any solid food is suitable as/for stuffing

Question

When Westerners eat a turkey, they usually put all kinds of stuffing in a turkey’s belly. Basically, any solid food is suitable as/for stuffing. Bread, cereal, vegetables, spices and eggs are among the most common kinds of stuffing. Sometimes a turkey is stuffed with other birds. For example, “Turducken”—a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken—is becoming more popular. You get to eat three birds at the same time! This kind of turkey cooking comes from Louisiana, a southern American city that is the home of many strange foods.

Which fits into the above context better, as or for? Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Suitable for, which means suitable as an ingredient of stuffing. The items alone are not usually suitable as stuffing.

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Mister.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Not that this relates to the grammar, but this is a very strange paragraph. I've never heard of eggs being stuffed inside a turkey, and this idea of three birds inside each other is most strange and nothing I've ever heard of. They wouldn't cook propertly. If they had mentioned deep frying a turkey, that would make more sense!

Khoff · Answer

What I find odd is the reference to putting the stuffing in "the turkey's belly." The space where the stuffing goes is usually referred to as the "cavity." "Belly" makes it sound as though the stuffing is going into the turkey's stomach -- which, of course, has been removed, along will all the other internal organs.

I would also take issue with the claim that "any solid food is suitable for stuffing" -- stuffing almost always begins with some kind of bread, to which other ingredients are added. I've never heard of a turkey stuffed with eggs, or vegetables (unless they are chopped up and added to the bread mixture.) If I were to roast a turkey I might put an onion and some celery in the cavity to impart flavor, but they would be discarded, not eaten, and I certainly would not refer to them as "stuffing."

I have heard of the "turducken," but I certainly don't think it's becoming more popular. I think it was probably an 18th century curiosity. What is becoming more popular is to cook the stuffing mixture separately rather than inside the turkey, as a precaution against food poisoning. (When the turkey is stuffed, it's difficult to get the stuffing cooked to a safe temperature without over-cooking the turkey.) Also, as Barbara mentioned, deep-frying is a popular innovation.

Sorry, Angliholic, but I think a little more research is in order!

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, GG.

I appreciate your opinion because the idea in the base sentence also shocks me.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I assume that you're translating other material, though, and not making this up as you along? It's sometimes funny what misconceived ideas people have about each other!

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Khoff and GG.

Mister Micawber · Answer

I think it was probably an 18th century curiosity.

Well, I'm not that **** old. You can get the fixin's for turducken in the supermarket. My cousin had us one a couple of years ago.

Mmm!

< groan......>

Khoff · Answer

You're right, Mr. M. -- the turducken is not the anachronism I thought it was.  Googling it finds many contemporary sources for the turducken -- mostly in Louisiana, just like the original post said.  Will wonders never cease?

Angliholic · Answer

KhoffYou're right, Mr. M. -- the turducken is not the anachronism I thought it was. Googling it finds many contemporary sources for the turducken -- mostly in Louisiana, just like the original post said. Will wonders never cease?

Thanks, Khoff.

I find the bolded line in your post very amusing. Just to make sure, is it equivalent to "There are wonders every moment" or "Wonders will indeed never cease?"

any solid food is suitable as/for stuffing

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