It ’s not only about how the dish is prepared .

Brie Passano

While you might rotate side dishes from twelvemonth to year , it ’s not Thanksgiving without turkey , mashed Solanum tuberosum , and stuffing , also known as salad dressing . As a child , I always cerebrate stuffing and dressing were two unlike side dishes — which did n’t chafe me because either way of life it was keep abreast bypumpkin pie .

Apple, Bacon, and Leek Stuffing

Credit:Brie Passano

The Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing

Once I visualise out that the savory side was really just one dish with two name , my ma explained that it ’s all about how it ’s prepared . It ’s call stuffing if it was cooked ( or " stuffed " ) inside the bird , and it ’s called dressing if it was made separately in a casserole dish . ( And for the record , cookery stuffing inside the joker is not recommended , as it increase the endangerment for foodborne illness — not on the dot an idealistic situation after eating a hearty helping ofThanksgiving dinner ) . If you do decide to cook a stuffed joker , ourcomplete guidewill take the air you through how to cook the bird and gormandize safely . Our secret ? Do n’t pack the stuffing into the bomb too tightly , this help it cook more evenly .

Location Dependent

While that explanation makes sense , it ’s not the only dispute between the two term . It turn out , where you last likely bet a agent as well . Butterball , theThanksgiving turkeyexperts , conducted a surveya few age ago and found that much of the Northeast , Northwest , and Midwest use the term gorge while those in southern states typically call it dressing , irrespective of how it was prepare .

How Are Stuffing and Dressing Similar

The recipes for choke up and fertilisation are very similar . As the most basic spirit level , both renditions are made with a amylum ( bread , Elmer Reizenstein , or cornbread ) , veggie , herbs , spices , and stock . coarse vegetable let in Allium cepa , cultivated celery , carrots , and ail . Optional hyperkinetic syndrome - ins include thing like nuts , meat , dried fruit , and high mallow . There are even gormandize recipes that call for seafood , reed organ meats(likegiblets ) , and vegetarian alternatives , like tempeh .

Make It Yourself

No matter what you call it , this side dish is a must - have at Thanksgiving . Make our traditionalOld - Fashioned Bread Stuffing , or go a bit more outside the box with our tastyBourbon - Pecan Stuffing .   And since there ’s no official ruling on the difference between stuffing vs. medical dressing , you ’re free to debate the topic around the dinner party table all you like .

Classic Roast Turkey with Stuffing on platter with rosemary and citrus, bowl of cranberry sauce in background

Credit: Andy Lyons