Turkey and Stuffing in One Pan? Yes. Yes! YES! | Cook's Country (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook stuffing and turkey at the same time? ›

You can cook the bird and the bread in the same pan with delicious results.

Why Cooking Stuffing in Your Turkey Is Dangerous. The USDA advises that whole turkeys be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill any potentially harmful bacteria. That temperature includes any potential stuffing deep in the turkey's cavity. At temperatures below 165°F you risk exposure to salmonella or E.

Here's an important Thanksgiving food safety tip that will surprise many: USDA doesn't recommend stuffing a whole turkey. The practice increases the risk of cross-contamination and takes the turkey longer to cook. Cook stuffing separately instead.

Prepare your stuffing using only cooked ingredients. Use sautéed vegetables, cooked meats or seafood, etc. Use pasteurized egg products, instead of raw eggs. Place the prepared stuffing in the whole turkey just before roasting.

The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

You haven't said whether you are going to cook the stuffing inside the bird or out, but it's fine to make almost any stuffing a few hours before you'll need it. The important thing is to keep it properly chilled so that bacteria won't have a chance to grow in it.

One advantage of not stuffing the turkey and baking the stuffing separately is the turkey will take less time to get fully cooked. A 12 to 14 pound stuffed turkey will take 3.5 to 4 hours to bake while an unstuffed bird will take 3 to 3.75 hours at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cooking time takes longer for a stuffed turkey. For example, a 20 pound stuffed turkey will take 4 1/4 to 5 1/4 hours to cook.

Check the internal temperature of the whole chicken or turkey in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Harmful bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F possibly resulting in foodborne illness.

Classic Aromatics

Add halved onions, carrot chunks, celery and fresh herbs to the cavity of your turkey, inserting them loosely. These flavor builders are the base of stock and most soups. As your turkey cooks, they'll steam and infuse your bird with moisture and flavor.

When should stuffing be removed from turkey? ›

Use 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.

Does a turkey taste better unstuffed? Yes. Cooking the stuffing inside the bird is supposed to improve the flavor of the stuffing, not the bird. On the other hand, the stuffing doesn't really cook all that well deep inside all of that meat.

Not necessarily. Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird.

Season the turkey cavity at both ends. Stuff some of the stuffing into the main cavity, but be careful not to pack it in - there must be enough space between the stuffing and breastbone to fit the handle of a wooden spoon. Stuff the smaller cavity at the neck end, again leaving a little space.

The reason why professional chefs rarely place stuffing inside poultry is because stuffing can't reach the right temperature without overcooking the poultry. This is option D. The USDA advises cooks to cook stuffing outside the bird in a separate dish to avoid any risk of foodborne illness.

Yes, the last thing in your oven should probably be the turkey (unless you're grilling or deep-frying). But any turkey should rest for at least 30 minutes before carving, so take full advantage. Your oven will be free to bake a batch of biscuits, or reheat any oven-baked side dishes that need to be warm before serving.

When roasting, any stuffing placed in the cavity of the bird should read and internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C). Remove the turkey from the oven when cooking is completed and let stand 20 minutes to allow the juices to set.