The Seven Days of Thanksgiving, Day 4: Stuff It!

Though "dressing" and "stuffing" can be used interchangeably, there are certain factors that seem to influence which term is used. Notably, some believe that when it's cooked inside the turkey, it's "stuffing," but when it's cooked separate from the bird, it's "dressing." Additionally there are regional factors: Those in the Southern United States tend to call it "dressing" regardless of whether it's cooked inside or out.

Although animals have likely been stuffed as long as early humans have been cooking, the earliest reference to stuffing an animal prior to cooking is found in a collection of recipes dating back to Ancient Rome. The recipe included vegetables, nuts, herbs, and variety meats.

Stove Top Stuffing, introduced in 1972, reports sales of approximately 60 million boxes each Thanksgiving.

In the Southern United States it is common to see stuffing prepared with rice instead of breadcrumbs or cornbread.

The United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service maintains a set of guidelines that must be followed when preparing stuffing inside of a turkey. If I may quote directly:

For optimal safety and uniform doneness, cook stuffing separately. However, if stuffing a turkey, it's essential to use a food thermometer to make sure the center of the stuffing reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

Cooking a home-stuffed turkey is riskier than cooking one not stuffed. Even if the turkey itself has reached the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured in the innermost part of the thigh, the wing and the thickest part of the breast, the stuffing may not have reached a temperature high enough to destroy bacteria that may be present.

Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165 °F, possibly resulting in foodborne illness.

Frozen Turkeys Stuffed at the Plant under USDA Inspection
The USDA does not recommend buying retail-stuffed, uncooked turkeys from a store or restaurant.

However, some turkeys purchased frozen have been stuffed at a plant under USDA inspection. These turkeys should be safe when cooked from the frozen state. Follow the manufacturer's package directions.

1. Prepare Stuffing Safely
If you plan to prepare stuffing using raw meat, poultry, or shellfish, you should cook the ingredients before stuffing the turkey to reduce the risk of foodborne illness from bacteria that may be found in raw ingredients. The wet ingredients for stuffing can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. However, do not mix wet and dry ingredients until just before spooning the stuffing mixture into the turkey cavity.

If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be cooked immediately and refrigerated in shallow containers. Do not stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing.

2. Stuff Loosely
Do not cool the stuffing. Spoon it directly into the turkey cavity right after preparation. Stuff the turkey loosely — about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

Do not stuff turkeys to be grilled, smoked, fried, or microwaved.

3. Cook Immediately
Immediately place the stuffed, raw turkey in an oven set no lower than 325 °F.

4. Use a Food Thermometer
For safety and doneness, check the internal temperature of the turkey and stuffing with a food thermometer.

If the temperature of the turkey and the center of the stuffing have not reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F, further cooking will be required. Do not remove the stuffing from the turkey before it reaches 165 °F because the undercooked stuffing could contaminate the cooked meat.

Continue to cook the turkey until the stuffing is safely cooked.

5. Let It Rest
Let the cooked turkey stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving.

6. Refrigerate Promptly
Refrigerate the cooked turkey and stuffing within 2 hours after cooking. Place leftovers in shallow containers and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat leftovers to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

My Mom's Stuffing (for lack of a better name):

6 Tbsp chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup melted butter
4 cups dry bread cubes or cornbread
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/4 to 1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup bulk sausage

Sauté onion, celery and sausage
In mixing bowl, mix bread cubes/cornbread, melted butter, sauteed onion, celery and sausage
Add salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, sage and chicken broth

Yields 3 cups stuffing, or enough for a 5 lb. turkey.