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[lovebenton0]

When roasting turkeys I most often place a chunked sweet onion, and good sprig of fresh rosemary in the cavity, preparing the dressing separately. I know this will be received with gasps by by many eG'ers here. However, I like to have a clean carcass to make stock with afterward.

But this year I'm making a different cornbread dressing with pork mincemeat that just may benefit most by stuffing that bird instead. It's a 15 lb turkey this year, a bit smaller than usual so it will not be in the oven as long (another of my considerations when choosing not to stuff the bird). Turkey will be covered with EVOO prepped cheesecloth. Ideally the stuffing would be able to be removed from cavity as a whole for serving.

What are your general views on stuffing the birdy or not?

[Arthur Schwartz]

My general view is that stuffing taste better in the bird, but that there are so many downsides to stuffing the bird that the cost-benefit ratio is in favor of cooking the stuffing separately. You can always baste your stuffing casserole with drippings. You put in enough butter or whatever and the difference is marginal. But the turkey cooks more evenly, and, as you say, you have a clean carcass in the end when you cook the "dressing" on the side. That's the difference to me, by the way. Inside is stuffing. Outside is dressing. But who cares? By the way, I highly doubt you are going to extract your stuffing in one piece. And why do that anyway? I big blob of stuffing is not very attractive.