To Stuff or Not To Stuff. How to Safely Make Thanksgiving Stuffing

Source:  FDA

With over 45 million turkeys being cooked on Thanksgiving, the question of the day is whether or not you plan to cook your stuffing inside or outside the bird.  Either way can be deliciously safe to eat if the stuffing is cooked to an adequate temperature in order to kill foodborne pathogens that could ruin the day�s festivities.

Here are some food safety stuffing tips from the FDA and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics no matter how you cook it:

• Whether it is cooked inside or outside the bird, all stuffing and dressing must be cooked to a minimum temperature of 165�F.  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.
• If you stuff poultry, do it just before roasting and stuff loosely.
• The turkey should be stuffed loosely, about 3/4 cup stuffing per pound of turkey.
• Do not stuff turkeys to be grilled, smoked, fried, or cooked in the microwave.
• For uniform doneness and optimum safety, cook stuffing separately from the bird.

This chart will help you determine how long to cook your turkey:

Source:  FDA

Happy Thanksgiving, Joan

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