Does anyone still put the dressing inside the turkey ?

[bearfan454]

My Mom used to when we were kids but I cook it in a seperate pan nowadays. What about you guys ?

[GOPisEvil]

1. Most things I have seen and read say not to do it.

Mom cooks hers separately from the bird. In addition to the contamination risk, stuffing dries the turkey out if it is cooked inside the cavity of the bid.

[Lindacooks]

18. You're right

It is safer to cook the stuffing outside of the turkey. But Cook's Illustrated came up with a way to safely stuff a turkey, and I totally trust them:

http://busycooks.about.com/library/lessons/blstuffingsci.htm

[ewagner]

2. Yep!

We get up at 4:30AM and prepare the stuffing in order to get the bird in the oven by 6-6:30. Our relatives usually arrive around noon and dinner is ready for serving at 1:PM. It's usually a 20-22 lb bird.

Our stuffing consists of bread, ground beef, ground pork, more seasonings than I can remember without a recipe card.

After dinner, the dressing is removed and refrigerated immediately.

[randr]

3. full dressed bird

The stuffed bird is far superior. The flavors in the stuffing enhance the meat and the juices from the bird give the stuffing that real flavor that is only imitated with boxed stuffings.

[bearfan454]

4. Welcome to DU randr !

Now you can get the real news.

[Palacsinta]

5. Stuff it!

and we call it "filling" 'round here.

[Kahuna]

6. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! I also make a pan on the side.

:7

[SiobhanClancy]

7. Same here....

got to have plenty of stuffing:)

[Rowdyboy]

8. Haven't stuffed a turkey in years

The food police scared the bejesus out of my mom, and she started cooking her cornbread dressing on the side...I miss it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. You betcha. Never gotten sick, so I'll take my chances.

It's the best that way in my opinion.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. I cook it in the turkey.

Tastes much better with all the turkey juice in it. Mmmmm.

[truthspeaker]

11. I did last year

It wouldn't all fit so I baked some on the side too. With proper use of a meat thermometer you should be able to get the in-bird stuffing to a high enough temperature to kill all the nasties.

This year I'm eating with a vegetarian, though, so while I will still cook a turkey the stuffing will all be baked externally, and without the giblets mixed in.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Nope. We cook the stuffing in a casserole, almost like a souffle.

And we flavor the bird's cavities with salt and herbs, and toss in some cut-up vegetables (carrots, celery, onion). When the bird is done and is resting, then we make the stuffing casserole, utilizing those cooked vegetables, minced up.

:bounce:

[mopinko]

13. life is short

take risks! stuff the bird. die happy

[Brewman_Jax]

14. Both bird and dish

Mom makes a lot of dressing. What doesn't fit into the bird is baked in a separate dish.

:9

[SheilaT]

15. Of course!

If putting it in the bird were really that dangerous, people would have been dropping like flies after the first frost in the years when in the bird was the only place the stuffing was cooked.

And I absolutely disagree that it dries out the bird. It definitely tastes much, much better cooked insided. At least that's true of the traditional bread/cornbread/sage stuffing. Oysters now, that's another thing. Oysters do not belong in the same kitchen as turkey, let alone inside the bird. Yuck.

[bearfan454]

17. I'm with you on the oysters.

Celery, onion, cornbread, poultry spice, a LITTLE sage, and turkey broth are it for me. Mrs bearfan's Mom uses WAY too much sage. They all like it that way over in East Tx. I eat it and don't complain. That is why I am doing Thanksgiving over here this year. Also Mrs. bearfan has to work the next day.

[Braden]

16. Yes

I'm going to eat the bird. Why not the stuffing?

[cally]

19. Of course

I make the stuffing the night before and cool it so the turkey and the stuffing start out at the same temperature. I also put the thermometer in the stuffing to make sure it is the correct temperature. Then when the turkey is done, I immediately remove the stuffing.

[bearfan454]

20. kick

I'm out of here for today folks. Midnights is catching up with my ass.

[cmf]

21. Never

I never remember my parents or grandparents stuffing the turkey with bread. We would always have cornbread dressing or rice dressing baked on the side in a casserole dish. I like that crusty top that comes from baking it separate. YUM! We always stuffed our turkeys with vegetables.

[OldSoldier]

22. My mom stuffed the bird too...

Last year I stuffed the turkey with mirepoix (2 parts onion, 1 part each celery and carrots), then made the dressing with some of this after the bird was almost done.

This year I'm doing Korean bulgogi and no turkey. I don't think the Patriot Police will beat in my door for that.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

23. Yes, and put it in a cheese-cloth pouch last year,

lightly packed, it was very convenient that way. Best turkey and stuffing I ever tasted because my husband brined it overnight, then smoked it and roasted it. The stuffing had a smoky taste as well.

[ironflange]

24. Of course I stuff(ed) it

So long as you thoroughly rinse and dry inside the bird there'll be no danger as long as it's cooked properly. I always fill the neck area with onionless stuffing for the picky ones, and I also have to do some in a pan since there's never quite enough for everyone inside the turkey.

God, now I really want turkey. I'll have to do one up in honour of US T'giving.