ENID, OK - Social media sure brings up a lot of old arguments. You'd think with so many people chiming in there would finally be a resolution to may of today's top debates.
One of the more recent debates is whether you are eating stuffing or dressing on Thanksgiving. Many so called kitchen experts have their own opinions. Some will swear it's one or the other.
What I have discovered after an exhaustive investigation is that it really comes down to the old soda versus pop debate.
Some Quick Facts
Stuffing is sometimes defined as a seasoned mix used to fill the body of a fowl before it is cooked. The Oxford English Dictionary's definition of dressing is not as specific and merely calls it "the seasoning substance used in cooking". Because of these definitions some expect that stuffing is always stuffed inside a bird but that is not the case. Many people in the north no longer "stuff" their ingredients but they continue to call it stuffing.
The Similarities
Family recipes for turkey stuffing and dressing are very much interchangeable, especially in the north and northeast regions of the country. The base of the recipe is usually a crumbled bread product such as cornbread, biscuits and/or bread slices. Some believe one bread product is exclusive to one or the other but that is not the case. Most call for chopped onion and/or celery. Another key ingredient in almost every recipe is poultry seasoning.
The Differences
The main difference, some point out, is that stuffing is "stuffed" into the turkey before it is baked, while dressing is put into a greased pan and baked. The famous cookbook "The Joy of Cooking" says that a mixture is considered stuffing if you cook it inside the bird, and dressing if you cook it in a pan. However, The National Turkey Federation states that the terms are interchangeable.
Other differences are in the ingredients choices which vary according to regional locations. Generally southern states in America call a mixture "dressing" while northern states usually call it "stuffing." By far, more of the country calls the side dish, "stuffing". The theory is that southern states find the word "stuffing" not genteel enough for their liking so they began using the word, "dressing".
So Which Is It?
It really comes down to personal preference because the recipes are many times the same. If you like the combination of a crispy outside with a moist middle you may call it dressing. If you prefer the squishy, wet texture, then you will most likely call it stuffing. The debate actually depends more on where you grew up and what you grew up eating rather than an actual difference between the two. There are more searches online for stuffing recipes and the majority of those are from northern states.
Conclusion
I'm more than certain that this will not settle the debate. Those that think dressing is something completely different than stuffing will continue to call it dressing. And those that grew up eating stuffing, whether stuffed in a bird or not, will continue to call it stuffing. Guess I'll go have a soda from the ice box.
I would like this simple receipe please. I think I know. Is it croutons, celery, onions, sage, and butter? I think I may be leaving something out but don’t know what. I am making it to take to my kids for thanksgiving and it is special to me cause I love them so much I want it it to be perfect. Thank you.