This Single Dish Can Make or Break Thanksgiving for the Majority of People, According to a New Report

Which side are you on, team canned or team homemade?

We look forward to the spread that graces the Thanksgiving Day dinner table all year. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie are all classic favorites in the holiday meal line-up, and while turkey has always held that main character energy, one new survey proves that we're all just here for the sauce. The cranberry sauce, that is.

In a new survey of more than 2,000 Americans commissioned by Ocean Spray, 83% of respondents said they "believe it's not even Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce." However, as strong as fans' devotion to the jiggly side is, their opinions on how it's prepared might even be stronger.

According to the survey, nearly half (46%) of the respondents said they are "as passionate about their cranberry sauce preparation as their favorite sports team." They are so dedicated that 21% of "team homemade" and 15% of "team canned" said they'd be willing to get a tattoo in honor of their cranberry sauce choice.

And if you thought the dating scene was brutal now, don't even try dating around the holidays, as "28% of cranberry fans consider it a 'red flag' if someone doesn't like their preference for cranberry sauce."

For further proof of how divisive this side dish can be for singles, Ocean Spray pointed to the recent in-app matching questions on OkCupid, which revealed some interesting stats on the canned vs homemade cranberry debate. The questions showed that those who prefer homemade cranberry sauce get 18% more likes than those who don't, and have 12% more conversations.

Of course, you need to take all this data with a big (potentially giant) grain of salt, as this entire study is commissioned by the people who want you to buy more cranberries, after all. But, if you are really all about that homemade cranberry sauce life (or you just want to impress your holiday date), Ocean Spray has you covered. This season, it's partnering with a few of the internet's favorite "granfluencers" like Grandma Droniak and Cooking with Lynja to show off their favorite homemade recipes so you can make them too. Ocean Spray is even releasing limited-edition merch so you can show off your love for the side.

And hey, if nothing else, this entire “study” and campaign is at least giving us something actually fun to argue over this Thanksgiving with our distant relatives, right?

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