Thanksgiving Turkey: To Stuff or Not to Stuff

Thanksgiving Turkey: To Stuff or Not to Stuff

TO Stuff or NOT to Stuff!

The critical Thanksgiving debate; to stuff or not to stuff that bird.  What a question! We did a little research on the pros and cons for your Thanksgiving reflection.

Let’s start with the Pros

  • When you stuff the turkey cavity with stuffing it absorbs all the delicious juices from the bird as it cooks, resulting in a flavorful side dish
  • The presentation is astounding and a centerpiece to the table, making the bread-filled turkey great for a photo-op!

And on the other side – here are the Cons

  • Stuffed turkey can take longer to cook, as you must keep the bird in the oven until the center of the stuffing reaches a hot 165° F to make sure that any and all food born illnesses in the stuffing have been cooked out.
  • Longer cooking time means a hotter, drier turkey. When the center of the stuffing reaches 165°F, the rest of the turkey may be overcooked.

Whether your family tradition is to stuff the turkey, or not to stuff – we are all looking forward to celebrating with family and enjoying a nice Thanksgiving meal.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday and an awesome Black Friday adventure!

Mom’s Stuffing Recipe

Ingredients
  • 1 bag of Pepperidge Farms Herbed Cubes stuffing (not the bread crumb kind)
  • 1 – 32 oz box of Chicken Stock (unsalted and organic is the best)
  • 2 medium white onions chopped
  • 1 bunch of celery chopped
  • 2 cups of sliced mushrooms
  • 1 can of water chestnuts (optional)
  • 2 sticks of butter (unsalted)
Directions
  • Sauté all vegetables in half a stick of butter
  • Add to a big bowl and add in the Herbed cubes, then add in the remaining melted butter and Chicken stock – mix it all up (careful the vegetables are hot, so wear gloves or let it cool slightly)
  • Stuff the bird on both sides and close with turkey pins
  • Best when you bag the turkey