topic Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY in Community Chat

FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

TaxyLady — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:10:13 GMT

Stuffing/dressing tastes much better cooked inside the turkey. But, many are afraid. For what reason, I do not know. I come from a long line of farmers (actually killed, cleaned and plucked the turkey) and for hundreds of years my family always stuffed the turkey and no one ever got sick. This is why...

Never stuff the turkey until you are ready to put it in the oven.

Before you stuff the turkey boil a pan of water on the stove. Pour the boiling water in both sides of the turkey carcass. This scalds the turkey inside and seers it so blood does not seep into your stuffing.

Happy Thanksgiving.

PS. The reason I post this is because many people I know do not scald the turkey inside before stuffing. Yuk.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

LTT1 — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:19:11 GMT

@TaxyLady Thanks for the tip!

People think Salmonella can grow, and it CAN, unless precautions are taken.

Unless the info has changed, the greatest danger is leaving meat (with stuffing attached) on the bones for a long period after finishing the roasting process.

Also, rinsing the turkey and in essence "washing" it inside and out must eliminate blood, because I have never had blood in the stuffing.

Then, rubbing salt outside and inside also kills bacteria.

We will all be safe now!

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

jaxs mom — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:19:36 GMT

Being afraid has nothing to do with it. I don't like the texture of stuffing inside the bird and much prefer dressing baked separately.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

JustJazzmom — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:19:52 GMT

Only thing I can add to that is never stuff warm or hot stuffing into a cold turkey. That can cause problems with germ transfer to put it simply.

If you make the stuffing the day before, make sure it is chilled/refridgerated and then on the morning of Thanksgiving, you can then stuff your cold turkey with cold stuffing.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

151949 — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:21:59 GMT

I agree that stuffing cooked outside the turkey is not as good. If it is cooked for long enough there is no reason it isn't perfectly safe to eat, but my DH won't eat it now so I have to make it in the crockpot for him.To make it in the crockpot it cooks 4 hours on low - about 200 degrees or in the turkey it cooks about 4 to 5 hours(depends on the size of the turkey) at 350 degrees. I use a meat thermometer to be certain it is at least 140 degrees. Doesn't matter anyway - we are going to a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner with DH's family. I read that it is estimated that 33 million Americans are eating out for Thanksgiving this year.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

betteb — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:22:42 GMT

You are correct Taxy. I always stuff. Last few years, I've been cooking 2 breasts (no one eats the dark meat) and I nest them in a large pan of stuffing.

In the oven right away and start out at a higher temp for the first hour, then turn the temp back down for a slow roast.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

151949 — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:24:38 GMT

@LTT1 wrote:
@TaxyLady Thanks for the tip!
People think Salmonella can grow, and it CAN, unless precautions are taken.
Unless the info has changed, the greatest danger is leaving meat (with stuffing attached) on the bones for a long period after finishing the roasting process.
Also, rinsing the turkey and in essence "washing" it inside and out must eliminate blood, because I have never had blood in the stuffing.
Then, rubbing salt outside and inside also kills bacteria.
We will all be safe now!

I too learned to wash the cavity out very well with running water and then salt the cavity.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

TaxyLady — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:25:32 GMT

@LTT1 wrote:
@TaxyLady Thanks for the tip!
People think Salmonella can grow, and it CAN, unless precautions are taken.
Unless the info has changed, the greatest danger is leaving meat (with stuffing attached) on the bones for a long period after finishing the roasting process.
Also, rinsing the turkey and in essence "washing" it inside and out must eliminate blood, because I have never had blood in the stuffing.
Then, rubbing salt outside and inside also kills bacteria.
We will all be safe now!

I agree. all poultry should be washed. Also I make sure as soon as the dinner is finished that bird goes right into the fridge. Leaving it out can make you very sick.

Re: FOR THOSE Wy gHO STUFF THE TURKEY

qvcaddition — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:35:07 GMT

I,m 79 and my Grandmother stuffed inside the turkey her whole cooking life time, and so do I. Never a problem.

She would stuff her home made ravioli,s the night before cooking them and leave them out to dry on table in basement. They had a mixture of eggs and meat. We were lucky we never got sick. Strong immune system,? Way way back in the day, no one really though of these things Eggs were left on the counter top, not in the frig.

I come from in the day of jukeboxes and iceboxes.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

jonbon — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:31:39 GMT

@TaxyLady wrote:
Stuffing/dressing tastes much better cooked inside the turkey. But, many are afraid. For what reason, I do not know. I come from a long line of farmers (actually killed, cleaned and plucked the turkey) and for hundreds of years my family always stuffed the turkey and no one ever got sick. This is why...

Never stuff the turkey until you are ready to put it in the oven.

Before you stuff the turkey boil a pan of water on the stove. Pour the boiling water in both sides of the turkey carcass. This scalds the turkey inside and seers it so blood does not seep into your stuffing.

Happy Thanksgiving.

PS. The reason I post this is because many people I know do not scald the turkey inside before stuffing. Yuk.

Probably because they've never heard of it before (like me)! Grew up with stuffed turkeys and nobody ever got sick -- I have always heard advice such as that given by JustJazzmom (don't put warm stuffing in a cold bird) and that one needs to make sure stuffing inside the bird reaches the proper temperature. But I don't ever remember anyone in my family scalding the turkey (or worrying about bloody stuffing). Oh well . . . we grill our turkey now and bake the stuffing (dressing) separately.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

MyShadowLove — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:33:15 GMT

I am doing Cornish Hens...5...and stuffing them lightly with wild rice...Should I scald them first also?

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

Susan-QVC — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:35:54 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC unkind

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

qvcaddition — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:38:21 GMT

Wildflowers, I am doing same this year and stuff them and put in oven after stuffing. I have never scalded them or Turkey and no problem. You do what is comfortable for you.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

JustJazzmom — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:39:42 GMT

@MyShadowLove wrote:
I am doing Cornish Hens...5...and stuffing them lightly with wild rice...Should I scald them first also?

I would call the Butterball Hot Line and ask them this question.

1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372)

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

chickenbutt — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:39:55 GMT

Well said, Tink! I'm not afraid either. I just think it's gross so, clearly, it just doesn't appeal to me. Big deal. We all like different stuff. To say that it's not as good if it's not stuffed is also a bit of an over-step.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

TaxyLady — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:46:41 GMT

@MyShadowLove wrote:
I am doing Cornish Hens...5...and stuffing them lightly with wild rice...Should I scald them first also?

Yes, I scald all poultry.

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

MyShadowLove — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:55:32 GMT

@qvcaddition wrote:
Wildflowers, I am doing same this year and stuff them and put in oven after stuffing. I have never scalded them or Turkey and no problem. You do what is comfortable for you.

***********************

@qvcaddition...Yes, they are delicious!...I've never scalded them before but, after hearing so much about how it is not good to put the stuffing in poultry, I've become somewhat neurotic and am not sure anymore what is more comfortable for me!...LOL

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

MaggieMack — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:51:50 GMT

I guess I'm with the "ignorance is bliss" crowd. I've stuffed turkeys with hot dressing, after rinsing the cavity, for years. Haven't made anyone sick yet! And I don't have to worry about my little bird tomorrow since I'm just cooking for my older brother and me and we're both gluten free, thus no stuffing!

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 17:40:53 GMT

My grandmother was an AMAZING cook but one year she just stopped stuffing the turkey.

Since then, she filled the cavity with seasoning items ..... roughly chopped onions, chopped garlic, rosemary, and, a couple times, a lemon or orange. The smell when cooking was unbelievable!

Re: FOR THOSE WHO STUFF THE TURKEY

Mama Mia — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 17:46:24 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@TaxyLady wrote:
Stuffing/dressing tastes much better cooked inside the turkey. But, many are afraid. For what reason, I do not know. I come from a long line of farmers (actually killed, cleaned and plucked the turkey) and for hundreds of years my family always stuffed the turkey and no one ever got sick. This is why...

Never stuff the turkey until you are ready to put it in the oven.

Before you stuff the turkey boil a pan of water on the stove. Pour the boiling water in both sides of the turkey carcass. This scalds the turkey inside and seers it so blood does not seep into your stuffing.

Happy Thanksgiving.

PS. The reason I post this is because many people I know do not scald the turkey inside before stuffing. Yuk.
If that's your stuffing preference, that's fine, but it doesn't mean everyone else is "afraid".

BTW ... Why wasn't this posted in the Recipes section?

I don't think we need to split hairs over this. It's Thanksgiving, give thanks we even have Community Chat and the other forums, it sure doesn't bother me , and I hope you didn't get too upset.

BTW, never heard of this, but makes sense to me. Happy Thanksgiving!