Video:How to Stuff a Turkey
with Jason PhippsWant to learn how to successfully stuff a turkey? Here, see tips and tricks for stuffing a turkey on your own.See Transcript
Transcript:How to Stuff a Turkey
Precook any meat or vegetables that will go into the stuffing, since the center of a turkey doesn't get hot enough.Mix the stuffing on the dry side. The stuffing will absorb liquid from the bird, and can easily get soggy.
Instructions for How to Stuff a Turkey
Wash the the turkey under cold running water and thoroughly dry inside and out with paper towels. Sprinkle Salt liberally inside and out. Put the stuffing in a microwave-safe dish, and microwave to 130 degrees F. just before stuffing the turkey. to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
More Instructions for Stuffing a Turkey
Stuff the turkey loosely with the hot dressing. It is important to stuff the dressing fairly loosely in the bird because dressing expands during cooking.stuff the neck cavity, and pull the neck skin over the stuffing and fasten it to the body with a skewer. Turn the bird and loosely stuff the body cavity. Pull the legs close to the body and tie the ends together with cotton string. And fold the wings under the bird to provide a platform for roasting.Place the turkey, breast side up, on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Brush all the exposed surfaces with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with your choice of herbs, spices, salt, and pepper.
Additional Instructions for Stuffing a Turkey
Insert a meat thermometer into the inner thigh near the breast, making certain the tip of the thermometer is not touching bone. The disposable pop-up thermometer that comes with commercial turkeys isn't as reliable when cooking a stuffed bird.Cover the turkey and put in an oven preheated to 325 degrees F. Roast the bird until the meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees F. and the juices run clear. For a 10 pound bird, stuffed, was about 3 and a half hours.
The center of the stuffing inside the bird must reach a temperature of 165 degrees F. for food safety. Remove all the dressing from the neck and body cavities, and put back in the oven for 30 minutes. Stuffing a turkey can be a bacteria risk. These tips will ensure you have a safe and tasty thanksgiving dinner!