The Great Thanksgiving Debate about one of America’s favorite holiday side dishes.
My aunt Gwen(middle), me(right), and my little sister(left) in May 2021
The time for thankfulness has come. But most importantly the time to stuff our faces with savory and delicious foods.
According to Delish, Pennsylvania’s favorite thanksgiving food is Turkey. However, that is not true for every resident of Pennsylvania.
Personally, my favorite Thanksgiving food is dressing.
Yes, I said dressing.
A dish made with love, consideration, blood, sweat, and tears. Locally, a more popular name for it is stuffing, however, in my family we call it dressing.
A dish that no one can make better than my Aunt Gwen with arecipe passed down from generation to generation.
We traditionally eat it once a year for Thanksgiving, but sometimes my aunt will make it and save some for my sister and I.
In Pennsylvania, some people even call it filling.
What people may not understand is that there is a difference between all three.
Dressing is a Southern term for stuffing however it is not used to stuff a turkey.
Unlike stuffing, dressing is made with cornbread and baked in a casserole dish.
Stuffing is usually made with white bread or a baguette.
Although there are differences both stuffing and dressing are made with the majority of the same ingredients: spices, an assortment of vegetables, a type of starch,and herbs.
When stuffing is cooked the idea is it will gain more flavor from the juices of the turkey.
This poll has ended.
What Do You Call This Side Dish?
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But when dressing is cooked it needs an extra component in order for it to taste just as good or even better than stuffing.
Although most people in America debate on whether the dish should be called stuffing or dressing the people of Pennsylvania call it filling.
Essentially filling is the same as stuffing or dressing.
The name suggests that it will fill something like stuffing does.
Dallastown science teacher Lori Riddle says otherwise.
“It is definitely filling in my house. We do not “stuff” it into the turkey, so it is filling”.
The Dallastown staff had many varying opinions on what it should be called.
To me dressing is the correct way to say it when it is not being used to stuff or fill something.
A big reason my family calls it dressing is because contrary to many American families we do not eat a big turkey
We prefer to eat turkey wings, often bought separately.
There’s nothing like soft, tasty, hot and just a little salty dressing drizzled in gravy.
Whether you call Dressing, Stuffing, or Filling everyone should enjoy the delicious baked dish this Thanksgiving!
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FAQs
In Pennsylvania, some people even call it filling. What people may not understand is that there is a difference between all three. Dressing is a Southern term for stuffing however it is not used to stuff a turkey. Unlike stuffing, dressing is made with cornbread and baked in a casserole dish.
What is the difference between stuffing filling and dressing? ›
The primary difference between stuffing and dressing is that stuffing is cooked inside a bird and dressing is made on the side. As with many food traditions in the U.S., regional loyalties to stuffing vs dressing abound.
Do southern people say dressing or stuffing? ›
But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.
Who calls it dressing vs stuffing? ›
This is down to a science: A 2015 survey conducted on behalf of the poultry company Butterball revealed that, regardless of how the dish was cooked, most of the country—including 100 percent of New Englanders—refers to the side as stuffing, while Southerners are devoted dressing fans.
Do Texans say stuffing or dressing? ›
While most New Englanders and the majority of West Coasters referred to the dish as “stuffing,” about half of Texans and the majority of Southerners call it “dressing.” Likewise, while most other parts of the country use a base of dried bread, many Texans instead opt for cornbread or dried biscuits.
Is stove top stuffing or dressing? ›
Dressing is made with cornbread, and is baked in a pan instead of inside the bird. I view Stove Top stuffing as a totally distinct entity from this most beloved of holiday dishes. It is not the stuff of celebrations, but it is a perfectly suitable side dish the rest of the year.
Should stuffing be soft or crunchy? ›
Speaking of texture, that's what stuffing is all about--you want a mix of crispy and soft pieces. We recommend adding stock a little at a time--1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on how much stuffing you're making--and waiting for the bread to absorb the liquid before adding more.
What do Northerners call stuffing? ›
People in the South say dressing, people in the North say stuffing. That's really the tall and short of it. I've heard some southerners decry the name stuffing, saying that the word itself is unpleasant. I've never had a personal issue with it, but I can see where that point of view comes from.
What do British people call stuffing? ›
In England, a stuffing is sometimes made of minced pork shoulder seasoned with various ingredients, such as sage, onion, bread, chestnuts, dried apricots, and dried cranberries. The stuffing mixture may be cooked separately and served as a side dish. This may still be called stuffing or it may be called dressing.
Why is it called dressing not stuffing? ›
In the 1800s, the word dressing gained popularity in some areas of the US as a word for the dish cooked inside a bird. The rise of this preference is theorized to be based in part on Victorian-era prudishness and a resulting movement away from more “graphic” terms for food preparation.
Stuffing was originally made, and often still is, by stuffing it into the cavity of the turkey, and letting it cook inside the turkey, absorbing its flavors while adding some of its own to the turkey. It is then served as a side dish once removed from the turkey.
Can you eat stuffing from inside turkey? ›
Should I stuff my turkey? Stuffing cooked inside the turkey cavities is delicious, but it does slow down the cooking time and could be a potential health hazard if done incorrectly. For perfect no-worry results, opt for "dressing" instead – stuffing cooked alongside the bird instead of inside.
What does stuff the turkey mean? ›
(idiomatic, simile) Engorged from overeating.
What are words that only Texans say? ›
Here's a glossary of 10 words and phrases commonly used by Texans:
- “co*ke” is any carbonated beverage, not specifically coca-cola. ...
- “Bless your heart” is an expression used to show pity. ...
- “Fixin' to” means about to. ...
- “Git-R-Done” means get it done. ...
- “Gonna” means going to. ...
- “Howdy” means hello. ...
- “Reckon” means think.
What is the difference between stuffing and dressing black folks? ›
So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish. Additionally, dressing, especially in the American South, is often made with cornbread instead of pieces of a baguette or plain ol' white bread.
How do Texans say welcome? ›
“Howdy” is typically muttered as a polite greeting as opposed to a garish welcome, and its use as a friendly salutation is one of many cultural traditions taught at Texas A&M University.
Who calls stuffing filling? ›
Although most people in America debate on whether the dish should be called stuffing or dressing the people of Pennsylvania call it filling. Essentially filling is the same as stuffing or dressing. The name suggests that it will fill something like stuffing does.
What is the difference between stuffed and filling? ›
It it's to be put inside an animal, it's stuffing. If it's to be put inside a whole vegetable, it also will be called stuffing, but may be called filling in some circ*mstances. If it's to be put inside anything else, it's filling. This is all style based, though - "stuffed ravioli" is a common idiocy.
What is dressing for Thanksgiving made of? ›
Dressing: Dressing typically includes ingredients like cornbread, white bread, or biscuits, mixed with vegetables, herbs, spices, and sometimes sausage or other meats. It is often moistened with broth or stock and baked in a casserole dish until it forms a crust on top.