Russian dressing vs. Thousand Island: the battle to end all battles. They may seem the same, but there’s some key differences you need to know about.
Russian Dressing’s Origin Story
We’re sorry to disappoint, but it’s not actually from Russia. It’s just as American as Thousand Island. So, where did it get its name from?
According to The New York Times, caviar is the culprit. It was a staple ingredient of Russian dressing, back when it was invented in the 20th century.
In those times, caviar was a distinctly Russian delicacy. Nowadays, everyone’s got access to it, but it used to be a lot more exclusive.
Thousand Island’s Origin Story
These two dressings are practically twins. Twins they may be, they’re fraternal, not identical. If the differences between Russian vs. Thousand Island dressing lie anywhere, it’s in their origins.
This one didn’t use any caviar. It actually gets its name from a collection of real islands, called — you guessed it — the Thousand Islands.
According to WRVO, it was invented on a boat sailing through the area in the 19th century. That would mean it predates Russian dressing.
Key Ingredients of Russian Dressing
Though it no longer includes fancy Russian caviar, the rest of the recipe has remained intact. Mayo is the big one, along with Worcestershire, chili sauce, and horseradish.
That last ingredient is what gives it a bit of a kick. You can include diced onions, too, which lends it some more flavor.
The other ingredients are more flexible. People add anything, really: salt, pepper, dry mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, red wine vinegar, etc. It depends on who’s making it.
What Makes Up Thousand Island Dressing?
No, it’s not islands. Most of the ingredients are the same as Russian dressing. However, it’s a lot milder, with much less of a kick.
That’s because of the lack of horseradish. You can use chili sauce for this dressing, too, though most people replace it with ketchup to make it less spicy.
If you want to make it taste sweeter, add sugar and sweet pickle relish. To make it more tart and flavorful, people add lemon juice and white vinegar.
Visual Differences
There’s definitely differences between Russian dressing vs. Thousand Island, but visuals isn’t one of them. They look pretty much the same, with the same light orange color.
The addition of horseradish to Russian dressing can make it look a bit chunkier than Thousand Island. However, diced onions can also make Thousand Island look less smooth.
Again, this depends on the specific recipe and/or brand. Some store-bought bottled dressings won’t contain any diced onions, which will make it look much smoother.
Flavor Profiles
Since most of their ingredients are the same, their flavor profiles are pretty similar. However, anyone who’s ever had horseradish knows just how much of a punch it packs.
The addition of horseradish is what distinguishes Russian dressing from Thousand Island. As we mentioned earlier, it gives it a much spicier flavor profile.
Thousand Island replaces the spiciness with sweetness, while maintaining a tangy aftertaste. Just because it’s mild doesn’t mean it’s boring! Remember, most of the ingredients are the same.
Common Uses
Salad is the big one. They are salad dressings, after all. However, that’s not the only thing they’re used for. Notably, Russian dressing is used on Reuben sandwiches.
Like Russian dressing, Thousand Island isn’t just useful for salads. It’s also used as a dip for pretty much every food you can think of.
Both dressings can be used with shrimp, burger sauces, and put on fries. Thousand Island dressing tends to be more popular for this, however.
Nutritional Comparison
The flavor profile isn’t the only thing affected by the similar ingredient list. The nutritional value is, too. However, ingredients aren’t the only contributing factor.
When comparing Russian dressing vs. Thousand Island, you’ll also need to consider how it was made. Store-bought dressings might not be as nutritious as homemade.
When looking at the basics, they only differ slightly. According to Moms Who Think, Thousand Island has slightly more calories than Russian, while Russian has more cholesterol.
DIY Russian Dressing
Russian dressing only has a few ingredients, so this is perfect to make at home. Plus, you can tweak it as much as you want.
If you can’t find a chili sauce, swap it for ketchup. This will make it a bit less tangy, so add more spices to make up for it.
Aside from that, you absolutely cannot leave out the mayo or horseradish. To make it closer to the original recipe, add some caviar!
Making Thousand Island Dressing At Home
Thousand Island dressing is just as easy to make at home. Again, you’ll be using most of the same ingredients, which is pretty helpful if you’re making both.
There is one thing we haven’t mentioned yet, though: eggs. Yep, you heard that right. The original recipe for this dressing is said to include hard boiled eggs.
If your dressing is too runny, this ingredient will thicken the texture. It’s not strictly necessary, though. Just have make sure to fun with it!
Cultural Impact
Both dressings are American in origin and, as such, have had the most impact in the States. Arguably, Thousand Island is a bit more popular.
If you’ve eaten at In-n-Out or McDonald’s, then you’ve probably had it before. It’s used as a sauce on lots of their burgers.
Russian, more than anything, is known for its use on Reubens. Since Thousand Island is more widespread, we’d have to say that it’s more culturally impactful.
Regional Variations
There’s a regional variation of every kind of food that has outsiders scratching their heads. Like, why would you make a your pizza deep dish?
So, it stands to reason that there would be regional uses for these dressings, too. In the U.K., for example, Thousand Island dressing is used for prawn cocktails.
Russian dressing can be used for pretty much everything Thousand Island is used for. It doesn’t seem like there are any uniquely regional uses, though.
Allergen Information
The best way to ensure that these dressings meet your dietary needs is to make it yourself. However, there’s some general rules to keep in mind.
Thousand Island dressings, across brands, tend to be gluten free. The same goes for Russian dressings. Since both contain mayo, which has eggs, they’re not vegan.
There are vegan versions you can make at home, even if the store-bought ones aren’t. Other than that, there aren’t any other big allergens.
Storage Tips
As with all foods, there’s a proper way to store salad dressing. Store improperly, and you risk it spoiling before you get to enjoy it. Nobody wants that.
Despite the slight differences between Russian dressing vs. Thousand Island, they both need proper storage. The most important thing is to store it in the fridge.
You can store in either plastic or glass, though glass is better. The container should be airtight. In these conditions, your dressings should last up to two weeks.
Consumer Preferences
Since most people think that Russian dressing is exactly the same as thousand island, it’s not as popular. However, thousand island isn’t number one.
According to Statista, it’s the fourth most used in the United States, as of 2024. Definitely not a bad ranking, though it could be better.
It trails behind ranch, caesar, and vinaigrette. It beats out blue cheese, though only by a narrow margin. Russian dressing doesn’t rank at all.
Unique Uses
As you know by now, these dressings can be used for a variety of things other than salad. Sandwiches, burgers, shrimp — the possibilities are endless.
Thousand island could also work well with wings. Russian might work, though the horseradish wouldn’t exactly cool your mouth down. It’d probably taste good, though.
Here’s a tip: put these dressings on tacos. Which one you go for largely depends on what’s in the taco, but they’ll both taste good.
Consistency
The consistency of each dressing depends on the specific recipe. Thousand island can be a little runnier than Russian, since it lacks the horseradish.
However, the addition of hard boiled eggs completely changes the game. It thickens the consistency by a lot (not to mention the flavor changes).
Russian dressing doesn’t involve any key thickening ingredients like that. So, we’re going to say that it’s generally runnier, though neither are particularly thin dressings.
Variations in Recipes Across Brands
We’re going to compare a couple of popular (and similar) dressing brands. Both Kraft and Wishbone thousand island dressings contain tomato puree, water, sugar, vinegar, and paprika.
As for differences, Kraft’s has egg yolks, while Wishbone’s doesn’t. For seasoning, Kraft has dried onion and dried bell pepper. Wishbone’s has pickle relish.
For some reason, both of these brands’ Russian dressings have a deep red color. Wishbone’s contains corn syrup and beet juice. Kraft’s has honey and cooking molasses.
Dressings and Dietary Restrictions
We already touched upon these dressings’ compatibility (or, rather, lack thereof) with vegan diets. So, how do you make a vegan thousand island or Russian dressing?
The reason neither of these dressings are vegan-friendly? It lies in one ingredient: mayo. Replace the mayo, and you’ve got a delicious vegan dressing.
Since mayo is what gives these dressings their creamy consistency, it can be hard to find a solid replacement. You could use vegan mayo, or just use water.
Seasonal Variations
How do the uses for these dressings change from season to season? They don’t change any more than other foods do, to be honest.
In the summer months, using them for light meals should be your go-to. Think salads, sandwiches, that kind of thing. They’re both perfect for spring and summer.
It gets a little trickier in the winter and fall. Those seasons call for hearty comfort foods, and neither dressing is really used in that context.