View source for Stuffing

{{short description|Edible mixture filling a food's cavity}}
{{About|cooking|the practice of filling out the skin of an animal for display|Taxidermy|the synthetic fiber used for stuffing pillows and soft toys|Polyester fiberfill|the fetish|Stuffing (fetish)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
[[File:Stuffing a turkey.jpg|thumb|Stuffing a [[domesticated turkey|turkey]]]]
[[File:Stuffed turkey.jpg|thumb|Stuffed [[Turkey as food|turkey]] ]]
[[File:Empanadas de carne, 2006.jpg|thumb|right|Chilean ''[[empanada]]'' with ground meat stuffing]]

'''Stuffing''', '''filling''', or '''dressing''' is an edible mixture, often composed of [[herb]]s and a [[Starch#Food|starch]] such as [[bread]], used to fill a cavity in the preparation of another food item.  Many foods may be stuffed, including [[poultry]], [[seafood]], and [[vegetable]]s.  As a [[cooking technique]], stuffing helps retain moisture, while the mixture itself augments and absorbs flavors.

[[Poultry]] stuffing often consists of breadcrumbs, [[onion]], [[celery]], [[spice]]s, and herbs such as [[Salvia officinalis|sage]], combined with the [[giblets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/traditional-roast-chicken-with-apple-sage-and-onion-stuffing-cranberry-and-sage-sauce-and-chicken-giblet-gravy.html |title=Traditional Roast Chicken with Apple, Sage and Onion Stuffing, Cranberry and Sage Sauce and Chicken-giblet Gravy - English - Recipes - from Delia Online |website=Deliaonline.com |date= 9 November 2015|access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref> Additions in the United Kingdom include dried fruits and nuts (such as apricots and flaked almonds),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3054/apricot-and-hazelnut-stuffing |title=Apricot & hazelnut stuffing |publisher=BBC Good Food |date=2015-07-24 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/140609/apricot-sausagemeat-stuffing |title=Apricot sausagemeat stuffing |publisher=BBC Good Food |date=2011-01-02 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/508023/hairy-bikers-christmas-turkey-with-two-stuffings |title=Hairy Bikers' Christmas turkey with two stuffings recipe |website=Goodtoknow |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref> and chestnuts.<ref name="youtubeiv">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbsNoHnYKSU&feature=iv&src_vid=4oh_tJdRz_c&annotation_id=annotation_2032707815  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/hbsNoHnYKSU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Fail-Safe Pork & Sage Stuffing &#124; Jamie Oliver |via=YouTube |date=2015-11-27 |access-date=2015-12-02}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3052/rustic-chestnut-stuffing |title=Rustic chestnut stuffing |publisher=BBC Good Food |date=2015-07-24 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Smažené bedly, plněné masem A.jpg|thumb|Stuffed [[Macrolepiota procera|parasol mushroom]]]]
It is not known when stuffings were first used. The earliest documentary evidence is a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[cookbook]], [[Apicius]]' ''[[De re coquinaria|De Re Coquinaria]]'', which contains recipes for stuffed [[Chicken as food|chicken]], [[dormouse]], [[hare]], and [[Pork|pig]]. Most of the stuffings described consist of vegetables, [[herb]]s and spices, [[nut (fruit)|nut]]s, and [[spelt]] (a [[cereal]]), and frequently contain chopped [[Liver (food)|liver]], [[brain]]s, and other [[organ meat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodreference.com/html/artstuffing.html |title=Stuffing – Food Facts & History|website=FoodReference.com}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2009}}

Names for stuffing include "farce" (~1390), "stuffing" (1538), "forcemeat" (1688), and more recently in the United States, "dressing" (1850).<ref>{{cite OED|dressing|8377848974|access-date=2024-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marthaandtom.com/2009/11/stuffing-or-dressing/ |title=Stuffing or dressing? |website=Marthaandtom |date=2009-11-22 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref>

==Cavities==
[[File:Stuffed orange pepper.jpg|thumb|[[Stuffed peppers|Stuffed orange pepper]]]]
[[File:Stuffed tomatoes.jpg|thumb|Stuffed tomatoes]]
[[File:Piroshki.JPG|thumb|[[Pirozhki]] stuffed with meat, mushroom, rice and onions]]

In addition to stuffing the body cavities of animals, including birds, [[fish as food|fish]], and mammals, various cuts of meat may be stuffed after they have been deboned or a pouch has been cut into them. Recipes include stuffed [[Chicken as food|chicken]] legs,<ref>{{cite web|author=C |url=http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2546/chicken-ballottines-with-sage-and-pancetta |title=Chicken ballottines with sage & pancetta |publisher=BBC Good Food |date=2015-07-24 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref> stuffed [[pork chops]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/stuffed-pork-chops-recipe1.html |title=Stuffed Pork Chops Recipe |publisher=Food Network |date=2003-10-21 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref> stuffed breast of [[veal]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/stuffed-braised-veal-breast-recipe.html |title=Stuffed Braised Veal Breast Recipe : Anne Burrell |publisher=Food Network |date=2011-10-03 |access-date=2015-12-02}}</ref> and traditional holiday dishes such as stuffed [[turkey meat|turkey]] or [[Goose as food|goose]].

Many types of vegetables are also suitable for stuffing, after their seeds or flesh has been removed. [[Tomato]]es, [[capsicum]]s (sweet or hot peppers), and [[Marrow (vegetable)|vegetable marrow]]s such as zucchini may be prepared in this way. [[Cabbage]] and similar vegetables can also be stuffed or wrapped around a filling. They are usually [[blanching (cooking)|blanched]] first, in order to make their leaves more pliable. Then the interior may be replaced by stuffing, or small amounts of stuffing may be inserted between the individual leaves.<ref>{{cite news|author=Olia Hercules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/may/17/delicious-recipes-ukraine-and-beyond-borshch-stuffed-cabbage-olia-hercules |title=Eight delicious, rich and nourishing recipes from Ukraine and beyond &#124; Life and style |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 17 May 2015|access-date=2015-12-02|author-link=Olia Hercules }}</ref>

Purportedly, [[Ancient Rome|ancient Roman]], or else [[medieval]], cooks developed [[engastration]] recipes, stuffing animals with other animals. An anonymous [[Al-Andalus|Andalusian]] cookbook from the 13th century includes a recipe for a [[ram (sheep)|ram]] stuffed with small birds. A similar recipe for a [[whole stuffed camel|camel]] stuffed with [[sheep]] stuffed with [[bustard]]s stuffed with [[carp]] stuffed with eggs is mentioned in [[T. C. Boyle]]'s book ''Water Music''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lit.konundrum.com/features/boyletc_intv.htm |title=Konundrum Engine Literary Review - TC Boyle Interview |website=Lit.konundrum.com |access-date=2015-12-02 |archive-date=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205173337/http://lit.konundrum.com/features/boyletc_intv.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Multi-bird-stuffed dishes such as the [[Turducken|turducken or gooducken]] are contemporary variations.

==Fillers==
Almost anything can serve as a stuffing. Many American stuffings contain a starchy ingredient like [[bread]] or [[cereal]]s, usually together with vegetables, ground meats, herbs and spices, and [[Egg (food)|eggs]]. Middle Eastern vegetable stuffings may be based on seasoned rice, on minced meat, or a combination thereof. Other stuffings may contain only vegetables and herbs. Some types of stuffing contain [[sausage]] meat or [[forcemeat]], while [[vegetarian]] stuffings sometimes contain [[tofu]]. Roast pork is often accompanied by sage and onion stuffing in England; roast poultry in a Christmas dinner may be stuffed with sweet chestnuts. Oysters are used in one<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/oyster-dressing-recipe.html |title=Oyster Dressing Recipe : Paula Deen |publisher=Food Network |date=2011-10-08 |access-date=2015-12-02 |archive-date=3 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203010218/http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/oyster-dressing-recipe.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> traditional stuffing for [[Thanksgiving]]. These may also be combined with [[mashed potato]]es for a heavy stuffing. Fruits and dried fruits can be added to stuffing, including apples, apricots, dried prunes, and raisins. In England, a stuffing is sometimes made of minced pork shoulder seasoned with various ingredients such as sage, onion, bread, chestnuts, dried apricots, and dried cranberries.<ref name="youtubeiv"/> The stuffing mixture may be cooked separately and served as a side dish. This may be called stuffing or dressing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kctv5.com/story/30604359/turkey-day-turmoil-is-it-stuffing-or-dressing|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128014655/http://www.kctv5.com/story/30604359/turkey-day-turmoil-is-it-stuffing-or-dressing|url-status=dead|title=Turkey day turmoil: Is it stuffing or dressing?|archivedate=28 November 2015}}</ref>

==Food safety==
The [[United States Department of Agriculture]] (USDA) states that cooking animals with a [[body cavity]] filled with stuffing can present potential food safety hazards. Even when the meat reaches a safe temperature, the stuffing can still harbor bacteria, and if the meat is cooked until the stuffing reaches a safe temperature, the meat may be overcooked. For turkeys, for instance, the USDA recommends cooking stuffing separately from the bird and not buying pre-stuffed birds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Turkey_Basics_Stuffing/index.asp|title=Turkey Basics: Stuffing|website=USDA Factsheets|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109080411/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Turkey_Basics_Stuffing/index.asp|archive-date=9 November 2008}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Food}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Breadcrumb]]
* [[Breading]]
* ''[[Kousa mahshi]]'', squash or zucchini stuffed with rice and meat
* [[List of stuffed dishes]]
* [[List of bread dishes]]
* [[Panada]]
* [[Paxo]]
* [[Sarma (food)|Sarma]] and [[dolma]]
* [[Stove Top stuffing]]
* [[Stuffed pepper]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Wiktionary-inline|stuffing}}
==External links==


{{Thanksgiving}}
{{Christmas}}
{{Bread}}

[[Category:Cooking techniques]]
[[Category:Food ingredients]]
[[Category:Poultry dishes]]
[[Category:Christmas food]]
[[Category:Culinary terminology]]
[[Category:Bread dishes]]
[[Category:Rice dishes]]
[[Category:Thanksgiving food]]
[[Category:Stuffed dishes| ]]