Stuffing a bird for roasting

Appears in
Chicken and Other Birds: From the Perfect Roast Chicken to Asian-style Duck Breasts

By Paul Gayler

Published 2015

  • About

For my favourite recipes for stuffing your bird. My first tip when stuffing is, do not pack your bird too tightly, as the stuffing expands during cooking. Also, always stuff the bird just prior to cooking, never in advance, as this will increase the growth of bacteria. You can, by all means, make your stuffing in advance and refrigerate it, but only insert it just before roasting.

There are three methods of stuffing. The first, traditional, way is to place the stuffing inside the breast cavity. I am not completely convinced by this method, as it takes the bird longer to cook and, to avoid the risk of food poisoning, you must use a meat thermometer and make sure the bird reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).