Stuffing is a super tasty food, and Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be the same without it. But making a big Thanksgiving meal all in one day can be very stressful, which is why preparing things beforehand is such a helpful tool. You may be wondering which dishes can be made ahead of time to make Thanksgiving Day more enjoyable.
Can you make stuffing ahead of time? You sure can! Stuffing is one of those foods that can be made in advance. All you have to do is mix the ingredients together and store it in the fridge. Then you just throw it in the oven on the day that you plan to eat it, and bake like you normally would.
Let’s go more in depth on how to make stuffing ahead of time so that you can have the best stuffing possible while eliminating stress on Thanksgiving Day.
How Far Ahead of Time Can You Make Stuffing?
When you prepare your stuffing, you should only do so about 1 day ahead, because this will prevent it from going bad. However, if you plan to freeze your stuffing, you can make it up to 3 months in advance and it will be perfectly fine on the day you plan to eat it (given that it was stored properly).
Though it may not seem like there is a point in making stuffing only 1 day ahead, it can actually be very helpful to get it out of the way 1 day prior to eating. Plus, letting it sit overnight can enhance the flavors and make it taste better all around.
How Do You Make Stuffing Ahead of Time?
If you are planning on making the stuffing a day in advance, you can prepare it how you normally would. However, you should stop when you get to the baking portion. Instead of baking your stuffing immediately, just cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. Then, you can pull it out the next day and cook it right before your meal.
Letting your stuffing sit in the fridge overnight actually helps bring out the flavors, which results in an even tastier dish. Just make sure that your stuffing is in the fridge and not left out on the counter overnight. Leaving stuffing at room temperature can cause bacteria growth and could lead to whoever eats it getting sick, which would not be good.
How Do You Freeze Stuffing?
If you plan on freezing your stuffing, you should bake it like normal before doing so. Then, it can be cooled and placed into an airtight, freezer safe container and it will stay good for up to 3 months. Freezing stuffing is super easy and it’s a great way to save it after a dinner or get it prepared more than 1 day in advance.
You should always make sure that your stuffing is in an airtight and freezer safe container before freezing it. This is because moisture can escape when a container isn’t tightly sealed, and this will cause the food to dry out. It could also get freezer burn if you don’t seal it properly.
When you’re ready to eat the stuffing, you don’t have to worry about thawing it. Simply take it out of the freezer and place it in the oven to heat it up! It’s recommended to cook frozen stuffing at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes, but time varies depending on your oven so be sure to keep an eye on it.
What Happens to Stuffing If You Make It Too Far Ahead of Time?
If you make your stuffing too far ahead of time, it can spoil before you even get a chance to cook it. Stuffing can grow bacteria pretty easily, especially if it hasn’t been cooked yet. So making it a point to only make your stuffing 1 day in advance (unless you plan on freezing it) is very important if you want to avoid getting sick.
If you’ve made your stuffing too far in advance and are trying to tell if it’s still good to use, there are a few ways to do so. The best way to tell if something has gone bad is with your sense of smell and taste. If the stuffing has developed a strange odor or taste, it shouldn’t be consumed.
Furthermore, you might notice mold growing on your stuffing if it’s been in the fridge for too long. If this is the case, it should definitely be discarded immediately.
Can You Bake Stuffing and Reheat It the Same Day?
If you are looking for another way to prepare your stuffing, you can technically bake it 3-4 days before you plan to eat it. Then when it’s time to eat your meal, you can just reheat the stuffing and dig in. However, the stuffing will not taste as fresh if you do it this way, and it may even dry out a bit when it’s reheated, so proceed with caution.
If you do choose to go this route, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t have any leftovers after you eat the stuffing. If it’s been around for more than 4 days, it’s much more likely to have bad bacteria growing in it. This means that keeping it to eat after it’s already been around for 4 days is not the best idea, and could lead to you getting sick.
Final Thoughts
Stuffing is a crucial part of any Thanksgiving meal, and luckily, making it in advance is pretty easy. It can be made just the day before, or up to 3 months before if you stick it in the freezer. Still, it’s important to make sure that you are preparing and storing it correctly so that you avoid getting sick.
We hope that this article helped you learn more about making stuffing ahead of time, and that you now know how to keep it safe to eat and just as tasty as if you were making it fresh.