As households across Britain begin planning their festive feasts, a prominent food influencer has revealed the simple kitchen staple she uses to transform ordinary holiday dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences.
The Secret Weapon in Your Spice Rack
Home chef Stephanie Dorn, who shares her culinary expertise online as South Dallas Foodie, has amassed an impressive following of more than 180,000 dedicated food enthusiasts. In a recent social media revelation that's captured the attention of home cooks everywhere, she disclosed her ultimate flavour-enhancing ingredient that might already be sitting in your kitchen cupboard.
Taking to TikTok last week, Dorn enthusiastically explained that one particular item consistently makes everything taste "so much better" - and it's none other than poultry seasoning. "Out of all these things, there is one thing that is the best thing," she declared in her video while scanning the spice aisle at a grocery store.
Versatile Uses Beyond Roast Chicken
The social media personality then showcased a container of poultry seasoning while enthusiastically sharing: "You can add it to pretty much any casserole that you do for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It just makes everything so much better." She demonstrated its versatility by suggesting home cooks "sprinkle a little bit in your green bean casserole, your broccoli and cheese. Or you can put it in your mashed potatoes, your au gratin potatoes, anything savory."
Concluding her culinary revelation with a playful "The secret is out. You're welcome," Dorn has potentially transformed countless holiday meal preparations with this straightforward advice.
According to the Red Goose Spice Company, poultry seasoning typically contains sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, nutmeg and black pepper, though the exact blend can vary between brands. The company further notes that some variations might include additional ingredients like onion, garlic, parsley, red bell peppers, celery seed, ground coriander, allspice or savory.
Food Safety Remains Crucial
Despite its name suggesting exclusive use for chicken, the seasoning blend offers remarkable versatility in holiday cooking. Experts recommend incorporating it into pork dishes, stuffings, gravies and even roasted vegetables to enhance their flavour profiles.
Dorn's helpful cooking tip emerges alongside continued warnings from health authorities about proper turkey preparation. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention cautions against washing raw turkey before cooking, as this practice can spread harmful bacteria through aerosolized cross-contamination.
The US Department of Agriculture has previously emphasised that "it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird" and that rinsing can actually increase health risks by spreading contaminated water droplets throughout kitchen surfaces. Despite these warnings, a concerning 2020 survey revealed that 78 percent of respondents still washed or rinsed their turkey before cooking.
For British households preparing their Christmas dinners, Dorn's poultry seasoning suggestion provides an accessible way to elevate traditional dishes, while health officials remind cooks that proper hand hygiene and avoiding turkey washing remain essential for food safety during the festive season.
