time and then just reheat it on Thanksgiving.

Remember that stuffing can be like pasta or potatoes…make some alterations…
-Cook sausage, break into pieces, add it to the stuffing with some sage and walnuts
-Add different veggies either raw or sauteed - carrots, celery, onions, zuccinni, etc. A nice touch would be cooked (broken into pieces and sugar added prior to putting with the stuffing) cranberries
-Cut up peeled apples and add it to the stuffing. For some extra sweetness, sprinkle in some cinnaminon, nutmeg, and/or brown sugar with it.

Make what you and yours would like the best and make it one of your family’s "tradition"!!

Good luck!

By: legalchick791

legalchick791 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

I don’t ever stuff my turkey, and I have always had a moist turkey. I always bake my stuffing separately in a foil packet. But if you want to stuff the turkey, you do not have to cook the stuffing first, just mix everything together and put it in the bird right before putting it in the oven.

By: lady_charlotte2768

lady_charlotte2768 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:57 +0000

i have always stuffed my turkey, so did my mother and so did her mother. no one ever got food poisoning. you can do what you want but i believe that putting the stuffing inside the bird keeps it moist. i made my stuffing on the side one year to try it out and it was horrible. it came out really dry. just follow the package instructions then stuff your bird and put it in the oven. also after you have stuffed the turkey cut up some butter and place it around the bird,on top too. it will help keep it extra moist and dont forget to baste! if ur not using an oven bag of course.