The Absolute Best Way To Fix Dry Stuffing - Tasting Table (2024)

The Absolute Best Way To Fix Dry Stuffing - Tasting Table (4)

Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

BySylvia Tomczak/

Stuffing is a holiday superstar, second only to a beautifully basted bird. The ultimate crowd-pleaser, The New York Times reports that what makes stuffing so irresistible is that it's the perfect combination of starch, fat, and aromatics. However, if your stuffing is bone-dry, it can lead to a less than pleasant experience. Whether you opt for homemade or boxed stuffing, we've got you covered on the absolute best way to fix dry stuffing.

While its origins are murky, Arcadia Publishing explains that the first recorded recipes for stuffing appeared in an ancient Roman cookbook called Apicius de re Coquinariaand involved stuffing ingredients like spelt, vegetables, and herbs into all sorts of animals. Over the years, the dish has remained a beloved classic, even if the ingredients and cooking methods have since changed.

Although stuffing is meant to be stuffed, Cook's Illustrated explains that stuffing needs to be baked entirely to eliminate foodborne illnesses. This often means meat becomes overcooked, trying to reach an internal stuffing temperature of 165°F. This is why many stuffing recipes now advise cooking dressing in a separate pan. The only downfall of this method is the lack of moisture that comes from the turkey juices.

Broth is your best friend

The Absolute Best Way To Fix Dry Stuffing - Tasting Table (5)

Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock

The ideal stuffing texture varies based on preference. However, dressing that's suffering from dehydration is never welcomed. It's true that starting with the right type of bread (stale, dry loaves) can maximize the absorption of liquids, explains Foods Guy. But as stuffing bakes, moisture can also start to disappear, leading to a parched dressing. This is where broth comes in.

According to EatingWell, you can fix dry stuffing by adding 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of stuffing mix, tossing gently to help the mix rehydrate. Bon Appétitalso advises adding liquid in small doses, about ½ a cup at a time, and waiting for the bread to absorb the broth. This will prevent any broth from pooling at the bottom of your casserole dish.

If you want to veer away from broth, there are some other liquids you can also use to bring back moisture. Food Network suggests adding turkey drippings or a splash of cream, whereas Rachael Ray recommends drizzling melted butter and chicken stock over dry stuffing. Martha Stewart even supports experimenting with other liquids like wine!

Recommended

The Absolute Best Way To Fix Dry Stuffing - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

The Absolute Best Way To Fix Dry Stuffing - Tasting Table? ›

Broth is your best friend

How to crisp up stuffing? ›

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.

How do you spice up a bland stuffing? ›

Dried Spices

Keep things easy with a dash of paprika or a sprinkle of cayenne. Or, totally change your stuffing mix with a spice blend like Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, poultry seasoning, adobo or Lawry's.

Why add eggs to stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.

What makes stuffing dry? ›

Using too much (or not enough) liquid.

Don't add enough stock, and you have an overly dry stuffing on your hands. Follow this tip: Stuffing should be moist, without being soggy or dry. The amount of stock will vary depending on how much stuffing you plan to make.

How do you fix over seasoned stuffing? ›

How to fix salty stuffing. If you've already made your stuffing and it came out too salty, there are a few things you can try before you start over. eHow recommends mixing in 1 cup of plain bread cubes and a 1/2 cup of unsalted chicken stock.

How do you keep stuffing from drying out in the oven? ›

Broth is your best friend

But as stuffing bakes, moisture can also start to disappear, leading to a parched dressing. This is where broth comes in. According to EatingWell, you can fix dry stuffing by adding 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of stuffing mix, tossing gently to help the mix rehydrate.

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

How long can you keep uncooked stuffing in the fridge? ›

Do not refrigerate uncooked stuffing. If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

Why does my stuffing go flat? ›

If you don't get the ratio of liquid to dry ingredients right, you could end up with stuffing that falls apart. If you want to avoid all that stress altogether, bake it up in a bundt pan and serve it by the slice.

How do you revive stuffing? ›

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.

Why is my stuffing so moist? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

How to stop stuffing from drying out? ›

Melt a little bit of butter in a sauce pot with some stock and add a couple of ladles of it to the dried stuffing. Toss it all together and let it soak.

How do you keep stuffing warm and moist? ›

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."

How to dry out stuffing in the oven? ›

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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6122

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.