Final answer:
Stuffing should always be cooked separately from poultry to ensure it reaches a safe internal temperature and to prevent the potential growth of harmful bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
You should always cook stuffing separately from poultry. Cooking stuffing inside a bird can pose a risk because the stuffing might not reach a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria. Instead, cooking them separately ensures that both the stuffing and the poultry reach the appropriate temperatures for safe consumption. This is important not only for food safety but also for consistent cooking results. The recommended internal temperature for cooked poultry is 165°F, and this should also be the temperature of the stuffing whether it is cooked inside or outside the poultry.