Dressing or Stuffing? Here’s the Lowdown On Two Turkey-Focused Terms!

Just when you thought that there was no debate about the name of that breaded concoction that is placed inside that Turkey prior to cooking, we’ve got the lowdown on these Turkey-focused terms!

Choosing baked ham, a delcious rack of beef or pork spareribs, duck, pheasant or some other fine cuisine as the main course for Christmas Dinner are delectable options.

But, what about the option of serving up a 18-22 pound turkey as the main course for Christmas Dinner? And what about that breaded concoction that is prepped for eventual placement inside that bird while the oven pre-heats to that perfect turkey cooking temperature?

Well, for the people living in specific U.S. states or territories who opt for turkey as the main fare for Christmas dinner, these tidbits of “lingo knowledge” may come as a surprise : The use of the word, “dressing” as a turkey-dinner prepping term for that breaded mixture that goes inside the bird is more popular than “stuffing” in some parts of the U.S.

However, in some states like Iowa, there seems to be some serious love for stuffing if you gauge search ranking terms about this turkey-related topic.  And according to some interesting findings discussed about this special, turkey filling subject by Epicurious.com, the Hawkeye state (Iowa) has “stuffing” as the fourth most searched term.  As for those top states that seem to have a strongest interest for “stuffing,” Utah and Nevada residents are very fond of the homemade version of that bird filler.

Indeed, that breaded concoction many of us love to eat can include cranberries, spices, or other ingredients like sausage.  And it can also be sauced in apple for a slightly sweet or tart taste to tempt the tastebuds into consuming more tasty morsels on Christmas.

As a Marylander, that breaded mixture prepped for that “Butterball®” turkey, or for that game meat of turkey that was delivered from that special — local farm of choice — is called stuffing.  While “dressing” is considered a strictly Southern term according to Epicurious.com, the differences in these two turkey filling terms can be distinct.  There can also be pockets of turkey cooking people in many states who use a term, not called stuffing or dressing. Yes, “filling” has been noted as a term to used by turkey prepping cooks just north of the Mason-Dixon line in some parts of Pennsylvania.

As for those breaded concoctions known as stuffing mixes that you can purchase in the box (Stove Top Stuffing Mix, for Turkey, 6 oz), or the bag (Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing Mix, 14 Oz.), there seems to be no debate that “stuffing” is the term of choice for many turkey dinner preppers based on my research, which involved sifting through many different stuffing mixes lisited on Amazon.com.  As an aside, maybe Amazon.com will create a dash button specifically for boxed and bagged turkey stuffing reordering, because I just can’t find one!

Not to be outdone by stuffing, turkey gravy is a very tasty addition to make that breaded mixture (cornmeal concoction) nice and moist.  While oyster dressing may be a popular ingredient for Thanksgiving or Christmas Turkey dinners in Louisiana from what Epicurious.com noted, we can’t help give the nod that nothing is worse than an overly dry consistency for stuffing after it is scooped out of that cooked bird.

However, if a lively discussion concerning some key differences between terms like stuffing and dressing don’t end up piquing one’s fancy a few hours before Christmas Dinner is served up, that tasty topic about the best dessert options to enjoy after dinner, just might!

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

What do you think of the dressing verus stuffing debate?  Do you hear the term called stuffing during Thanksgiving or Christmas? Should Amazon.com create a dash button for cooks or others who want to reorder boxed or bagged turkey stuffing?

–Matthew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feature image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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