Reheat Your Holiday Stuffing Without Drying It Out (2024)

FAQs

Reheat Your Holiday Stuffing Without Drying It Out? ›

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you'll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

Bring the baked stuffing to room temperature so that it will reheat evenly (about 30 minutes). Preheat the oven to 350 F and warm the dish covered for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is heated through. To recreate the crispy top found in freshly-baked stuffing, remove the foil for the last 10 minutes of the baking time.

YES! This stuffing is baked to golden perfection the day before the big meal. You store it in the fridge overnight and then simply warm it in the oven before dinner. Baking it twice allows the flavours to meld even more so this side dish is sure to be a star at the table.

He uses the hot broth on stuffing, too, rather than putting the stuffing in the oven to heat it up (and risking drying it out). "I make indentations in the trays of stuffing with a spoon," he says, "I put the hot chicken stock in it and it keeps it warm."

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

Start by cutting the bread of your choice into half-inch cubes. Spread the cubed bread on top of two cooling racks set in two half-sheet pans. Heat your oven to the lowest setting (typically 150°–200°F) and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until completely dry.

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist. Moisture is what holds all the ingredients together, rather than turning it into something resembling croutons and roasted vegetables.

Be sure to add a little broth or butter to your stuffing before reheating to prevent drying out. Transfer stuffing to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a piece of parchment paper. Microwave for two to three minutes, stirring after each minute to make sure the stuffing heats evenly.

If the turkey and stuffing were cooked and refrigerated separately, both should be safe. Keep these cold foods cold and refrigerate them immediately upon arrival at home (always within 2 hours). Serve the meal within 3 to 4 days. Do not reheat a whole cooked turkey.

Use stuffing and gravy within two days of cooking. Side dishes: 5 days. Enjoy miscellaneous side dishes up to five days after cooking, depending on the ingredients included in the dishes.

How to reheat stuffing without drying it out? ›

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you'll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix. Give it a good stir, then let it sit for a minute. The stuffing should be moist but not wet.

Option 1: A Chafing Dish

It's an obvious solution, but chafing dishes are perfect for keeping food warm on a buffet. Fancier versions will also look lovely in your food display. Consider a chafing dish for your mashed potatoes, casseroles or stuffing.

If you're prepping late at night, you can even leave it on your counter overnight. For food-safety reasons, however, we should tell you to stick the cool room-temperature pre-baked stuffing into the fridge until you're ready for the big finish.

In terms of food safety, however, so long as you reheat the food at the correct temperature and for the correct duration of time, it can in fact be safely reheated multiple times. However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that food is only reheated once, so follow this guidance wherever possible.

But stuffing is soft and porous by nature. That's the main reason to cook stuffing inside a turkey: The bread cubes soak up roasting turkey juices and transform into incredible-tasting flavor bombs. That means the stuffing needs to reach a safe temperature (165°) so it won't make you sick.

The best way to reheat the stuffing and the turkey is in the oven, and green beans and mashed potatoes would best be reheated over low heat on the stovetop until they're warmed through.