Stuffing a Turkey: Is It Safe?

Danica A • November 1, 2021

Turkey has been a staple at Thanksgiving dinner tables for generations. Oftentimes, you’ll find it accompanied by stuffing. The traditional way to prepare stuffing is to cook it inside the turkey. However, chefs and other professionals have since become wary of this method due to health concerns.


Before you start preparing for your Thanksgiving feast, it is important to understand what stuffing is, why stuffing a turkey is unsafe, and how to properly prepare your stuffing.


What Is Stuffing?


Stuffing is a side dish that typically consists of dried bread, such as cornbread, croutons, or breadcrumbs, mixed with meat, onions, celery, and sage. The mixture is then inserted into meat or vegetables and roasted. There are many different varieties of this holiday side dish if you're wondering what to stuff a turkey with.


Stuffing is an extremely versatile food that works well with various flavors. While it's most commonly paired with turkey, it can also be included with chicken, pork, mushrooms, and bell peppers, among other foods.


Stuffing vs Dressing


The difference between stuffing and dressing depends on how it’s prepared and regional traditions. Dressing is a name for stuffing that is cooked separately from poultry, meat, or vegetables and served alongside it, rather than inside it. In the American South, many people use the term “dressing” to refer to both stuffing and dressing, but in most states, people refer to both as stuffing.

Is It Safe to Cook Stuffing Inside of the Turkey?


Most chefs and food professionals agree that the classic way of cooking stuffing inside a turkey is not safe, but some residential cooks continue the practice for the sake of tradition. If you want to stuff your Thanksgiving turkey, read on to learn the modern methods for safely preparing a traditional stuffed turkey.


Why Is It Dangerous to Stuff a Turkey?


Stuffing is porous, and during the cooking process, juices from the turkey that may contain bacteria drip down and are absorbed by the stuffing. Additionally, when checking the temperature, many chefs neglect to check the temperature of the stuffing, which also needs to be cooked at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, bacteria remains in the stuffing, which can cause guests to get sick and puts them at risk for salmonella poisoning. Any stuffing that contains meat juices must be cooked to the same minimum internal temperature as the meat itself in order to ensure any bacteria is killed during the cooking process.


Tips for Cooking Stuffing


So, do you cook the stuffing before putting it in turkey? There are several things you can do to ensure you serve safe stuffing to your guests. Below, we’ve compiled a list of extra tips to teach you when to stuff a turkey with stuffing and make sure the next time you prepare stuffing in a turkey, it comes out delicious and safe to eat.

Cooking Stuffing in a Turkey


  • Once the turkey has reached 165 degrees, carve off the white meat and let it rest. Then, put the remaining turkey and stuffing back in the oven until the stuffing reaches 165 degrees. White meat dries out faster than dark meat, so taking it off ensures that you can cook your stuffing safely without drying out the meat.
  • When your turkey is 2/3 of the way done cooking, create an aluminum foil tent over it. The aluminum foil will help keep heat in and raise your stuffing to a safe temperature faster.
  • Stuff your turkey right before it goes into the oven.


Can You Stuff a Turkey the Night Before?


No, many home chefs will stuff their turkey the night before in an attempt to save time on Thanksgiving Day. Unfortunately, this only creates more time for bacteria to soak into your stuffing.


Cooking Stuffing Outside the Turkey


If you cook your stuffing and turkey separately, you can still present your customers with a beautiful display of a perfectly cooked turkey that is overflowing with stuffing.


  • Stuff your turkey with cooked stuffing once it has finished cooking and is resting.
  • A benefit of cooking the stuffing separately is that you can make larger quantities of it for your customers.
  • If you make it separately, you can give your stuffing a crispy texture that is an excellent complement to the savory and juicy turkey and creamy mashed potatoes.
  • Leave the stuffing out and try deep frying your turkey for crispy skin and a juicy interior.


While stuffing a turkey can sometimes be dangerous and unsanitary, there are steps you can take to prepare stuffing inside a turkey safely. Additionally, there are alternative ways to prepare your favorite side dish to avoid health concerns. When Thanksgiving rolls around this year, make sure that you pay attention to the tips above to create a safe holiday meal.

Essential Restaurant Kitchen Equipment

By Danica A • April 1, 2022
Must-have restaurant kitchen equipment includes refrigerators, freezers, food processors, mixers, ovens, ranges, dishwashers and sinks. 
Restaurant Plus | Cooking Supplies | Cooking Equipment | Restaurant Support | Food

Waring Commercial

By Robert Shipman • March 1, 2022
Waring, universally known for introducing the first blender in America, is one of today's leading manufacturers of professional appliances for the foodservice and laboratory industries. Waring Commercial offers high-performance, large-volume food processors and blenders, heavy-duty heating appliances such as grills, griddles, toasters and deep fryers, and a variety of specialty products. As a Solutions Specialist in the BLEND, PREP, COOK, and BREW categories, Waring strives to provide innovative, customized equipment to fulfill all of the industry’s unmet needs. With 80+ years of manufacturing expertise locally and globally, Waring is proud to offer continuously expanding collections of superior professional products.

Everest Refrigeration

By Robert Shipman • February 1, 2022
Everest is founded on the principle of continual improvement. We are committed to bringing the best of the commercial refrigeration industry to our customers around the world through innovative products that are reliable, durable and accessible.

Featured Product: Tuxton

By Robert Shipman • January 2, 2022
TOP QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR EVERY TASTE "Tuxton Home is not simply a distributor. We have full supervision over our manufacturing, and complete authority over the design, production, and quality aspects of our products from start to finish." 

Featured Brand: Libbey Glass

By Robert Shipman • December 2, 2021
WHO WE ARE Libby Glass. Legacy of 200 years and going strong.

Top 5 Energy Conservation Tips for Restaurants

By Danica A • October 1, 2021
Reducing your restaurant's overall energy consumption not only lowers your utility costs , it's also better for the environment. Many food service professionals have been adopting energy conservation methods for the past decade and have drastically cut their energy use and expenses. Here, we've outlined energy conservation tips that will reduce your water and electricity use. 5 Energy Conservation Methods It can be easier than you think to reduce energy consumption in your kitchen with our energy-saving methods! Here are our top 5 tips for conserving energy in your business. 1. Use Energy Efficient Equipment Commercial equipment contributes a great deal to your restaurant energy consumption, but your restaurant equipment doesn't have to guzzle resources. Many manufacturers offer equipment that uses a fraction of the energy of their other models, and switching to those designs could save your business thousands of dollars per year. High Efficiency Fryers - Upgrading your deep fryer to an energy-efficient model will not only save you money on utilities, it will save you money on fryer oil as well. New high-efficiency fryer models experience less scorching which extends the life of your oil. High Efficiency Dish Machines - Using an Energy Star certified dish machine can save an average of $1,500 annually when compared to a standard model. Energy Star Rebates - Not only does Energy Star certified equipment use much less energy than standard equipment, it might also qualify you for a rebate. Incentives and rebates vary depending on your location, so make sure to check the Energy Star website.

What Is a Continental Breakfast?

By Danica A • September 1, 2021
Hotel guests have come to seek out and even expect food options during their stay, whether it be from an on-site restaurant, room service , or a complimentary continental breakfast. If you’re looking to open your own hotel, you may be wondering what is included in a continental breakfast and how hoteliers can offer it for free. We explored the origin of this breakfast style, continental menu options, along with some other breakfast selections you may be interested in using for your hospitality business". Continental Breakfast Definition A continental breakfast is a light morning meal typically consisting of pastries and baked goods, fruits, toast, and coffee. It is usually served buffet-style and modeled after the European breakfast, similar to what one would enjoy in France or the Mediterranean. Continental breakfasts emphasize simplicity and focus on foods that can easily be stocked. Continental Breakfast Menu Here are some of the options that a continental breakfast consists of: Baked Goods / Pastries Fruits Bread Jams and Spreads Coffee Tea Hot Chocolate Juice Optional: Breakfast cereals, eggs, meats, sliced cheese, porridge or oatmeal Why Is It Called a Continental Breakfast? The term “continental breakfast” refers to the continent of Europe and the style of breakfast enjoyed in European cultures. The term first appeared in 1896 as a result of the turning of the century. Prior to the 1800s, the most common American jobs involved farm work and demanded a high-calorie breakfast to start the day. However, as the country headed into the 1900s, the average job became more sedentary and emerging middle-class workers sought out a lighter morning option. At the same time, more and more European travelers were visiting America and staying in hotels. The hotels responded in kind by adding a light breakfast option to their menu that their European customers would appreciate.

What is Induction Cooking?

By Danica A • August 1, 2021
Whether you’re building a brand new restaurant or looking to remodel, it’s important to consider your options when it comes to what type of cooking equipment will be best for your business. Induction cooking has grown in popularity over the years, but the way it works and the benefits of using it are still a mystery to many. Keep reading to learn what induction cooking is and why it’s a popular choice amongst many restaurateurs. What Is an Induction Cooktop? An induction cooktop is a cooking surface that heats by transferring currents from an electromagnetic field located below the glass surface directly to the magnetic induction cookware placed above. Unlike thermal conduction, it heats this cookware directly without the need for a flame or burner. Because there is no heating of a separate element, an induction cooktop can heat cookware faster than any other medium. How Does Induction Cooking Work? While gas and electric stoves heat cookware indirectly by first heating a coil, burner, or producing a flame, induction cooking provides direct heat to the cookware which then passes the radiant energy on to the food. Instead of a heating element, magnets are used to stimulate the atoms inside your cookware and heat the pot or pan.

Casual Dining vs. Fine Dining

By Danica A • July 1, 2021
There are two major factors that customers consider when choosing a restaurant: ambiance and price . Those factors are also the key difference between fine dining and casual dining experiences. Knowing what your customer base is looking for can play an important part in your establishment’s success. If you're thinking about starting a restaurant, selecting the right path is crucial. We're here to compare the differences and key details of both casual and fine dining to help you determine the identity of your future restaurant! What Is the Difference Between Fine Dining and Casual Dining? The difference between fine dining and casual dining has to do with their ambiance and prices. Fine dining or formal dining restaurants offer an upscale setting and service while featuring unique and often more expensive menu options, with checks averaging over $50. A casual dining establishment provides a more laid-back atmosphere with more moderately-priced meal selections. It’s important to define what style of establishment you will be opening before you get started. 

Principles of Commercial Kitchen Design

By Danica A • June 1, 2021
A poorly designed restaurant kitchen can cause chaos and may even cause accidents. As a result, when starting a new restaurant or re-designing your existing business, you should think through your kitchen design carefully. Considerations Before Designing a Commercial Kitchen Before you start designing your restaurant's kitchen, you need to think about work flow and the essential pieces in your kitchen because different restaurant concepts will have different needs. For example, a contemporary bistro will need different equipment and designs than a fast food establishment. As a result, before you start planning any kitchen layouts, you should consider all of the equipment your restaurant will need, all of the essential stations, and how food will flow through your kitchen. Six Principles of Commercial Kitchen Design Regardless of what type of foodservice establishment you have, there are several objectives for designing a kitchen properly. According to the Certified Food Service Professionals handbook, there are six guidelines you should follow when creating a commercial kitchen design.
More Posts