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With turkey season fast-approaching you have no doubt heard a lot about Poultry Cavity Conflict (PCC). It is the cause of anger and disappointment around many a family table. But what is at the heart of this issue and how can you eject it from your kitchen?
Read on to find out all about PCC and about how to solve this common problem.
The Cause of PCC:
Some people always stuff their birds. They love it when that soft mound inside the cavity catches juices and comes out moist and flavourful.
Other people never put anything beyond a few aromatics in the cavity. This could be due to a fear of food poisoning* or it could be because they prefer their “stuffing” to have more crunch and less mush.
These two divergent opinions are the cause of PCC and they can lead to animosity in the household if the situation is not dealt with in a fair and understanding way.
PCC Solutions: What can you do to ease the PCC in your home?
Solution #1: Make both kinds of stuffing
I know, I know. More work for you! But it’s actually not that big of a deal. In fact, it’s sometimes easier since you don’t have to fret about what to do with the extra bread mixture that won’t fit in the bird. You can intentionally make a lot of stuffing, spoon some into the cavity and put the rest in a buttered casserole (this uncovered casserole goes into the oven for the last 30-ish minutes of the poultry’s cooking time. If it’s egg-free, you’re just warming it through and perhaps crisping up the top a bit. If it contains an egg or two, then it needs to reach 160ºF. Use an instant-read thermometer to test it).
Two added bonuses of this PCC resolution strategy:
- You wind up with much more stuffing than if you only filled the bird and thus you can feed more people (or you can make this Newfoundland treat the next day!).
- So long as your stuffing mixture is free of any meat/poultry or of any meat/poultry broth, your casserole of stuffing will not cause undo anger from the vegetarian contingent in your midst. The omnivores, on the other hand, will not feel neglected since the stuffed version has soaked up plenty of meaty juices.
Solution #2: Make one kind of stuffing but give clear and concise reasons for your choice
Maybe you prefer one style of stuffing over the other, maybe you find it easier to just stuff the bird rather than have a whole extra casserole to worry about, or maybe you are one of those people who would rather not slide their hands inside a carcass. For whatever reason, sometimes you will only want to make one kind of stuffing. If you give your diners clear and concise reasons for your choice, they are less likely to revolt.
Example Reasons:
If you plan to stuff and only stuff: Tell your diners that the bird is overly large and fills the entire oven. There is thus no room for an additional casserole. (If this isn’t true but you want to use it as a reason, place your small bird into the largest roasting pan you own. Nobody will notice the acres of space around the bird. They will only see you struggling to fit the pan into the oven and they will then believe anything you say. Follow up the pan-into-oven ordeal with a dishcloth dabbed at your forehead and a big sigh to convince any remaining doubters.)
If you plan to not stuff and only not stuff: Tell your diners that the bird doesn’t seem particularly juicy and you are afraid that any stuffing placed into the cavity will steal potential juices from the gravy. Everyone agrees that the gravy is the first priority when roasting a bird therefore nobody will dream of arguing. (If, upon cooking the bird, you find yourself with an abundance of glorious golden juice, don’t tell anyone! Continue to moan and complain about the lack of juices. Then, when dinner is served, you become the belle of the ball with the most luscious gravy anyone has ever tasted. Nobody will ever doubt your word about anything kitchen-related again and you will be free to make the stuffing of your choice from then on.)
In conclusion, while PCC is a true problem in today’s world, it need not cause friction in your home. Now that you know what is at the root of PCC, you can meet
