Turkey Stuffing or Dressing?
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (177898)
United States
November 10, 2023 5:35am CST
We've discussed the various regional differences in words. Couch or sofa? Soda or pop? But we haven't talked about stuffing or dressing.
My husband and I have always called the bread mixture that's put into a turkey as dressing.
In actuality the proper designation is stuffing for the bread mixture put into the bird and dressing for cooking it outside of the bird.
What about you? For this Thanksgiving, what will you be putting into your turkey?
Photo Credit: Pixabay - Would you believe I couldn't find a free picture of dressing/stuffing?
16 people like this
18 responses
@Juliaacv (51060)
• Canada
10 Nov 23
We usually refer to this dish as dressing.
We stuff the bird, but we do not eat that stuffing because of the fear of botulism, but broken up bread will help to keep the bird moist during the roasting process.
I am not totally surprised that you were not able to find a picture of dressing, sometimes it is the items that we consider to be so common that are not there.
7 people like this
@marguicha (222809)
• Chile
10 Nov 23
Why would it haave botulism? I don´t bake turkey for Thanksgiving because we don´t celebrate Thanksgiving here. But I would call it stuffing if the dressing goes inside the bird.
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (51060)
• Canada
10 Nov 23
@marguicha We were always told that because the juices pool there and they are not always cooked well enough to kill all of the germs. We always err on the side of caution, although I know lots of people who eat dressing right out of the bird, and frozen ones are sold pre-stuffed.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (105884)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Nov 23
@LindaOHio It makes me think of that too.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
10 Nov 23
To me dressing sounds like salad dressing; but that's what we call it! lol
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471294)
• Switzerland
11 Nov 23
@LindaOHio 
I am sure I call things with a wrong word in my native language.
I am sure I call things with a wrong word in my native language.2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
Exactly; but we still call it dressing!! :-)
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50188)
• United States
10 Nov 23
We aren’t having turkey this year. We call what goes in the turkey stuffing and what is cooked outside the turkey dressing.
4 people like this
@1creekgirl (41387)
• United States
10 Nov 23
We say dressing, but we're having ham instead of turkey. At Christmas I used to make two kinds of dressing, one regular and one gluten free for Dale and our son in law.
The menu for Thanksgiving this year will be smaller. I'm cooking ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, broccoli casserole, deviled eggs, sweet tea, and pecan pie.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
10 Nov 23
That's the way I think of it too; but we still call it dressing! lololol
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180399)
• United States
10 Nov 23
We have always called it stuffing..it's kind of like tomato, tomatoe..though. I am sure plenty call it dressing.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
Actually, inside the bird, it's stuffing...outside of the bird, it's dressing. We always call it dressing regardless!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79687)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Nov 23
For many many years while I still lived in NYC I made the turkey and fixings for Thanksgiving. I called it stuffing and I always made a bread stuffing with Italian sausages.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
My dressing is a sausage type but with Bob Evans sausage.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82704)
• United States
10 Nov 23
We've always called it stuffing. It's one of my favorite foods at the Thanksgiving table
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
Me too. When I used to make my sausage stuffing, I could just eat the "goop" with a spoon it was so good.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44504)
• Staten Island, New York
10 Nov 23
I always thought stuffing is what goes into the bird itself and dressing is a mixture that is a side dish to go along with the bird.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (44504)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Nov 23
@LindaOHio Is it even necessary to have? Not sure I want my mom to deal with it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
14 Nov 23
@lovebuglena The stuffing? That's the best part of the meal.
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
Exactly; but people don't always refer to it that way.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (83970)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Nov 23
If it goes inside it is stuffing, outside/on top then it's dressing. Just how it is said in my family. Either way, I don't eat that stuff!
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
lol There are so many things you don't like!
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (83970)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Nov 23
@LindaOHio Probably more things I dislike than actually like.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
It's stuffing if it's in the bird and dressing if it's cooked outside of the bird.
1 person likes this
@casianjv (19)
• Tacloban City, Philippines
11 Nov 23
In order to allow the turkey to soak the tasty fluids while it cooks, most people load the bird with dressing. While this can add a lot of flavor to the dressing, it can also make the dressing mushy. The dressing practically steams inside the chicken, allowing the juices to become overly soaked.
The dressing, if made separately, can get a crispy, golden brown crust and stay moist in the middle. Add lots of fresh herbs and spices along with a tasty homemade turkey stock to the dressing to make up for any lost turkey flavor. I do both.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
11 Nov 23
I used to make a huge crockpot full of dressing. The outer parts were nice and brown and crispy.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92415)
• United States
10 Nov 23
We tend to say dressing. My dad loves this time of year, primarily because of family, but my sister makes him a pan of my late grandmother’s dressing. Not HIS late mother, my mom’s late mother. My Nana got tickled by how much her son-in-law loved her dressing, so she would make him his own pan for Thanksgiving. My sister kept up that tradition.
2 people like this
