Absolutely Nobody Is Thankful for This Turkey Coated in Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Photo credit: Reynolds
Photo credit: Reynolds

From Men's Health

  • Reynolds created a Flavor Blasted Turkey recipe that calls for coating your bird in crushed up hot cheese curls.

  • People on Twitter are freaking out over the recipe.

  • One doctor warns against eating this concoction because it could make you sick.


Have you ever thought, "I really love turkey, and I really love Flamin' Hot Cheetos; maybe I should put them together? "

Uh, yeah, us either. But some creative soul at Reynolds Kitchen had that exact thought and created the Flavor Blasted Turkey, which is a bird coated in crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

The questionable recipe has caused strong reactions on Twitter: some people low key love the idea while others think the dish is an abomination.

Unfortunately, we can't settle the debate on whether this is the world's best or worst idea. But we can say that coating turkey with spicy Cheetos could potentially land you in the emergency room on Thanksgiving.

Dr. Robert Glatter, emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital and Men's Health advisor, explains to MensHealth.com that eating spicy foods like Flamin' Hot Cheetos increases acid in your stomach, which could cause inflammation of the stomach lining, or gastritis. The nausea, abdominal pain, and burning accompanying the condition may send some to the emergency room for medical assistance.

Mix that spicy turkey with alcohol, which also increases stomach acid, and your chance of developing gastritis and its fiery symptoms increase.

Others may think the red they see in their stool or their vomit caused by peppers in the cheesy concoction is blood, says Glatter. But a trip to the ER may reveal that you're suffering from nothing more than one too many red-colored cheese curls.

Although Glatter advises sticking to your traditional cooking methods, there will be some adventurous eaters, judging from the Twitter comments. If you do feel compelled to dip your turkey in spicy cheese dust, be aware that it doesn't take much to feel sick. That's because "the spice can settle into the meat, so you're eating more than what's just on the surface of the turkey," says Glatter. Plus, you can't discount the handfuls snacked on while prepping the bird.

"It’s a recipe for disaster in my mind, creating a perfect storm for an ER visit on Thanksgiving," he says. The hospital is the last place you want to be on any day, but particularly not on Thanksgiving. Play it safe and stick with regular turkey.

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