Is it ‘dressing’ or ‘stuffing?’ The great Thanksgiving debate

If you’re like me – Southern born and (corn)bred – there really is no debate: That most delectable Thanksgiving dish is called “dressing.” Full stop. Over and out. Don’t let the screen door hit you.

But some people in other parts of the country call that same dish “stuffing.” So which should you use? Let’s discuss.

The difference, historically, was in how the dish was cooked. “Stuffing” means the dish made from hard bread, chopped celery and seasonings is “stuffed” inside the turkey and cooked, where the bird’s juices add liquid. “Dressing” is a side dish, cooked with added broth and served separately to accompany the bird. But that’s changed: Most health experts say it is no longer considered safe to cook the dish inside a turkey that starts out raw due to a risk of cross contamination and foodborne illnesses. That means stuffing is technically obsolete, but the word is still very much in use.